Thread by @helpslaw

It is Indigenous People’s Day. I’m at a loss for words as to how important it is that every settler educate themselves on what that means. I have some recommendations. THREAD

The Calls to Action from the Truth and Reconciliation Report can be found here: trc.ca/assets/pdf/Cal…

It is a 20 page PDF in plain language English. It contains the ways in which inequality can *begin* to be corrected. Every Canadian should read it. 2/

The Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls report is here: mmiwg-ffada.ca/final-report/

Understand that this is not a legacy document. The crimes this document contains are happening RIGHT NOW, aided and abetted by colonialist systems. 3/

Indigenous People’s Day should be every day, in substantive ways. Lip service to First Nations’ unceded territories, independence or environmental concerns should be replaced by action and consultation. 4/

It’s ok if you don’t know where to start or feel like you’re not in a position to make massive structural changes. But you need to do something. History is NOW. We need to address the current injustices. 5/

That ‘something’ may be writing to your provincIal/federal representatives, adding a voice at a protest, ensuring that you make a substantive acknowledgment of unceded land the way the Nation would want (ask them!) or attending an indigenous event where the public are welcome 6/

For me, that first step came by reading indigenous authors. Buying and reading a book is the gateway to understanding. Some of my favourites:
1. Anything by Eden Robinson
2. A Mind Spread Out on the Ground, by Alicia Elliott @WordsandGuitar
3. The Break, Katherine Vermette

4. The Marrow Thieves, Cherie Dimaline
5. Bad Endings by Carleigh Baker @CarleighBaker
6. Indigenous Writes by Chelsea Vowel
7. Seven Fallen Feathers by Tanya Talaga
8. Indian Horse, or anything by Richard Wagamese
9. Moon of the Crusted Snow by Waubgeshig Rice

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And I would also add: the most powerful representation of Indigenous culture - the one I wept at and saw four or five times was the temporary exhibit at the MOA of Lawrence Paul
Yuxweluptun’s work. Get to know and support indigenous artists.

google.ca/amp/s/www.cbc.…

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None of these issues are in the past. We are faced with structural inequality TODAY. You can be an ally: stand behind, beside, and amplify - or you’re in the way. My Canada is one in which all Nations are properly and fairly represented.

#NationalIndigenousPeoplesDay
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