Inner Indigenous

[vaneramos]

Tonight I went to the 6th Annual Anti-Colonial Thanksgiving Dinner in Guelph. My friend, Lori, invited me, and I didn't know anyone else there, but when I was sitting alone a young fellow named James moved across from me and said, "You look like someone who likes to go hiking." That led to an interesting conversation mostly about birds, and he gave

Comments

[rfmcdpei]

This sounds like it was a real experience. ::envy::

[vaneramos]

Yes, you would have enjoyed it!

[trinker]

Wow. Such admiration for those women.

[vaneramos]

I felt the same.

[inishglora]

Inviting us here, serving a meal and controlling the agenda is very colonial. If you want a genuine anti-colonial experience you should not ask us to step into an uncomfortable, unfamiliar place, but come and meet with us on our terms.

I'm glad they said that because it's true. That's where the real change in attitude happens in colonial mindset.

[vaneramos]

It sounds like you are addressing this from a place of experience?

[inishglora]

Perhaps a limited one. I am probably generalizing here, but if people belonging to the colonials/majority step out of their comfort zone (ie, they leave their controlled environment and meet with the minority/indigenous on their terms), sometimes it's enough to break the spell of unconscious assumptions and/or ethnocentrism. I find I learn more when I step into unfamiliar territory of another person's viewpoint

[vaneramos]

I'm glad I asked! That's an interesting story.

[leafshimmer]

Thank you for sharing those notes. Even at this distance, I can feel the Power in the words of those women.

[vaneramos]

I'm glad that came across. At least in a small may, it felt like a life-altering encounter.