Inferior races

Extinction, First Nations, Totalitarianism Leave a comment

I am writing a paper for my Totalitarianism class. I chose to do Social Darwinism.

I am debating about changing the topic because I am… well, angry.

In many of my papers I am reading, quite a few of them say, simply put, Inferior races get in the way of progress and American Indians are included in the inferior races.

I wouldn’t agree that this way of thinking is in anyway “progressive.” This way of thinking is quite limiting.

Researching for this paper, I am constantly reminded of something someone said at a traditional ceremony, “By the year 2000, Indians were supposed to be extinct.” Imagine that. Extinct. I wrote about this earlier in a different post titled, Extinction.

Definitely going to remove myself past this emotion, and drive all of it into the efforts of my paper. I am going to rock this paper!

Poverty in London Ontario

London ON, Poverty Leave a comment

Today was a strange day for me. Today, I met a man who asked me for change. I said, “I don’t have any change.” He then left the area I was waiting at for the next city bus to come by, and within ten minutes he was back. When he asked me for change, he stated as we walked past each other that he needed it to buy a coffee. When I saw him come back, he didn’t have a coffee in his hand. He was eating candy though. He got up and stood next to me and laughed. I looked at him and smiled. He said, “I only take these things because they have candy in them.” He pulled out a bag filled with unopened needles and sterilization packages. I knew what that was for.

I am aware of the level of drug use that goes in London ON. What I am also aware of is the level of drug use that goes in the specific area of Dundas all the way from Adelaide down to Richmond (and both a few hundred meters passed both streets running north and south of Dundas). A question could then be raised of “How are you aware of the level of drug use that goes on in Downtown London?” Well, the answer is simple put, “I am aware.”

I am aware of what goes on around me. I am aware the people that walk in front of me, beside me, and even behind me. This man today, I didn’t give him any change. Not because I didn’t want to, it was because I couldn’t. I didn’t have any change on me.

Downtown London ON is not the best city-downtown core. I lived in downtown Toronto, seen downtown Vancouver, spent a few days within minutes of downtown Halifax–all very beautiful downtown cores and each with their own downfalls/pitfalls (homelessness/drug use/prostitution), like that of London ON.

What makes me so confused about London ON is that people are unaware of what actually goes on in the downtown core. I have seen drug deals happen right in front of me: money handed out, a baggie exchanged and the two who met up are gone within split seconds. I seen prostitutes walk up and down one block, waiting for that John Doe (heck, I was even walking one day and asked if I wanted “a ride” and then followed for the four blocks I needed to walk to get to my next bus stop). I have seen prostitutes be let off, John Doe drive away, and different John Doe come and pick up the same prostitute. This is what goes in London ON core.

Or maybe people are aware of the situation, they just choose to ignore it.

Some people avoid this area at all costs. There have even been talks about diverting public transit so not to “congest” the downtown. Trust me, it’s already congested. What these people are doing when they divert their attention away is not helping at all. One might say, “Well, people choose to be homeless.” Or, another might say, “I would rather much have my tax money go to something more productive like a better playground than another drug-rehab-clinic.” By being not aware of what goes on in Downtown London and by diverting your attention or even public transit away from this area, it is not helping at all.

The people that situate themselves in this area on a daily basis are part of a community. The people of this community thrive on each other. They support each other. They help each other. They even sometimes steal from each other, as I over heard another woman say to her friend. This community….is thriving within the London ON community and when we divert our attention away from this community, we are not helping them at all. We are just putting a veil over our eyes and trying to avoid the people that live in this community.

This man I talked to, he shared with me that he was in jail from 19-24 years of age. He had 13 kids, 10 different baby mothers, and admitted to doing IV drugs, admitted to making $100 in Argyle Mall parking lot just panhandling, and even admitted to being able to speak, read, and write German. I told him, he could put that skill to some good use. He said he was fine living the life he was living. I know that not all people in the downtown core are “fine” living a panhandling lifestyle. He said though that he had “paid his dues.” He was homeless for five years. He now has a nice apartment and makes anywhere from $40 to $150 in a day just asking for change. I know this is not a reason to not give someone change or to exclude everyone who does ask for change based on this story. What I do know is that, I agree with what he said after all this. He said, “I am close to forty years old, and when you reach forty, it’s all about survival.” What this man was doing day to day is all about survival. Social assistance isn’t enough to survive and live off of for one grown person. There isn’t enough food at food banks to feed everyone who needs food in the city. There aren’t enough volunteers for a social service agency to supply the community they are in the resources that people need.

This is where people in London ON go wrong. They divert their attention away from the downtown core, where this area I mentioned above is. They divert public transit away. They put a veil over their eyes. They just don’t realize that the people who are in poverty will continue to survive the way they are surviving because they all support and need each other, whether it is for another “fix” or a couch or floor to crash on. People in London ON who are fortunate enough not to live in poverty don’t know that, by not paying attention, they are only helping the poverty exist even more.

I hope one day that the downtown core of London ON will not be outcasted or the people who are situated downtown on a daily basis are no longer shunned. That is my only hope for London ON. One day.

Criminal Pardons

Aboriginals, Canada, Criminal Pardons Leave a comment

A recent article in the Globe and Mail, titled Tories to hike price of criminal pardons, made me think of my political science essay I wrote last term.

I wrote about the Gladue Court. I also wrote about the over-representation of Aboriginals in the prison system. If the Tories hike the price of pardons, in my opinion, this is just another way to further stigmatize/marginalize Aboriginals in Canada. I say that and I believe that because there is an over-representation of Aboriginals in the prison system.

Perhaps the Canadian Government can issue another apology to Aboriginals in Canada in about 20 years. Why not? They already have one apology expected for 2011 (see post titled Aboriginals: past insurgents?). And, they already previously issued another apology regarding the residential schools.

The issue is obviously with the administration process if they let people like that mentioned in the Globe and Mail article “slip through the cracks.”

In my opinion…

Canadian History

Aboriginal, Canada, Canadian History Leave a comment

Not too long ago, I met someone from an European Country. They talked about how much they loved Canada and they exclaimed to me “how awesome it must be to be part of the ‘First Persons’ of Canada.”

The person further stated how Canada is such an awesome, free, loving country.

I informed them that this isn’t how Canada always was. The person asked what I meant by that statement. I went on to also tell them about Residential Schools and the origins of the Indian Act and what this piece of legislation was really meant to do–assimilate Natives into Canadian Society. After sharing this story with that person, they said, “Wow, that’s not what they teach us over in Europe.”

I replied, “That’s not what they teach us in Canadian either.”

That’s part of Canadian history, why is it not taught in history courses at the high school level, or even elementary level. I get that there are specific courses at the post-secondary level. However, we can’t censor stories about our own Countries history and only speak about the horrors of another country’s history–meaning I learned about WWI and the Holocaust in High school, why didn’t I learn about true Canadian History then?

I wonder what they learn in history today. Are textbooks still the same?

Solitary Confinement

Aboriginal women, Institute for the Advancement of Aboriginal Women, Prison, Solitary confinement, Women Leave a comment

Last year I had the opportunity to attend a conference and be apart of important changes to the Youth Criminal Justice Act and the Mental Health Act.

I am reminded of that conference experience when I read the article in the Globe and Mail titled Prisons grapple with increase in mentally ill female inmates.

The one thing that I would have liked to see included in that article would be the numbers of those women and their corresponding ethnic/racial background.

I only say this because in another article on another website I discovered in my research for my upcoming political science essay, I found this quote:

“In 2004, Renée was the first woman in Canada to be placed on the Management Protocol (MP), a punitive system which involves prolonged periods in solitary confinement…Currently, the four women on the MP are all Aboriginal women. Locked up for 23 hours per day in cells approximately 8′ x 12′, with access to an exercise yard of c.15 x 12 metres for the remaining hour, they have very restricted physical outlet for pent-up emotion..

This above quote was taken from the article titled, “Oppose Dangerous Offender Designation for Indigenous Women” on the Institute for the Advancement of Aboriginal Women website.

At the time this article was written (November 10, 2010), it states that the only four women on the MP (in solitary confinement) are Aboriginal. In the Globe and Mail article it states,

Women in maximum security, who often suffer the most serious mental problems, are not permitted to enter in-prison psychiatric units because they are deemed too dangerous.

I wonder if there is a connection or correlation to the number of women in prison and their ethnic background/mental health issues. In other words, are there are a high rate of Aboriginal women in prison who have mental health issues in solitary confinement/isolation cells?

As an Aboriginal woman, I would like to see that issue explored more.

Gays/lesbians vs. Races

Gays, Lesbians, Races, Racism Leave a comment

A question was asked in class: Do you think intrinsic religions are more intolerant toward gays/lesbians or different races?

I said race because you can’t tell someone’s gay or straight by looking at them; race is obvious. 3 others answered gays/lesbians. All three who replied were caucasian. I wanted to ask if they ever experienced racism. I know racism is prevalent for all races including caucasian but not so blatantly out there. I wanted to ask them that question because I wondered if they experienced racism and if that would have changed their answer.

Why I hang my high school diploma on my wall.

Aboriginal youth, Education View all 2 comments

On my wall there are few things. Pictures a friend who recently passed away had taken for me. Pictures of my family. Pictures of an artistic nature. I even have some of my awards that I won hanging on my wall. Two of the items hanging on my wall that I am most proud of though are my college school diploma and my high school diploma.

Someone once laughed and asked me, “Why the hell do you have your high school diploma on your wall?”

My reply to them was this, “I am proud to have my high school diploma. As an Aboriginal youth, this is a great accomplishment–I know some Aboriginal youth who don’t even have their grade 10. I am proud to have it.”

It sort of represents how much I value education and how much I want to see other Aboriginal youth earn their high school diploma. I am a huge supporter of making education available for anyone. What is sad is that even though there are initiatives out there to support Aboriginal youth to continue with their high school education, some of them never do. I want to see that trend change… one day.

Acquired Brain Injury

Motivation Leave a comment

Yup. That’s me. The one with the “Acquired Brain Injury.”

When I was 15 years old, I was in a serious car accident. I was hit by a car. Nope, I wasn’t in a car. Yes, I ended up in the hospital.

I don’t remember much about the car accident. In fact, I don’t remember anything. Not the ambulance ride. Not the day of the accident. Barely remember the day before. I think I can remember a few days before the accident but I am not sure.

Some of the long-term effects I experience from this ABI are:

  • Hearing loss
  • Blurred vision
  • Ringing in my ears (constantly…worse when I am stressed out)
  • Migraines

Before the accident, I had perfect vision. No migraines. No ringing in my ears. Honor roll student. Could remember anything after reading it once.

I know it’s not that big of a deal to not be able to remember for some people, but to me, as a kid, it was a big deal to me. I was kind of a perfectionist then. It wasn’t good. I was too hard on myself. This is why I say one of the best things that happened to me was this car accident. Yes, I know I could have died, so it kind of wasn’t the best thing in the same sense.

I am still somewhat of a perfectionist now but I am not as hard on myself as I was then. Then, I was also an A+ student. I know that some kids beat themselves up over a B. I used to be that kid. Today, I pat myself on the back for a B. An A+ or even just an A, I really am thankful for. I know that is my hard work and dedication going into earning that grade.

After my car accident, I had to go to the “resource room” or as some other kids called it “special ed.” It wasn’t considered “cool” to be in that room. I didn’t like it then, but now I beg to differ. I received the help that I needed. Some people might say, “Oh I wish I could receive extensions for homework” or “I wish I had extra time to write tests.” Since being able to have these accommodations, I try very hard to work towards the deadline date just as everyone else. When I write a test, I try very hard to write within the time frame. I have yet to use the extra time or yet to ask for an extension.

Now in my first year of university, I am thankful that I pushed myself. Most importantly, I am thankful that my family supported me.

One of the big changes after my car accident was my friendships. Even though I made some new friends, I lost some as well. I wasn’t able to play sports. I wasn’t able to go on the rides at the fair. I couldn’t do the things I used to do. My life changed. My memory was shot. My attention didn’t fair. I had frequent panic attacks. I fell a year behind in school. I also missed a lot of school in high school because of frequent headaches.

I know that immediately after my car accident, everyone kept telling me, “Life is going to be different.” I knew it was going to be different. School was different. Friends treated me differently. I knew it was going to be different, and I didn’t have to be told that. What those people failed to also tell me was that is that I wouldn’t be much different from anyone else, if I worked hard and if I developed a routine/system that works for me.

Looking at me, one will never guess that I have an ABI. This is the problem with having an ABI. Nobody knows (That is not to say one should go around advertising they have one, but one shouldn’t be afraid to tell someone they have it without fear of being judged).Another problem is that nobody understands. Not even your family (I know my family loves me, and vice versa, but they will never understand what I went through immediately after my accident).

People with an ABI need support, encouragement, and motivation. When I say anything is possible, I mean anything is possible. I believe that people in the health care system, limit their patients to what they are really capable of doing. Ever hear of those stories where people are told they can never walk again, but they worked very hard at learning how to walk again. They worked so hard, that they actually defied a doctor’s word and actually walked again. That is what it is like for having an ABI.

People kept telling me I would have memory problems and attention problems, amongst other problems (like problems in certain subject areas). I will admit that I did have those problems, but I worked very hard at not wanting to have them anymore. I wanted to remember, and still work on my memory today. I know it seems like a trivial thing to most people, but imagine not having a very good memory at the age of 15 years, or better yet no memory at all. I woke up every day. I forced myself to remember what happened the previous day. Some days I could remember. Other days I couldn’t even remember going to bed. I would ask myself, “How did I end up in bed?” I worked hard at my memory. I even got a waitressing job at 18 years old. My memory still wasn’t that great. By getting this job, I knew very well I would have to remember people’s orders, even if I wrote the orders down–I would have to remember who ordered what and at what table. That job certainly helped my memory. I could make quick change and remember several orders at a time on several tables, and even remembered regular customers’ drinks. I also did (and still do) frequent logic and other types of puzzles to help build my brain again. One might look at my bookshelf and say I am a “nerd.” Nope, I am just trying to build my brain again.

My life since the car accident has changed. It has changed for the better. I have many dreams and goals. One of my dreams is to share my story. My message would be to others: Don’t give up. Simple enough. Yet, what I want people to learn from my story is that it’s the little things that matter in life. Don’t take them for granted because for me the only thing that mattered at one point is that I made it through the day just so that I could live to remember it tomorrow.

I hope one day to be that person that others can go to and look up to for guidance, advice, and be comfortable enough to share their own story with me!

Education

Canada, Education, First Nations Leave a comment

On my campus there is a Blue Chair Campaign.

This campaign I fully support and appreciate.

Unfortunately, because of this campaign I am reminded of the issues that Aboriginals face regarding education (which the campaign strives to bring attention to as mentioned on their site).

One of the misconceptions that people have about Aboriginals and education is that “we get everything for free.” No. It’s not like that. For my reservation, it works like a scholarship, and we can only take education in a forward fashion (meaning I can’t go to university and then decide to go to college). Some reservations, don’t even receive adequate funding to help with post-secondary pursuits. So, no, education is not free.

This also reminds me of the fact that many other young Aboriginals do not even have access to high school education IN CANADA! At my high school every year, there were a group of Aboriginal students that were “shipped down” from their reserve to attend high school in a “urbanized centre.” My hometown isn’t all that big, but to go from a town of only a few hundred, surrounded by your family since birth and then “shipped” to another region by a train and/or a plane ride away can be quite traumatizing (culture shock) for some. This is what goes on in Canada for Aboriginal students at the high-school level. They don’t even have access to high school education in their community. They have to live with a strange family in a strange community for four years, and some only for one year because they never return after the first. So, no, Aboriginals don’t get education for free.

This also reminds me of the stories I would hear when I was younger about northern community schools lacking heating and water systems. Some of these schools had to be shut down for a periods of time because of the lack of safety for students in the community (gas leaks, bad/leaky roof tops, no heat). This makes me sad when I think about this. Those children experienced elementary education with enough interruptions to cause delays in learning/education. So, no, Aboriginals don’t get everything for free.

I hope that when people see this blue chair campaign that it is not just post-secondary education that can’t be accessed in Canada. For some it was high school. For others it was a warm elementary school.