Introduction: 

1. Team Coyote’s aim for this conference is to present research strategies that support cultural preservation for the Indigenous people of Canada. Our first step is to research the impact of colonialism on cultural preservation for the Indigenous population. Next, we aim to present ways for the Indigenous people to maintain their cultural/traditional values which are predicated on our research findings. Moreover, our research provides an insight into the attempted silencing of the Indigenous traditional practices as a result of colonial influence, and has produced ways to maintain Indigenous cultural preservation.
2. Our research directly addresses the call to action which is to present strategies for Indigenous cultural and traditional preservation. We have addressed this through researching the effects of colonization as cultural genocide, clinical practices in family counselling that focus on Aboriginal healing and the Indigenous way of knowing.   

Central points: 

1. The importance of adopting the approach of an ally, rather than that of a “savior,” when addressing our research
2. Advocating for structural change in the education system
3. Self empowerment in Indigenous communities 
4. Continuing to push for more Indigenous people to be in positions of governmental or societal power.

Issues: 

1. An issue that came to our attention was regarding our terminology used in our dialogue including words like “help” to define our intervention strategies and “them” in reference to Indigenous people in our analysis. Moreover, this comment stated the dangers in using this terminology because it could justify a perspective of viewing the Indigenous people as ‘victims’, which also reinforces an ‘us vs. them’ phenomena. We address this criticism by agreeing that we are aware of the dangers of this terminology which creates a power divide implying that ‘we’ as researchers need to help save ‘them’. However, we respond to this criticism by citing a sub-section in our analysis regarding the process of healing through a technological perspective and a clinical perspective which have one commonality: the Indigenous voice. Guindon’s article addresses the concept of Aboriginal healing in efforts to restore psychological/physical well-being in the path for recovering from colonialism. Moreover, the information collected by Guindon was through his fieldwork and stories directly from the Mistissini people, in which our analysis has sustained the ‘Indigenous voice’ in addressing Aboriginal healing practices from a fieldwork study.
   Furthermore, our analysis regarding the clinical approach in addressing the ‘Indigenous way of knowing’ is derived on the importance of unity in forming a communal connection through recognizing culture and communal interaction. We focused on the social constructivist approach presented by an Indigenous counselling psychology professor, Suzanne Stewart, which is driven by the importance for practitioners to understand the Indigenous way of knowing as defined by the Indigenous people. This approach allows for counselling psychologists to use methods that implement the Indigenous voice in their clinical practice in order to maintain Aboriginal traditions and culture, while addressing intergenerational effects of colonialism.

Questions: 

1. Sandra asked: “What specific resources should be returned/provided in order for First Nations citizens to properly heal and be empowered?”
2. Heather asked: “Who has the right to preserve or not preserve knowledge?, What are the protocols in each specific community when preserving culture? Do the communities even want certain aspects of their culture preserved? How much information does each community want to share with the Canadian public? What even is public? Who owns the knowledge when research happens (do universities taken copyrights or ownership, if so, should we continue this project?)”
3. Dilinie questioned whether we have generated any preliminary solutions to preserving Indigenous culture, and if so, what levels these solutions would be implemented.

Short quotations and perspectives:

1. “It can be hazardous to see Indigenous groups as victims, solely, and ignore the strength and resilience that has existed since time immemorial.” (Heather James)
   
   This quotation resonated with the members of Team Coyote and made us each more conscious of the research we conducted. For one, it made us realize that it was imperative to draw much of our research from Indigenous voices— not just those well versed in the matter or those who studied it academically, but those who experienced the effects firsthand. It also highlighted the importance of adopting the attitude of ally, rather than saviour, which we think is a distinction that is not always made, but is necessary. Much of the research we found consisted of firsthand accounts and narratives by Indigenous people and their communities, which in itself demonstrated to us the strength and resilience mentioned by Heather in this quotation.
2. “Positive structural changes would include: recognizing First Nation peoples as a founding member of Canada (along with the British and the French); education and awareness; and respecting First Nation accounts of history.” (John Wang)
   
   This quote demonstrates our perspective in advocating for structural change in the process of cultural/traditional preservation among the Indigenous people. John’s comment highlights one of our central arguments in addressing change in the education system by challenging misconceptions about Indigenous people, raising awareness by educating today’s youth on the historical impact of colonialism which challenges the fear of the unknown. John’s comment regarding respect for First Nations history is embedded in our analysis through the process of Aboriginal healing in clinical practice when supporting Indigenous clientele in coping with the intergenerational effects of colonialism.
3. “I think a significant portion of healing requires the reclaiming of Aboriginal identity, because it means recovering their values, stories, ideologies, and ultimately fostering self-governance.” (Sandra Wu)
   
   This quote addresses the key values essential for us to keep in mind in our research, as it highlights the importance of enabling a hurting community to regain their own independence and culture. Self-empowerment is a powerful tool as it helps to address the root of the problem, which ultimately will result in greater change for the better in the Aboriginal community.  In our research, we have found that it is absolutely important to integrate Indigenous culture and history into the Canadian education system. This will play a major role in preventing biased stereotypes against Aboriginal people, and challenge the ideologies that have been presented by the colonial mindset of the past.  As Sandra mentioned in her comment,  “a significant portion of healing requires the reclaiming of Aboriginal identity, because it means recovering their values, stories, ideologies, and ultimately fostering self-governance.” This is something that we resonated with through our research from François Guindon regarding methods surrounding restorative one’s psychological and physical well-being, where we found that an essential part of healing resides in the ability to regain a connection with one’s community, land, and cultural heritage. Therefore, Sandra’s comment helps us to further highlight much of the core ideas surrounding healing of the hurting Aboriginal culture, and how we can take the right steps toward helping the Indigenous communities reconcile with their past.
4. “As much as we say we are past colonialism, the effects have and do shape the systems we live in today from education to the workforce.” (Dilinie Perera)

   This quotation reflects our research which is orientated around the effects (persistent today) of Canada’s colonial roots. That we as Canadians are “past” colonialism is perhaps only true in the sense that blatantly colonial institutions, such as residential schools, no longer exist. However, this only means that more insidious forms of oppression exist today, ones that aren’t necessarily visible to the naked eye. In our research, we found instances of this systemic racism referenced by Dilinie, particularly at the federal and provincial level. For example, a document summarizing all of the recommendations and reports made by Indigenous communities (concerning violence towards Indigenous women), revealed that the federal and provincial governments overwhelmingly fail to implement these suggestions, but also fail to recognize the dire need for them in the first place. In our research about the murdered and missing Indigenous women along the Highway Of Tears, moreover, systemic racism and indifference is also cited as being the root cause. Although there is perhaps no definitive answer to systemic racism, our research suggests that continuing to push for more Indigenous people in positions of power (whether that be governmental or societal), allows for more accurately designed programs and initiatives actually capable of benefiting Indigenous communities.

Conclusion, and the future of Canadian literature:  

1. In terms of intervening in the future of Canadian literature and making sure that the mistakes of the past are not repeated, Team Coyote believes that a change to the publishing industry is necessary. While the publishing industry in Canada is small (compared, say, to the United States), the sexism and white-ism that is endemic in American publishing persists. If there are books dealing with marginalized voices, the majority of those published are written by white men, who have either devoted their lives to telling the story of marginalized people or who have (sad but true) realized the growing call for diverse voices and wish to cash in. Despite what some major publishing companies think — that there isn’t an audience for diverse literature, that only Hunger Games-inspired dystopian novels sell, that werewolves are in and vampires are out — Canadian youth are smarter, more self-aware, and yearning for the chance to no longer be fed the milky-white literature of the past. Nearly every young adult you talk to, if the conversation happens to lead to history taught in high school, will say a variation of the same thing: “Native American history and Canadian colonialism are not taught/not sufficiently taught.” Young adults recognize the need for better curriculum in high school, and the call for better education and diverse books are not mutually exclusive concepts. Just as we wish to see Native American history better taught, we wish to see a Native American main character in a steampunk novella.
   Therefore, the big dogs in publishing have to realize that the public do not want another white male hero, or a white female heroine. This shift is happening in the movie industry as well (though achingly slowly); for example, the new Star Wars movie with a woman as its main character, or Ghostbusters being remade with an all female cast ( the backlash has been belligerent and public. But the welcome has been stronger). Yet these changes are miniscule, for the actors are still in majority white and do not represent the millions of POC and Native American actors who are hoping to break the white hold on movies. It’s the same in publishing — the audience is there, and the call for new voices and better representation is loud and clear. The only thing missing, some point out, is the literature: “Where are the Native American authors?” And Team Coyote promises here and now to fight anyone who believes that lack of publicity is congruent with lack of output. The voices of the marginalized and the brutalized are there — they are alive and well, despite the turned back of the publishing industry. It is an author’s job to create, that is true, and to query, and to fight — but it is the publishing world’s responsibility to chose the new up-and-coming Coast Salish girl poet over the oft-published white man with a few awards under his belt. That is how Canadian literature can “take action” in promoting Native American voices — by listening.
   (This response owes much to the movement in American publishing known as #WeNeedDiverseBooks. This link elucidates the movement’s goals AS WELL AS the damaging effect well-meaning (or not) white authors can have on seeking to add their voice (or capitalize) on the growing recognition that the public wishes for diversity in their literature.)

Looking forward:

1. Team Coyote believes that an area of focus should be on creating educational programs for teachers, current and upcoming, to educate them on Native American learning techniques and the benefits of allowing outside voices add to the conversation on the future of education. There should also be a shift in high school curriculum, focusing more on Canada’s history as an oppressor than the spunky nation that found independence after proving itself in the First World War. Finally, the voices of Native American authors and researchers should be bolstered at a grassroots level — writing workshops for Native American teens, local literary magazines devoted to publishing Native American short stories and/or poetry, literacy programs like the ones advocated by Banister and Begoray which incorporate Native American spirituality into the learning process.
2. Some questions for future research include how to sidestep the pitfalls of the victim complex, and how to allow for the voices of Native Americans to lead the charge versus well-situated white authors with good intentions but little to none firsthand experience of the horrors and triumphs we as a country wish to bring to light.

 

Works Cited

Calvario, Liz. “Leslie Jones flooded with racist tweets after Ghostbusters release: ‘I’m in a personal hell.’” IndieWire, July 19, 2016. Web. Accessed August 15, 2016.

James, Heather. Comment on “Fostering Conversations and Insights.” UBC Blogs, August 10, 2016, 2:15 P.M.

Wang, John. Comment on “Fostering Conversations and Insights.” UBC Blogs, August 15, 2016, 10:28 P.M.

Wu, Sandra. Comment on “Fostering Conversations and Insights.” UBC Blogs, August 9, 2016, 10:49 P.M.
— Comment on “Fostering Conversations and Insights,” August 14, 2016, 2:35 A.M.

Oh, Ellen. “Dear White Writers.” elloellenoh.tumblr.com, Tumblr, February 16, 2016. Web. Accessed August 15, 2016.

Perera, Dilinie. Comment on “Fostering Conversations and Insights.” UBC Blogs, August 9, 2016, 12:04 A.M.