By Maya Honda-Granirer
On a sunny Saturday afternoon, members of the community from all walks of life gathered at the Kerrisdale Community Centre to view a screening of the documentary, Emerging Ancestors made by the Vancouver Arts Colloquium Society. As part of the new Truth and Reconciliation initiative of the Community Engagement Committee of the Kerrisdale Community Centre Society, the event used this film as a prompt to amplify the voices of Indigenous peoples and elicit meaningful conversations about our personal and collective relationship with decolonization. With a long and windy road ahead to true justice for the Indigenous peoples of Canada, these conversations will undoubtedly serve as a vital step in the journey.
Canada’s history of colonization dates back to the late 15th century, when the first British and French colonizers came to the eastern provinces and soon began building settlements in a bloody race for domination over the land. For the next 500 years, Indigenous peoples were stolen from, oppressed, and abused. From the undisguised theft of Indigenous land, to the Indian Act of 1876, to the horror of residential schools in the 19th and 20th centuries, the extent of cultural genocide that Indigenous peoples have been subject to cannot be understated.
Today, colonialism lives on. Not only have the past injustices committed against Indigenous peoples not been properly rectified, but Indigenous rights, voices, and wisdom continue to be suppressed and looked down upon. The disparities between Indigenous peoples and the rest of the population are staggering, and they extend to all areas of society, including education, employment, mental and physical health, and even access to clean water. When looking at the numbers, the inequality becomes even more apparent: 83% of Indigenous women report difficulty in accessing healthcare in BC due to systemic inequalities, Indigenous women and girls have faced a homicide rate roughly 4.5 times higher than that of all other women in Canada in the past four decades, and 25% of Indigenous peoples in Canada are living in poverty, compared to the 7.4% national poverty rate. In addition to the economic and social inequality that exists as a legacy of colonialism, the Canadian government has largely neglected its commitment to respecting Indigenous rights to self-governance and sovereignty. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada presented calls to action in 2015, which outline important steps toward reconciliation, decolonization, and justice. However, only 13 out of the 94 calls to action have been honoured thus far, for a rate of fewer than 2 calls to action per year. Some of the calls to action that have yet to be implemented include “4. Enact Indigenous Child Welfare legislation,” “43. Fully adopt and implement United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as the framework for reconciliation,” and “72. Provide sufficient resources to develop and maintain the National Residential School Student Death Register.” Furthermore, violence against Indigenous sovereignty and the ignorance of Indigenous voices continue today at the hands of the government. Starting in 2020, members of the Wet’suwet’en Nation who protested the construction of the coastal GasLink pipeline – on their own ancestral and unceded land – have been harassed, arrested, and prosecuted by the RCMP and other Canadian government institutions.
More than ever, the dismantling of colonial oppression is vital for the livelihood of Indigenous peoples and the future of Canada. This idea is formally known as decolonization, and it aims not to eradicate Western elements from Canada or go back in time, but to restore Indigenous lands, sovereignty, culture, languages, and voices, which have been suppressed for far too long. Decolonization carries with it the recognition of the ever-present influence of colonization in our Eurocentric society. Not only for tangible elements such as land, wealth, and power, decolonization aims to rebalance the intangible disparities that exist in Canadian society today. Such inequalities include the status quo of Eurocentric dominance and control of all major institutions, and the lack of Indigenous representation in government, education, and media. At its core, decolonization is about challenging Western superiority and creating a society in which Indigenous voices and wisdom can be seen as worthy and equal.
After the Emerging Ancestors film screening at Kerrisdale Community Centre on June 17th of this year, audience members participated in discussions on decolonization, facilitated by Musqueam artist Grace Ulu. The room was set up with tables and chairs to allow for small group discussions. At each table station, participants were prompted with a question, whether it was about their thoughts on the film, their own definition of decolonization, or their personal commitments towards justice for Indigenous peoples. Responses to questions were both discussed among group members and written down on a thin slip of paper. These slips of paper were gathered at the end of the event and transformed into a collaborative art piece by Grace Ulu, which features the responses arranged on a canvas, juxtaposed with the cross-section of a thick tree trunk. This art piece is an homage to the conversations that took place that day as well as the collective efforts toward decolonization. Many of the participants, who previously did not know much about decolonization and its importance, left the event with renewed, personal connections to decolonization and a commitment to engage more with Canada’s Indigenous peoples and cultures.
“As a Japanese, decolonization means accepting the history of Japanese colonization and understanding the painful memories of the people and their descendants in the affected countries.” ~ participant
“We are all “Indigenous” in our own perspectives and ways, so how do we accept something beyond our lifetime as our “home” or “history”? The film answers by communicating through the arts and stories. This drives me to focus more on how to make someone feel and how to formulate meaningful experiences for others.” ~ a participant
“It made me think about what I should pass on to the next generation.” ~ a participant
For many non-Indigenous people in Canada today, decolonization can be an unfamiliar concept that evokes hostility, fear, and resentment. The word “settler” is often seen as derogatory and insulting, and many feel threatened by the Land Back efforts that have been carried out in recent years. The reasons for such bitter reactions are complex and wide-ranging; many people who live in Canada are immigrants and may find it harder to accept themselves as colonizers or settlers, others see decolonization as a threat to their Western way of life, some may look down on Indigenous knowledge and deem it unworthy of respect. Most of the hostility towards decolonization, however, stems from a misunderstanding of the word itself, as well as ineffective communication between those with different viewpoints. It is vital to raise awareness about the true meaning of decolonization and how it applies to us all; no matter when we came here, or where we came from, we are all settlers on this land, and we all have a part to play in dismantling the colonial systems that continue to affect it. Of course, with any conversation, and especially for one about a contentious topic, it is vital that it is grounded in a place of mutual respect. Therefore, it is unproductive to alienate or vilify an opposing viewpoint, as easy as that can be. Discussions on decolonization must happen with different viewpoints and people at the table in order for true progress to be made. Thanks to VACS and Grace Ulu’s work at the Emerging Ancestors film screening, participants and viewers were able to engage in just that.
With people of diverse backgrounds, cultures, histories, and ages present at the workshop, everyone had something different to say about decolonization. Many reflected upon the importance of acknowledging and learning more about Indigenous philosophies – especially those having to do with land stewardship and the idea of water as a living, breathing spirit. To others, decolonization meant seeking out the wisdom of Indigenous elders, expanding Indigenous access to healthcare and support services, and pursuing actions that can lead to healing and forgiveness. Some participants from multicultural backgrounds highlighted in their responses how decolonization is relevant to the Indigenous peoples of their home countries, such as France and Japan. The wide variety of reflections and connections presented by participants highlights the beauty of our multicultural and multifaceted identities. By sharing their thoughts and experiences, while also opening their minds to learn something new, those at the workshop gained a more accurate and constructive perspective on decolonization and were able to have meaningful discussions about it.
The Emerging Ancestors film screening and the discussion workshop that followed shed light on the importance of talking about decolonization today. Decolonization cannot simply consist of actions carried out by the Canadian government or advocacy by Indigenous communities alone. As colonialism continues to impact each and every one of us, the responsibility to educate ourselves and to actively support decolonization efforts falls on all of our shoulders. Decolonization should be carried forth with pride and proactiveness, rather than with guilt, shame, or apologies. There are small steps that each of us can take on a daily basis to decolonize in our immediate lives, whether it be supporting Indigenous creators and businesses, participating in workshops like the Kerrisdale-Musqueam Story Circle, learning about Indigenous customs, languages, music, and histories, or seeking out conversations with Indigenous elders.
It is also important to note that decolonization does not only affect the livelihood of the Indigenous populations of Canada – it affects us all. The wealth of knowledge that is held within Indigenous teachings has been overlooked for so long, but it may just prove vital to securing a future for our future generations. With environmental catastrophes becoming increasingly destructive and frequent, it is long overdue to acknowledge the faults of Western capitalist thinking and to turn to Indigenous communities, who have been stewards of the land for thousands of years before it was colonized. For instance, Indigenous peoples in Canada used the controlled burning of forests to maintain wildlife habitats, manage pests, and prevent larger, uncontrollable forest fires. This was seen as despicable by European colonizers and the practice was consequently banned. However, with forest fires threatening cities and homes all across BC today, it may be wise for us to learn something from traditional Indigenous wisdom.
Decolonization is a complex and multifaceted issue that extends into our past as well as our future. It will require action on the part of both Indigenous and non-Indigenous people, communities, and institutions. Indigenous or not, we all have a part to play in recognizing and dismantling the harms of colonialism today. Decolonization goes a step further than rectifying past injustices: it aims to address the current injustices faced by Indigenous peoples and restore Indigenous power and perspectives for the good of everyone in Canada. The film screening workshop at Kerrisdale Community Centre offers a beam of hope and optimism; as long as we are willing to learn from each other, reflect upon ourselves, and extend care and compassion to those with different pasts, we are well on our way to a decolonized future.
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The Colloquium 