Witness the rising of an Indigenous generation
We were asleep for what seemed like many lifetimes. In a coma of colonial deceit, burdened by the lies of violent assimilation and oppression. Walking — no, stumbling — in a hostile world forced upon our ancestors within their own homelands.
Some never made it out alive. But many are survivors now awakening from their slumber. Canada says we are in an era of truth and reconciliation. But, with little to no action on actual reconciliation, instead Indigenous resistance is taking centre stage. And this generation is one of reckoning, spreading like a cleansing firestorm.
Every other day there’s a headline of Indigenous peoples exercising their United Nations-recognized rights, often depicted as a sudden conflict, whether it’s through protecting territorial lands and waters, asserting harvesting and fishing rights or blocking harmful industrial development projects. But these are only conflicts with the colonial state. They can be resolved if the state adheres to treaty and Indigenous rights.
Land claim cases are sweeping through Canadian court systems as justice for stolen land is increasingly given in favour of the original inhabitants.
The Indian Residential School system — seeking to “kill the Indian in the child” and ban the speaking of Indigenous languages and cultural practices — almost succeeded. It failed. There’s a resurgence and revitalization of language and culture to save what remains among thousands of proud First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities.
A reckoning of racism is also on the loose. Racism that has operated unchecked for centuries is being denounced through social media, rallying and legislation. Racism and discrimination that causes our people to die via Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG), poverty, inequality, disease and suicide among others.
Our people aren’t taking it anymore; the deeply embedded systemically racist institutions, such as the RCMP, which, just last week was found to have discriminated against Colten Boushie’s family and fuelled racial tensions as found by a Civilian Review and Complaints Commission review.
Boushie was shot dead by white farmer Gerald Stanley in 2016 after driving onto Stanley’s property. Stanley was found not guilty of second-degree murder, which provoked Canada-wide outrage among Indigenous communities. Boushie’s family stood its ground in demanding accountability, enduring years of grief, prejudice and political red tape. Indian country takes note. It will be difficult, but the fight will be won.
Reconciliation to many sounds like rhetoric for an empty apology, robotic land acknowledgments or continued broken promises from the reconciler: Canada. But the reckoning of this country’s Indigenous crisis is happening organically. Hayden King, executive director of the Yellowhead Institute, a First Nation-led research centre based at Ryerson University, said, “Maybe the loudest demand in our relationship with Canadians has been for land restitution, for honouring treaties, for getting the land back.”
You may have noticed more and more First Nations reclaiming their traditional territories and kicking out settler and industrial developments with fierce determination. Too much has already been taken and destroyed; land back is seen as an avenue to protect, honour and maintain the livelihoods of Indigenous nations. Indigenous nations are ahead of the war against climate change, often acting as guardians of their lands, creating sustainable economies, implementing green energy and safeguarding Indigenous food and medicine systems from climate threats.
Much of this reckoning is led by Indigenous women and youth. It was they who were most targeted for violence by the state via MMIWG and the residential school system, yet they are the most resilient ones rising to rescue the fate of future generations.
This reckoning is just the onset of what’s coming. Indigenous resistance and empowerment are becoming the norm. We’re living in a time and space where racism and tyranny in Canada are dying out. If the state won’t take the steps to authentically reconcile, it’s going to happen anyway.