Author Archives: SukhjeevanPannun

I would like to conclude my posts with calling to attention another issue with decolonization and truth and reconciliation. Our Prime Minister has acknowledged one of the important Indigenous groups that is not being given its fair treatment in our society is the women. Many Indigenous women have been murdered or declared missing, and at times there has not been equal levels of police inquiry into these cases. One factor that could help change policing attitude towards Missing and Murder Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) is the commitment and action from Canada’s Prime Minister. Instead, we see how the PM has said he cares about this issue but not taken action.

Ultimately, action is going to be the key, even our words in Land Acknowledgement are not enough unless we truly take action. This is my last thought for the blog posts in this course and one of my key takeaways from the course. Words only go so far, ultimately actions need to occur to make any difference in reconciliation for the Indigenous peoples.

https://ipolitics.ca/2020/06/03/on-anniversary-of-mmiwg-report-trudeau-opts-not-to-share-release-date-of-action-plan/

Indigenous people have been given lots of lip service by many of our Canadian leaders. Justin Trudeau has often made himself seem to be an ally of Indigenous people, though he simultaneously spent $4.5 billion on the Trans-Mountain pipeline. Ultimately, this shows that saying you will be an ally for truth and reconciliation and truly being an ally seems to be elusive to the country’s Prime Minister. This shows that there are gaps that still need to be closed for a true implementation of the calls to action from the Truth and Reconciliation commission. What is necessary is for allies to call out and keep our politicians accountable. Until then, politicians can continue to abuse the system, say what they need, and not be held accountable.

https://www.thenation.com/article/activism/wetsuweten-canada-pipeline-protests/

The recent development in a class action lawsuit by Indigenous peoples against the Canadian government regarding access to clean drinking water is a perfect example of how decolonization and reconciliation have not reached the required standard. The fact that 142,000 individuals from 258 nations are being considered for compensation means that a large portion of individuals in Canada don’t have access to a minimal standard for life. How can we expect Indigenous people to have reconciliation for the injustice they have faced when they do not have access to something as simple as clean drinking water? We need to provide Indigenous people with access to minimal human necessary resources, so nothing more is going to be something we should expect. By trying to provide these minimal requirements we can ideally move towards reconciliation and providing Indigenous people the chance to move forward.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/drinking-water-class-action-proposed-settlement-1.6123251

Given the need for decolonization and its steps in moving forward Canada’s relationship with the Indigenous peoples, I felt it was important to address the truth and reconciliation commission and its 94 calls to action. The TRC is broken down into the following categories, under Legacy, child welfare, education, language and culture, health, and justice, and under Reconciliation, Canadian governments and UN declaration on the rights of Indigenous peoples, royal proclamation and covenant of reconciliation, settlement agreement parties and the United Nations, equity for Aboriginal peoples in the legal system, national council for reconciliation, professional development and training for public servants, church apologies and reconciliation, education for reconciliation, youth programs, museums and archives, missing children and burial information, national centre for truth and reconciliation, commemoration, media and reconciliation, sports and reconciliation, business and reconciliation, and newcomers to Canada.

So far, the only one I have seen make public news is missing children and burial information. Even church apologies and reconciliation has not reached its needed fruition. This is an indication that Canada has failed to truly make amends to Indigenous peoples and fulfill the needs of the Indigenous peoples.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/truth-and-reconciliation-94-calls-to-action-1.3362258

I read the steps outlined by Mark Aquash in regards to decolonization and the process. Aquash outlines 4 steps, rediscovery and recovery, closure, visioning, commitment, and action.

Rediscovery and recovery involve language, identity, and culture. The rediscovery and recovery phase can lead to increased interest and inspire further research into these areas.

Closure involves not allowing the anger towards colonization to be a constant stopping block. Instead of sitting in the grief, Aquash says it must be confronted and used as a source of empowerment to continue the decolonization process.

Visioning is the phase where new ideas can be considered as to how to change the current societal structures. The systems that must be revisited are the “political, social, economic, judicial, administrative, and educational”. This is when the colonial structures are ideally going to be changed to decolonized systems.

Commitment involves the Indigenous communities uniting and sharing a single voice as they commit to the decolonization process. Finally, action is working on making changes and bringing forward the decolonized structures that were thought of during visioning.

Reference

https://ineducation.ca/ineducation/article/view/142/617

Room for optimism comes from language revitalization in New Zealand. They have been able to have Maori more regularly included in daily rituals (answering the phone and signing off emails), and the goal is to increase language proficiency by 2040, such that 20% of the population can speak the language. Some of the ways the country is helping with this is implementing the language into its schools and having it supported very openly by the country’s Prime Minister. The national radio broadcaster also has a morning show host who presents information in Maori first before doing the same in English. These steps to make the language more public have helped some Indigenous New Zealanders deal with discrimination and stigmas. There is still some pushback, but this seems to be a step in the right direction and some motivation for us that the Coast Salish languages can and will be revitalized.

Link to Article is the image:

Hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ is the language spoken by the Tsleil-Waututh Nation. This is the same dialect of Halq’eméylem that the Musqueam Nation speaks. The Tsleil-Waututh Nation has outlined a plan to try and have 5 fluent speakers as soon as possible, relying on records and documentation, since again there are no living fluent speakers. Another resource they are trying to take advantage of is working with Həl̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ speakers from Vancouver Island. Since Hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ and Həl̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ are both dialects of Halq’eméylem, they share similarities. There is optimism for the revitalization of Hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ since there are already 3 mid to high level speakers from the Tsleil-Waututh nation.

The Squamish Nation is the only Indigenous group that speaks Skwxwú7mesh Snichim. The relative specificity of the language in its traditional areas of use means that it too is a critically endangered language. Due to this acknowledgment, the Squamish are putting together a strategic framework to try and revitalize the language. The Squamish understand the importance of maintaining their language for their future generations.

Currently, only 6 people are considered fluent speakers, this is very risky because of how quickly the language could be lost. Only the North Vancouver school district currently offers the Squamish language in its schools. Hopefully this along with the continued efforts from the Squamish people will be enough to help their language survive.

https://www.sd44.ca/school/queenmary/ProgramsServices/SquamishLanguage/Pages/default.aspx#/=

http://www.endangeredlanguages.com/lang/1450

https://www.squamish.net/squamish-language-policy-framework/

https://www.squamish.net/about-us/our-culture/#language

My first deep dive into language was to see what language is spoken by the Musqueam nation. The traditional language of the Musqueam people is hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓. I was able to find out that this is one of 3 dialects of Halq’eméylem, with hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ being spoken by downriver nations (nations closer to the Salish Sea).

According to Vanessa Campbell, a TA in UBC’s First Nations and Endangered Languages program, there currently are no fluent speakers of hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓. This is of course a major concern for maintaining the way of life and culture of the Musqueam nation. There needs to be continued effort for language revitalization of hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ and efforts need to be put forward to allow for this language to be taught in our schools. Currently, only the Langley school district appears to be offering hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ as a language choice, this needs to be remedied moving forward.

https://www.nsnews.com/local-arts/bill-reid-gallery-exhibit-uses-hunquminum-phrase-in-title-as-tribute-to-musqueam-language-3106578

https://www.firstvoices.com/explore/FV/sections/Data/Salish/Halkomelem/Halq%27eméylem/learn

https://www.musqueam.bc.ca/departments/community-services/language/

I need to start this blog post by thanking Dr. Hardman, she introduced me to this video and I must say it is very impactful. The points made by Khelsilem Rivers made me reconsider what is important when it comes to decolonizing education. The ways he discusses language as being an eye into one’s way of life and understanding of the world has really resonated with me. The ways we think are shaped by the language that we use and our vocabulary. One cannot describe something they cannot put into words. The importance of language and fluency for a languages survival have been highlighted in this video and will guide my next 3 posts as I try and do a deep dive on language(s) spoken and fluency for the Coast Salish nations.