Hello Class 470-99c,
I’m that guy that posted a few too many facebook questions regarding the blog posts. As you may have been able to tell, I’m technologically challenged for a “millennial” (I’m over that buzzword, but I can’t seem to escape it). I’m also a language and literature major with a psych minor. My greatest passion is writing, and if any of you are interested, I’m always happy to share my published works and collaborate on out-of-class projects.
I look forward to reading your blog posts throughout the term and collaborating on the research project due March 31st. Since this is an interactive and collaborative course, send me as many facebook messages as you like—just know that I stay away from all social media in the evenings (I have a meme, Trump, and armchair activism threshold that cuts off around 7 PM).
I am happy to see that this course focuses on indigenous communities and culture rather than primarily focusing on history from a settler’s point of view. Upon completing this course, I expect to have knowledge that allows me to dismantle and possibly roast my uncle next time he makes a negative comment about progressive ideas related to indigenous communities. That was facetious (kind of), but I am looking forward to broadening my knowledge and maybe even changing my perspectives on both historical and current policies.
I knew that this would be an awesome course after reading the first few pages of “Green Grass Running Water.” I look forward to more humour, new insights, and taking risks with storytelling elements. I hope that we can engage in tough subjects with humour and that we can comfortably express our stance no matter what that may be.
Here is one of my favourite articles that might pertain to this course. What if Natives Stopped Subsidizing Canada? The subversion of expectation in the title makes for great rhetoric—in my opinion. And here is an article I recently saw shared on Facebook: Canadian politician made history by giving a speech entirely in the Mohawk language
And since we are required to share a visual, here is a pic of the first and only sweatlodge I entered (I don’t know who is in the pic). As a white dude, it was a rare experience, and it was all thanks to my dad’s good friend, Ernie Phillip “Dancing Bear.”
Thanks for checking out my blog post!
Works Cited
Reserved., . All Rights. “What If Natives Stop Subsidizing Canada?” Canada.com, 2014. All Rights Reserved., 8 Jan. 2013, o.canada.com/news/what-if-natives-stop-subsidizing-canada.
White Wolf. “Canadian Politician Made History by Giving a Speech Entirely in the Mohawk -Language.” White Wolf, www.whitewolfpack.com/2017/06/canadian-politician-made-history- by.html?
Hey Nolan,
I 100% appreciated your facebook questions – I struggle technologically as well and when you posted them it meant that I didn’t have to, so thank you 🙂 I’d love to have an opportunity to read some of your published work over the course of the term.
I am also really pleased to see such a focus on Indigenous communities and culture in the course. I took an Indigenous literature class last semester and it was eyeopening – growing up, Indigenous lit was rarely included in the curriculum and I often feel like I’m really ignorant on most things related to Indigeneity in Canada. During my undergrad as an education student, the Indigenous class (singular, sadly, as I really think more should be required for future teachers) I took was taught by an Indigenous woman, and the perspectives and personal connections that she had to the subject were priceless. The Indigenous class I took last semester was taught by a settler, and I found the contrast in their pedagogical techniques (both incredible professors) to be really interesting.
I read the article you linked (What if Natives Stopped Subsidizing Canada) and found it profoundly fascinating; I think that when precise numbers are given, and the land loss and heartbreak of the Indigenous are monetized, it allows more people coming from a Eurowestern frame of mind to understand. The part about Attawapiskat being “Haiti at 40 below” was gut-wrenching because I think for a lot of Canadians, and for many people abroad, Canada has this stereotype of being super forward thinking, liberal, kind, etc. when in reality, we are doing many many a thing wrong here. When I was living abroad, it was interesting to note how foreigners viewed Canada and Canadians, and how unaware almost all of them were about Canada’s history and treatment of Indigenous peoples. Anyway, that was a bit of a ramble… Thanks so much for sharing that article (and the Mohawk language one as well).
-Kirsten
Oops! Rereading our blogging guidelines… I forgot to ask you a question! Apologies. I’m wondering if you would be comfortable sharing a bit more about your sweatlodge experience? I’ve never had an opportunity to experience one, but I imagine it must be an incredible experience. I’m wondering how it made you feel? You mentioned how rare of an experience it was as a “white dude” – did you feel a degree of discomfort, or were you totally at ease? I volunteered with at-risk youth on the Songhees (https://songheesnation.ca/) reservation in Victoria during my undergrad, and sometimes when the kiddos were discussing ceremonies that were happening at the big house, even though I wasn’t taking part in the ceremonies, I felt a degree of discomfort, and like, as a Caucasian settler, I didn’t have the right to be overhearing their ceremonial practices.
Hi Kirsten,
Sure, the sweatshop I took part in was one where Ernie Philip occasionally brought white people. It was was a small hut with burning rocks in the middle. Ernie, as an elder, would tell stories about his past. There were also little sacks filled with sacred herbs (sage and sweet grass). There were several rounds, each one getting hotter and hotter. The last round included the mother rock, which was scolding hot. This sweat lodge was tiny, it only fit 5-7 people. My father was fortunate enough to be the only white man to experience the real sweat lodge. He said it was much larger and one of the most spiritually significant events in his life. I can’t; however, remember all the details.
Hi Nolan;
Thank you for a great introduction, and for asking ‘the’ questions. I am looking forward to our time working together this semester.