A recent post on the St. Paul Journal Facebook site kick-started a thought-provoking discussion on the many nuances of racism.
A woman posted to our wall about the experience of a teenager who was in a class at school when the discussion turned to the Indian Act and the issue of stereotypes. According to the post, some of the students started talking about Saddle Lake being unsafe. The student left the classroom, upset, and came back to more negative discussion, and said, “Does it ever occur to you that there are really good people in Saddle Lake? People with Masters, Bachelors and Doctorates. All you people see is the negative.” He went on to say, “Saddle Lake is a great place with great people. Yes, we have our ups and our downs. But we are all humans, what defines us isn't the color of our skin but the choices we make!” What a great statement, echoing Martin Luther King Jr.’s words in his “I have a dream” speech, in which he called for an end to racism in the United States, nearly 50 years ago.
Several people began weighing in on the Journal’s Facebook page, with every view represented under the sun. Some related stories of racism, for instance, of a young boy being bullied for growing his hair in the Cree tradition. Some focused on differences while others focused on similarities, saying “we are all human beings, we all bleed red blood.”
I am not an aboriginal person, and can’t speak to what it means to be an aboriginal person in Canada. As a member of a visible minority, however, I do know something about ignorance and get irritated when I hear narrow-minded commentary on topics like immigration, race or religion. This is only a minor pet peeve, but I do get annoyed when people ask where I’m from and it’s clear that they’re actually asking about my ethnic origin. I have no problem describing myself as East Indian, but the fact is, I’ve lived in Canada for 29 of my 30 years, so asking where I’m from makes me feel like I’m an outsider who will never truly be accepted as a Canadian. Then there was the gentleman who once complimented me on my good English. He was genuinely impressed that I was an Indian who spoke without an accent, but I can’t hold it against him – how was he to know that I don’t actually speak any languages other than English?!
I know that the experience of aboriginal people is completely different, given their history as a colonized people. But I also know, from visiting communities like Frog Lake, Saddle Lake and Goodfish Lake, that there are people who are trying to reconnect First Nations young people with their language and culture, to instil in them pride in their past, present and future. They are working hard to combat the problems of alcoholism, drug abuse, suicide and crime that have plagued some of their people, in what has become a cycle of trauma.
There is a spiritual resonance and beauty within their traditional practices and I feel fortunate to have taken part in these events and seen how young people are being empowered to feel good about themselves as individuals and as a people. It’s definitely important, as this teen said, to see these positives, rather than just the negative.
It’s hard for people to resist thinking of others in stereotypes, but broad generalizations are neither fair nor accurate.
You didn’t have to look too closely at the comments on the Journal’s Facebook page to find outrageous examples of ignorance and out-and-out rude or hateful feelings. But if what we pay attention to are those types of comments, rather than the people urging love and acceptance from everyone, then I think we are adding to the further divide. Looking at the big picture, nearly 500 people “liked” the original post, indicating support for the teen who proclaimed, “I am proud to be native and from Saddle Lake. Hiy hiy.” I think that’s a pretty good sign of unity, that people of all races and backgrounds can all come together and appreciate a message of strength and truth.
Any person who recognizes the truth of what this wise teenager said - that what defines humans is not their skin colour but the choices they make – can be part of the solution, rather than the problem, of racial division.
