Am I a "terrorist"?

Aboriginal, Terrorists, Western Culture Leave a comment

Tonight, I just finished reading a journal article for political science class. This article was titled, Notes on Terrorism: Origins and Prevention by Ervin Staub.

This article peaked my interest on several instances. Two of these instances included:

1) It mentioned terrorists actions are from reactions to feelings of being marginalized, along side the “clash of their traditional background.” (Staub 2002)

2) “Freedom, democracy, and equal opportunity… would help create societies that would more effectively integrate culture change with tradition” (Staub 2002)

These two stuck out to me because as an Aboriginal, I am aware that both Aboriginals and non-Aboriginals believe the Aboriginal community to be “marginalized.” I believe this as well. By believing this, it reminded me of my previous post on the Canadian Military listing Radical Aboriginal groups as insurgents, which included the Tamils on that list (Aboriginals: Past Insurgents). It made me question myself, “Does the fact that Aboriginals are considered to be marginalized really mean I can possibly be one day considered/profiled as a terrorist?” I only ask this because of the factual belief that Aboriginals are marginalized, and that the Canadian military once believed that “radical Aboriginal groups” were “insurgents.” Does this mean that all groups that are marginalized and “radical” are terrorists? Does that mean I am going to be profiled when I try to cross the international border or board a plane? I certainly hope not.

The second point really stuck out because I asked myself: Which culture with which tradition? Does this mean that the lesser of the two cultures in one society is to be marginalized to fit the tradition of the more dominant culture? If that is the case, does that not mean that the first point makes no sense if the second one is enforced. Only because the second point will create more marginalization if the lesser of the two cultures in society is to be “effectively integrated” by “culture change with tradition” into the more dominant culture aka Westernized by tradition and culture.

This article also reminded me of the time I was once approached by a non-Aboriginal person after knowing them for a few months. She approached me and said, “I didn’t know you were Aboriginal. I thought you were kind of intimidating and scary when I first met you.”(As if being Aboriginal and “scary” go hand-in-hand). At first I laughed and then I asked her why she thought I was “scary.” She replied, “Because you didn’t talk to me.” I told her, “Just because I am shy, doesn’t mean I am scary”

With that being said, let me tell you two things about the “big bad scary” me:

1) I will be the first one to scream when the lights suddenly go out.

2) At the site of a spider, I scream and run…. 20 feet away from the spider.

Based on this article and based on this ignorant conversation I had with one person, I am left questioning my own self and my own identity once again, and most importantly left with many unanswered questions. One of these questions being: will I be profiled as a terrorist one day just because I am a “marginalized” group that should have my culture “integrated” into “traditional” society aka Westernized?

State of Emergency v. 2

Boil water advisory, State of Emergency Leave a comment

Here is another example of what goes on in Northern Ontario. All too often. Boil water advisories is what I am referring to. It’s stories like this don’t receive the attention that I believe they should.

Read the story HERE.

To read my previous posts on two other declared state of emergencies in 2010 within Ontario (not just Northern Ontario) click on either title below:

Sign here: _____X____

Canada, First Nations, History Leave a comment

I am going to start signing all my legal documents to the government with an “x”. If some of the past Aboriginal chiefs did it when signing treaties with the government, why can’t I do it today? Oh wait, signing an “x” means the government won’t be able actual know it was ME who signed it (you know, they care about my identity and the possibility of it being stolen… yeah, right) and it also tells the government that I don’t have “literacy” skills.

So, why was an “x” sufficient back then?

Dear Life

Dear Life, First Nations, University Leave a comment

Dear Life,

Why is it whenever I meet someone and they ask if I am Native, they flood me with a slew of questions that I sometimes have no idea what the answer is? Yes, my people may have survived off the land. No, I don’t know how to live off the land nor can I show you how to live off the land. Yes, I can fish. No, I don’t fish whenever, where ever… just on my reserve, usually in the summer time and in the winter when the ice is thick enough. Yes, I used a bow and arrow before. No, I don’t own one (and it is called a compound bow not a “bow and arrow”). Yes, we use guns when we hunt. No, I don’t hunt all the time, nor do I own a gun, and I definitely can’t show you how to use one.

Why are people so fascinated in asking the question “Are you Native?” How would they like it if I asked, “Are you white?” And continued with: Really, what kind of “white” are you?

Or are those questions not “politically correct”?

It seems that because I am Native I should be majoring in First Nations studies. (There is nothing wrong in a First Nations student studying First Nations but stop the assumptions already.) Whenever someone asks me if I am in university, I say yes. They then ask me if I am doing the “First Nations Studies.” I guess it would make sense if I did. Yet, nobody asks a “black” person, are you majoring in African American Studies? Or a “white” person, are you majoring in Italian or Greek? Wait, do those majors even exist?

First Nations studies is without a doubt an interesting subject, but just because I am a “Native” does not mean I am a “First Nations studies” major. Although, I am debating on whether or not I should be. 😉

Thank you

Little Miss Kwe

Pie Face

First Nations, Heather Robertson, Racism, Tomson Highway Leave a comment

In my grade 12 English class, I chose to do my “book report” on a Native Canadian Playwright: Tomson Highway.

I read two of his plays and a book by Heather Robertson called “Reservations are for Indians.”

I can’t really remember much about my actual report/paper part of the project. What do I remember is my presentation.

To start off my presentation, I showed the class a clip from a movie called “Smoke Signals” which is one of my favorite movies! The non-Aboriginal students didn’t get it. The Aboriginal students somewhat giggled in the back of the room (you know the shy, quiet giggle).

Even before showing the class the movie clip, I had them wear name tags. On these name tags I pre-printed racial slurs commonly thrown at Aboriginals, young, old, present, past…

I remember one girl didn’t want to wear the name tag. Her name tag read “pie face.” Her friends laughed at her. She said she didn’t “feel comfortable wearing a racial slur.” I replied, “Imagine being called that just by being who you are.” Another girl giggled at “blanket bum.” I explained the history behind “blanket bum.” She stopped giggling. Apparently, when I researched the racial slur “blanket bum” and “pie face” this is what was found:

1) Blanket bum: The “white man” infested blankets with small pox and distributed them to the Aboriginals for them to use and sleep with. Aboriginals frequently used blankets to sit on. Hence the term “blanket bum.”

2) Pie face: This represents the shape of the face. Some Aboriginals have “flat” faces.***

The information presented in this post relating to the racial slurs is what I remember reading in my research; I did not come up with interpretations/explanations. There could be many different interpretations/explanations available for either “slur.”

Sometimes, I just wish people can understand the effects of throwing a racial slur at someone, especially if they cannot change who they are (because they were born that way). Something like a racial slur sticks with a person forever.

***Please note that this is the information I found at the time. I would love to know if this information/article, which I remember word for word, I found then has any truth behind these racial slurs. Leave a comment to correct any information posted here.

Keeping Indianson the Reserve

Canada, First Nations, Harper, Off-reserve, Voting Leave a comment

Today I read an article on the Globe and Mail called Harper Dismisses Radical Moves on Abortion and Gun Laws.

This post isn’t about abortion or gun laws it’s about this quote here: Canadians, he thinks, are comfortable with his government, even when they disagree with it, and he wants to reassure them he plans no radical moves.. “He” being Harper.

The fact that he believes that citizens of Canada don’t really care about the government and the decisions the governments make is pretty bold. A book I read called “Ill Fares The Land” by Tony Judt relates to Harper’s statement. Judt basically said in his book that “young people” don’t care (not verbatim). He mostly wrote about EU and the US, but I could agree that what he says in that book can be applied to Canada. Just ask any young Canadian today about the Gun law Harper put on the back burner again and how it’s supposed to make it easier to catch people who use guns to commit crime. Do you think they could answer? Or would they much rather answer a question about Bieber, Hilton or a Kardashian?

I do believe this can be changed. As an Aboriginal Canadian, I believe that Aboriginal Canadians can be the one to change this. How? Well, it’s plastered all over Stats-Can: Aboriginals are the fastest growing population, with the greater number of them being aged 18-27.

Even though I am a huge advocate/supporter to initiatives that support and motivate young Aboriginals, I am kind of a hypocrite when I write this post. I have never voted in my life (well since I turned 18–the “voting age” in Canada). I wanted to vote, except when I lived in the city closest to my reservation and I walked up to the polling station for the first time to vote I was told, “you have to go to the polling stations on your reservation.” I didn’t have a car, and couldn’t find a ride to the polling stations on my reservation. Did that mean that I had to change my address to my city address in order to vote off my reservation? Yup, it sure did. So that meant I had to change my identification to reflect my new address change (and that would mean I would lose some of my tax-exemption rights because when I present my tax-exemption card to some businesses they ask for my “proof of reserve address.” I have to prove to them the product is going to be used on reserve land.) Another form of racism? Maybe. Marginalization? Maybe. Or maybe it’s just another effort to keeping “Indians” on the “reserve”? Maybe.

Since moving to a Southwestern Ontario city, I have never voted since that time. I wonder how many more Aboriginals living off-reserve are in the same situation? If there are many, just think of the changes that can be made if Aboriginals knew that they could vote off-reserve without changing their address (just so they don’t lose some of their rights). Imagine if all Aboriginals who could vote, did vote, whether they live on or off-reserve. Just think of the changes that can be made then.

Do you think Harper would be thinking along the lines of, “Even if they disagreed, they wouldn’t care.” I think not.

Little Miss Kwe

First Nations, Little Miss Kwe, Ojibway, Ojibwe, School Leave a comment

So the other day someone said, “I saw your blog, it said ‘qu-we.'”

For those that don’t know, I am Aboriginal. More specifically I am Three Fires. Even more specifically, Ojibwe, Odawa, Potawatomi. But I learned to speak three different dialects of Ojibwe back in elementary school and high school. I didn’t learn much beyond animals, numbers, places, directions, some actions which is one of the multigenerational effects of Residential schools: loss of language–as Aboriginal children weren’t allowed to speak their native tongue (if they did, they were severely punished).

One of the things I do remember being taught is that “Kwe” means “Woman” or “Lady.” Yes, there are different spellings and I am going off the spelling I was taught in elementary school by my favourite teacher: Mrs. Naogizic (whose name I forget how to spell, sorry!)

I don’t know why I chose “Little Miss Kwe” as my blog name. I guess I wanted it to have some sort of Aboriginal vibe to it. But in truth, I think it sounds nice… Little Miss Kwe. (Oh and “Kwe” is pronounced “q’way.”)

I figured I would write about this and share with it since someone already thought it said “qu-we” (and this person actually pronounced the “we” as the actual English word “we”). Not their fault, but I corrected them. “We” in Ojibwe is pronounced “way.” I guess that sums it up with what I am really trying to say.

Residential Schools(Miseducation)

Canada, First Nations, Miseducation, Residential Schools, School Leave a comment

The other day our professor asked in class: what are some push and pull factors for youth leaving school?

Some of my peers answered: Drugs, family.

Our professor replied: Those are pull factors.

I raised my hand and said: Knowing this as a First Nations student, some teachers have a certain view about First Nations’ issues and the way they present those issues may affect other First Nations students.

What I really wanted to say: A teacher at my high school told her class that Residential Schools were created to educate First Nation children, when in fact they were really created to assimilate First Nations into “mainstream” culture. That type of miseducation can marginalize what really happened and what continues to affect certain communities and families who had members enter the Residential school system. In turn, affecting the way First Nations students view the material being taught in school: just a bunch of nonsense.