After reading Hare’s, “Learning from Indigenous Knowledge in Education” I felt extremely sad. I feel that residential schools are a stain on Canadian culture that will be difficult to ever wash away but we must try to find a new path, new optimisms, and new hopes. While I have heard many shocking stories of residential schools, the quotes from First Nations people in this article brought tears to my eyes. As a father of 2 girls I would be completely devastated to see them taken from me. It made me feel ashamed to be caucasian.

As I scanned the internet afterwards, I found a site called “Warrior Publications” (also a WordPress site!) which report news of current struggles First Nations people are involved in across Canada. Recently, there have been articles posted about mining explorations in Alberta and oil pipelines – hot topics of debate across all of BC right now. The site also promotes “warrior culture, fighting spirit, and resistance movements.“. T-shirts have been fashioned for sale which showcase art by Indigenous artist Gord Hill, Kwakwaka’wakw. The images show traditional animals taking back the land by destroying signs of modern progress (ex. trains and pipelines). Another image “commemorates the 1802 Tlingit attack on the main Russian fort at Sitka” which is a frightening depiction of a First Nations warrior about to “finish off” a settler (?) who has a gun lying nearby.

When I see images like this, I believe that the artist is reflecting on how life would be different today if colonists were not welcomed with warmth by First Nations people. If white people had been “finished off” like in the T-shirt, perhaps the legacy of hurt would have been avoided.

I believe that we can continue to build a new Canada together, where I and my children can learn from the past and from our Aboriginal peoples. Where all peoples can exercise their rights to language and culture, and accept and celebrate our differences. I know that I will be part of a positive change in thinking and will be supportive of educational initiatives promoting First Nations.

Mel Burgess.

As I read the articles for this first Module, and think about the power of media on indigenous people, it brought back memories of a good friend of mine, Nilesh Patel. Nilesh and I grew up in Prince George, BC, which, when I used to live there, I described as a “big town with a small town attitude”. It was a tough place – especially if you “stood out”.

Years after we both moved away, Nilesh went on to become a movie producer / creative director. He made a documentary style film to begin what he describes as a “raw” debate between aboriginal and non-aboriginal peoples. The goal – to start real dialogue.

He chose to look carefully at a radio station tape release called “Brocket 99”. I still have yet to listen to this tape. I don’t think I would enjoy it. Nilesh explains how it (the tape / tapes) had a cult like following. They were not being sold or released anywhere, yet people recorded these radio sessions and then passed them on to friends or family. The premise of the radio sessions is a humouristic (I use that term very loosely as I don’t find it funny at all) representation of a radio station, called “Brocket 99”, is run by First Nations people in a small town – the town of Brocket, Alberta. The radio station personalities however are being played by non-First Nations people and it is offensive in all of its aspects.

I find I have many unanswered questions. How popular was Brockett 99? What was the result of Nilesh’s campaign to have dialogue? Why is it okay for people to “bash” their own culture, yet it is repulsive if others outside that culture do it? But then I think of comedians who make a living on bashing their own or other cultures, like Russell Peters. Is it okay for someone, who is perhaps a visible minority in one area to make jokes at the expense of other cultures or their own culture? Apparently the answer is “Yes” if you look at how much money top comedians make. One source I found estimates that Russell Peters earned approximately $10 million dollars in 2008!

I have contacted my friend Nilesh and intend to get to the bottom of this. I am interested in learning more of how media played a role in the “success” of “Brocket 99”, and then the response to Nilesh’s rebuttal, “Brocket 99 – Rockin’ the Country”…

Mel Burgess.