Thesis: The chains that bind resistanceThe work to de-colonize two cultures in a binary nation

*Transformation … Part 2

Presenter: Brenda St. Germain

Today’s agenda – June 17

Purpose: Introduce thesis & colonial structures Economics, Epistemology, Politics, Patriarchy

Goal: Begin “decolonization” of two culturesExamine: White Priviledge; 4 structures and

theories on decolonization processesDiscuss: Review McIntosh’s article, “White

Privilege”; Definition of Aboriginal Poverty (B. St. Germain)

Actions to promote individual agency & transformation of self and community

Self Reflection Self-Location

McIntosh: White Privilege“Thinking through unacknowledged male privilege as a phenomenon, I realized that since hierarchies in our society are interlocking, there was most likely a phenomenon of white privilege which was similarly denied and protected. As a white person, I realized I had been taught about racism as something which puts others at a disadvantage, but had been taught not to see one of its corollary aspects, white privilege, which puts me at an advantage” (p. 1)

“Critical self reflection (i.e.) an understanding of how one's own social, political and historical location impacts practice especially with those who have been relegated to the margins (i.e. in regards to class, gender, sexuality, race, physical and mental ability etc.)” (2006. School of Social Work. Prior Learning Assessment. University of Victoria: BC.)

- Factors influencing self-location - Status (prestige based on values/ norms of

community)- Race/ ethnicity- Income- Education- Gender- Sexual orientation- Age

PERSONAL VALUES

*Statement of Problem

* Research confirms Fanon’s theory that colonialism is internalized and affects colonized nations with social disorders extending from individuals into families and ultimately total community structures and environments.

* Settler populations learn “benevolent colonizer attitudes” through social norms created by colonization that was introduced during pre-Confederation

* Legislation, laws, policies and procedures ensure “colonial mentality” remains intact through individual behaviors between Settlers and Indigenous peoples that maintain the colonial relationship of domination and oppression

* Individual agency could create transformative changes to stop colonial policies but… little happens to stop oppression

*Significance of Research – progression of theories

* Memmie (1957) stated, “the benevolent colonizer can never attain the good, fo rhis only choice is…between evil and uneasiness” in his exploration of the relationship between colonizer and the colonized

* Fanon (1961) was one of first to propose negative psychological effects of colonial subjugation and defended his argument that colonized people had to use violence for freedom

* Freire (1970) suggests a mutual process between oppressor & oppressed that remains stable – freedom is fearful for the oppressed but non-traditional education leads to a practice of freedom

*Gordon (1995) argues acts of colonization & oppression are states of violence. He urges oppressed to “create” an exit and is a strong champion of individual agency that needs to remove themselves towards independence of Euro-man institutions of colonization

* New emerging theories on “internalized racial oppression”, “internal colonialism”, “Colonial Mentality” and effects of “internalized oppression/ domination in a colonized nation”

* APPEARS TO BE A “SENSE” OF URGENCY FOR SOCIAL CHANGE by WHO?

*Research Question

*How are colonial ideologies,1. Internalized by Indigenous people

(colonized);2. Internalized into benevolent attitudes by

Settlers (colonizer);3. Perpetuated or maintained in both

cultures to ensure continuance of a dominant/oppressive colonial relationship in modern society?

*Literature Review

*Emerging theories on colonial mentality, internalized colonialism and the overall psychology of oppression/ domination has been focused on African and Asian colonized nations

*Application of the emerging theories into Canadian landscape and its correlation to the historic transmission of trauma over generations as a colonized ethnic nation has not been studied

*Strong movement through generalized applications to justify Indigenous perspective to research (Smith, Alfred, Burkhart, etc.) but few studies are localizing projects towards individual agency and social movement from oppression

*Methodology

*Hermeneutics: originally applied to biblical interpretations of religious documents but simplistically, it’s about understanding and interpretation of linguistic, non-linguistic expressions and application into the study of cultures. Has a history of evolution and application with each era of “thinkers” - Greek, Stoics, Augustine, Dilthey, Heidegger, Gadamer

* I applied hermeneutics as a methodological and philosophical theory to the Western documentation on the history of Canada. I inserted my understanding of colonization through an Indigenous lens into the interpretation of the ideology behind the colonial philosophy during pre-and post Confederation in Canada. What ideologies were implanted when the Settlers immigrated into Indigenous territory now referred to as “Canada”

*Methodology

* Autoethnography allows me to blend ethnographic inquiry (Indigenous) with my own experiences as a source of data. I apply cultural interpretations on an emerging theory “internalized oppression” and review “colonial mentality” theories from an Indigenous interpretation – from my own experiences

Indigenous ontological belief system is built on the Natural Laws holding my accountability to Aboriginal communities – since I belong to no one: I am accountable to everyone and must ensure validity and reliability so everyone can “see themselves and their stories” through my experiences. Does my story follow the 7 Prophecies and 8th Fire? Am I part of the solution or part of the problem? Do I contribute to the continuance of colonial policies by maintaining a system of status quo in domination and oppression?

*Results & Analysis: Indigenous people are still oppressed and Settler population is still dominating – both groups maintain status quoDOCTRINE OF DISCOVERY was the foundational and international document created by a religious Christian power that entrenched religious dogma, racial supremacy and colonial ideology. This legalized colonial theft of discovered land, indoctrinated Christian beliefs and inserted imposed governance of Aboriginal people from their established community & social structures by evicting them from their land

*Four Colonial Structures

•Language•Linguistic Patterns•Education

•Colonial Government•Legislation & Laws•Racial Supremacy

• Imperialism•Capitalism•Exploitation

•Male Dominance & Religious Dogma

•Benevolence•Subservience

Patriarchy Economics

EpistemologyPolitics

Casanova created three colonial structures for his country, Mexico: I have added patriarchy as the 4th significant factor affecting Aboriginal women in Canada

Economics*Control over land and

resources*Financial benefit to

colonizer* Imperialism – legal,

administrative & ideological waves: Now medical wave is modern form of “business” for colonizers

Epistemology* Language was the colonial strategy used to

stop children from learning their mother tongue: schools were the instrument and administrators were the tools

* Linguistic patterns maintain “educational and racial superiority” over “barbaric Indian speech” – sounded gutteral / animal grunts to colonizers

* Linguistic devices of domination to maintain oppression: conceal violence, negate perpetrator’s responsibility, conceal victim’s resistance & blame or pathologize victim (Scott, Coates & Wade)

* Political used education to subordinate Native nations to colonial powers: absorb / assimilate and indoctrinate people to appropriate lands

* Structures inserted into colonial society to maintain domination and subjugation

of colonized nation

Politics* J.A. McDonald – do away with tribal system

(1887)* Trudeau proposed White Paper (1969) – abolish

Indian Act & dismantle legal relationship (no Treaties to protect First Nation lands and communities)

* Clause 6.1/6.2 (Indian Act), Bill C31, Bill C – designed to remove legal classification of Aboriginal identity to future generations of children

* Used legislation to legally remove an ethnic race of children from their homes and place them into confinement institutions

* Neo-liberal & neo-colonial values within Harper’s vision for Canada: slowly working on termination of legal relationship between Aboriginal peoples and Canadian government

* Harper government focus has been on natural resources on First Nations land and “global economic market” for oil and gas

Patriarchy* Aboriginal women were indoctrinated

into subservience by Jesuits of New France in 1676.

* Racism, national oppression and colonialism separate Aboriginal women from “women’s liberation movements”

* Pressure is mounting for an inquiry into missing and murdered Aboriginal women: Canadian laws have historically failed to protect Aboriginal women – over 800 murdered or missing since 1990

* Christian “patriarchal & hierarchal” structures removed matriarchal structures in Aboriginal communities: resulting in de-structuring cultural norms and societal systems for families

* Structures inserted into colonial society to maintain domination and subjugation

of colonized nation

*Sea of Change: Naimi calls it this because many contemporary thinkers are

converging with the same theme – urgent need for change – and the increased work in principles

/theories take on a higher rate of plausibility

People are changing8th Fire?

*Casanova (1965) reverse forms of internal colonialism: monopoly/ independence; production/ social control; culture/ living standards

*Internal forms of colonial instruments: economic, political and educational are used to communicate & implement policies & legislation to subjugate Aboriginal peoples

*Anderson (2000) suggests individuals need to reclaim their true Aboriginal identity through 4 steps: resist, reclaim, construct & act

*Laenui & Salzman (2014) introduce 5 phases towards decolonization: rediscovery/ recovery, mourning, dreaming, commitment & action

*Conclusion & Implications: What does my results & analysis mean? Emerging theories on decolonization from studies on internalized colonialism, colonial mentality, colonized nations

*Pinderhughes (2011) suggests “geo-focused” is next generation of theory: each pattern of colonized nation is geographically distinct; include gender, sexual orientation, dimensions of social oppression & economic influences

*Introduces concept of “positive abolition” – there must be individual emancipation & equality through inclusion as a collective whole = community wellness

*Settler Alliances

* Alcantara (2014), A new Kelowna Accord has the potential to be transformative for this country – racially altering Crown’s relationship, improving Aboriginal standards of living & unlock important source of economic wealth

* Kelowna Accord (2004) was first attempt towards nation and individual agency for Indigenous peoples

* Karst presents an accurate account of history in Alberta that was incorrectly interpreted in 1800s.

* McIntosh (2012) presents her personal acknowledgement of white privilege and challenges other Settlers to reflect on their own privileges

* Lewis, Allen, Fleagle analyze internalized oppression and Alaskan native peoples through exploration into mental illness, addictions, and sobriety.

* Bopp & Bopp (2001) are strong advocates that help Aboriginal communities rebuild through projects designed from Indigenous foundations and community involvement.

*Aboriginal Poverty

*Overcoming Aboriginal poverty will occur in degrees once mainstream community efforts begin to focus on transformational changes to remove the dominant societal stigma and stereotyping of Aboriginal peoples.

*Decolonizing strategies should not be linear or fragmented but include creative and innovative approaches using “collective impact” community development models that will address inequities in the four colonial structures ---- GROUP DISCUSSION

*Limitations/ challenges

*What CAN YOU DO THAT WOULD INSERT AND ACCEPT THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN TWO METHODS OR APPROACHES IN YOUR ORGANIZATION?* Recommendations that capture reflections on Aboriginal

identity, colonial history and self-location*Would another approach affect outcome – how?

* How would you become informed of “best practices” where Indigenous approaches are used by Aboriginal workers in non-Native organizations – do you think this is possible? What needs to be changed or modified i.e. policies, procedures, regulations, laws, etc.

* How would your organization measure successful outcomes from an Aboriginal perspective? What changes need to occur?

* Indigenous Researchers & Academics argue colonialism still exists and

propose research from an Indigenous framework is a political act – whether

we want it to be or not (Hart, 2009)

To quote my late dad, Alphonse St. Germain during a news broadcast on Oka in 1991: “The worse thing the government ever did [for Settlers] was educate the

Indians…. Because then we found out what the government was doing”

* APPLY INTO YOUR PRACTICE INSTEAD OF YOUR APPROACH

CLOSING THOUGHT