Thread by @RobynWins111

Thread on being told we must policing our language skillz or it will cost us our voice.

A huge discussion broke out on the Idle No More OFFICIAL Facebook page today. An 'Ally' decided it was finally time to let us all know that after reading our comments on that page, ...2/

...it was time we heard that unless we start learning how to employ proper English most of our allies will simply, summarily dismiss our efforts. He really felt he was doing us a favor.

When he received the pushback he so earned, the number of other 'allies' on that page .../3

... who apparently feel the same way, chirped up in support & also advised us this was not racist in any way - just a fact of life. It was clear they honestly believed that, & they clung to conclusion despite some pretty clear education from those of us who are aware of ...4/

...and made the effort to let them know they don't have the right to police grammar or spelling from anyone of another nation, but certainly not the people who already suffer myriad issues thanks to the other myriad colonialist demands still in place.

That wasn't the worst...5/

...what was worse was, the number of Indig. folk who agreed with them & stated it was a very good lesson, was true, and not racist at all.

I think this is a very good example of internalized racism. Despite all efforts to remind them of residential schools & the abuses...6/

...they couldn't grasp the idea what they were demanding was utterly based in colonialist policy insistence. There they were, demanding aunties, uncles, kokums & mooshums must forget their lived histories & decades of survival & now learn how to "speak properly" or...7/

... don't bother speaking at all. As if they haven't lived this experience their whole lives anyway. This 'good English' expectancy is just another excuse to continue to dismiss them and their issues. It's not new, it's a terrible belief and it's as despicable now as it was...8/

when the CDN Gov't, priests & nuns tormented them for the same 'lessons'. The whole point continues to go over the heads who insisted this was valid on that FB page. It may be valid to them, but it is as racist and elitist as one can get.

#education #history #Indigenous #racism

Final word: My mom never 'saw' a thing in her life, she has only ever 'seen' it all. If anyone dared tell me what she had to say was negated because she didn't speak correctly, I'd sock them right in their English speaker.

#education #history #Indigenous #racism

"english lessons"

A very fine comment in return...

#academia #academics #educators #teachers #education #cdnpoli #racism #NativeTwitter