52 Ways to Reconcile: How to Walk with Indigenous Peoples on the Path to Healing
Week 7 - Check Your Idioms
(from Robertson, David A. 52 Ways to Reconcile: How to Walk with Indigenous Peoples on the Path to Healing)
This week, Robertson invites us to pay closer attention to the everyday language we use. Many common idioms are so familiar that we rarely stop to think about where they come from or how they might be received. Yet some phrases that reference Indigenous peoples, cultures, or ceremonies can be harmful, even when no offense is intended. Becoming aware of this is part of what it means to decolonize the way we speak.
Take the phrase “Let’s have a powwow.” Most people use it simply to mean “let’s have a meeting,” often without realizing that a powwow is a significant cultural gathering. Robertson notes that these expressions can slip into conversation almost automatically. Still, once we recognize their impact, we can choose more respectful alternatives. A simple “Let’s meet” or “Let’s get back together” communicates the same idea without trivializing something meaningful.
He points to other commonly used phrases such as “spirit animal,” “low man on the totem pole,” “circle the wagons,” or “too many Chiefs and not enough Indians.” Even when used casually, these expressions can misrepresent or diminish important cultural traditions. For example, totem poles are not arranged as symbols of hierarchy, and the popular understanding of “spirit animal” often reflects misconception rather than authentic Indigenous teaching. Our cultures, Robertson reminds us, are not fantasy, nor are they costumes.
Changing our language takes intention, and it rarely happens overnight. Mistakes are part of the learning process. When we catch ourselves using a problematic phrase, we can simply correct it and move forward. Just as importantly, allyship sometimes calls us to speak up when we hear others use language that is inaccurate or harmful. Respectful, informed conversations help share the responsibility of reconciliation rather than leaving that work solely to Indigenous people.
Ultimately, Robertson emphasizes that reconciliation is something we practice together. Awareness leads to intention, and intention shapes the way we act, speak, and relate to one another. Even small shifts in our vocabulary can become meaningful steps toward greater respect and understanding.
Are there phrases in your everyday speech that you might reconsider, and how could choosing different words help reflect the kind of respect and relationship reconciliation calls us toward?
Want to read last weeks post, you can do so here.