The article by Alfred and Corntassel (2005) asks what is being Indigenous? I’ve always thought that being Indigenous was being someone who was inhabit to the land and were invaded by foreign peoples. But I guess that only applies to certain areas like here in Canada. Indigenous people all over the world have vast differences in their culture and what it means to actually be Indigenous. Alfred and Corntassel (2005) say “ the struggle to survive as distinct peoples on foundations constituted in their unique heritages, attachments to their homelands, and natural ways of life is what is shared by all Indigenous peoples” (pp. 597). People are now “attempting to strip Indigenous peoples of their very spirit” (Alfred and Corntassel (2005), pp. 599). This article reflects on: resisting further encroachment on Indigenous existence by Settlers and states, as well as multinational corporations and other organizations and finally how Indigenous communities can regenerate themselves.
Colonization is most used to describe what Settlers did to Indigenous peoples. Settlers “inherently [limited] Indigenous freedom and [imposed] a view of the world that is but an outcome or perspective on that power” (Alfred and Corntassel (2005), pp. 601). One quote I found really interesting by Alfred and Corntassel (2005) was “the instruments of domination are evolving and inventing new methods to erase Indigenous histories and senses of place” (pp. 601). Since I am not an Indigenous person myself I think it’s hard to view from the outside –in but I can agree with that statement. I volunteered at the Truth and Reconciliation Commission last week and it was a very eye opening experience. My main reason for volunteering was to educate myself more on what had happened at residential schools. But when telling people that I had volunteered there I heard some interesting remarks back. Like “that happened so long ago can’t they just get over it” or “we’ve paid enough money nothing we can do about what happened in the past”. Thinking that way is what can get us into trouble as a country. We cannot learn from our mistakes if we are unwilling to hear what we did wrong. If we do not study history then history will just repeat itself.
One quote that I find so important for everyone to remember is “when lies become accepted and normal, the imperative of the warrior is to awaken and enliven the truth and to get people to invest belief and energy into the truth” (Alfred and Corntassel (2005), pp. 603). Indigenous peoples need to unite together and not let fights amongst themselves distract the important fight from imperial power. When people study pan-indigenism “very few are themselves grounded in real Indigenous community life or perspectives” (Alfred and Corntassel (2005), 605). And many do not discuss relationships between urban and reservation communities. So what does it mean to be Indigenous? Anderson believes “strong families, ground in community, connection to land, language storytelling and spirituality” are all part of being Indigenous (Alfred and Corntassel (2005), pp. 608). Holm and his colleagues view people hood “as four interlocking concepts: sacred history, ceremonial cycles, language and ancestral homelands (Alfred and Corntassel (2005), pp. 609).
Alfred and Corntassel (2005) list five different mantras on how Indigenous peoples can regenerate themselves. First they mention “Land is Life” where the people “must reconnect with the terrain and geography of their Indigenous heritage” (pp. 613). Secondly, “Language is Power” Indigenous people “must recover way of knowing and relating from outside the mental and ideational framework of colonialism” (pp. 613). Also, “Freedom is the Other Side of Fear” they “must transcend the controlling power of the many and varied dears that colonial powers use to dominate and manipulate us into complacency and cooperation with its authorities” (pp. 613). Another is “Decolonize your Diet” which means they must be self-sufficient and “provide [their] own food, clothing, shelter and medicines” (pp. 613). Finally, “Change Happens one Warrior at a Time” which means they must mentor and learn, “teaching relationships that foster real and meaningful human development and community solidarity” (pp. 613).
Not only does being Indigenous apply to North American cultures it reflects every Indigenous group in the world. The five mantras can apply to anyone and really should be applied to keep tradition alive. One quote that really sums up the article is “the way to recovering freedom and power and happiness is clear: it is time for each one of us to make the commitment to transcend colonialism as people, and for us to work together as peoples to become forces of Indigenous truth against the lie of colonialism" (Alfred and Corntassel (2005), pp. 614).
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