Week 46 – Don’t Ask Indigenous People To Do The Work from Robertson, David A. 52 Ways to Reconcile: How to Walk with Indigenous Peoples on the Path to Healing
Robertson begins this chapter by sharing a conversation with his father about reconciliation and what the process involves. His father asks, “What do we have to reconcile? We never did anything wrong?”
Robertson goes on to share some of the frustrations he experiences around reconciliation from an Indigenous perspective. He is tired of being asked how to fix things. While he appreciates that conversations are happening and people are becoming more engaged, attending countless panels, meetings and speaking events takes time away from the work of creating Indigenous resources and materials that others can learn from.
We need to stop looking to Indigenous people to tell us how to fix things. Reconciliation and healing cannot happen unless everyone takes part. So, how can you help? Start by sharing what you have learned with your spouse, friends, neighbours or colleagues. Robertson recognizes that many people feel nervous about sharing Indigenous content because they are afraid of getting something wrong. The reality is that mistakes are inevitable when learning something new. Give yourself grace, be willing to learn from those mistakes, and keep trying. That is how we grow and improve.
This is Canadian history, and these are Canadian issues. If you are Canadian, you are part of the solution. Indigenous people did not create these problems, so they should not be the only ones expected to solve them. Robertson acknowledges that you may not have caused these injustices either, but that doesn't mean you don't have a role to play in addressing them.
The term settler does not mean you are personally responsible for everything that happened in the past or today. It means you are not the original inhabitant of this land and that you share responsibility for the work of reconciliation.
The important thing is to get involved, take action and figure out how you can contribute. Reconciliation is not someone else's responsibility. It is work we must do together, and we are all part of that journey.
Jennifer Aldous
Want to read last weeks post, you can do so here.