“The lifestyle they have chosen is a defence mechanism to the trauma they experienced” as a reflection to residential school survivors.
3/ Pitfalls
One of the most enlightening pearls were pitfalls people who have seemingly good intentions may encounter while doing Anti-Racism Work and promoting Indigenous Cultural Safety & Humility
This was presented by @LenPierre2 - an Indigenous Cultural Safety Consultant
4/ A) Proximity to Indigenous Patient
Reminder that you don't need to have Indigenous Patients in your direct/inter-personal work to implement anti-indigenous racism policies into your practice
This is a form of systemic racism, which requires all of us to work on.
5/ B) "Focusing on good things only"
The fight is for Truth & Reconciliation.
If you are only focusing on the art/culture (ie drumming, singing, connection with elders).
While this is all positive, by only doing this you may not be addressing the "Truth" part.
6/ C) Indigenous Cultural Safety vs Cultural Safety
We should not try to generalize multicultural safety training with that of Indigenous populations
We must remember how much harm has been perpetuated by erasure of Indigenous people.
To do this we must be Indigenous specific.
7/ D) Beware of only looking through historical lens
It is not simply enough to be aware of atrocities, there are still "ghosts in the room" when the meaning is not uncovered.
Need awareness, along with examination of power imbalance and formulate anti-racism strategies.
8/ E) Role within EDI framework
Context is different, EDI work is also important, but Indigenous people can not be included in this space as they have been victims of state sponsored violence, must reconcile that.
Anti-Indigenous Racism work can be diluted in general models.
9/ Video
I only shared some highlights, but if anyone is interested in watching the link is:
1/ Wishing everyone who celebrates a Happy Diwali & Bandi Chhor Divas.
To those who do not know the historical significance, I will briefly share what I have learned about it through the years.
As per @SikhRI, Bandi Chhor Divas represents "Emancipation Day"
2/ Sikh Gurus
Sikhi is guided by the teachings of 11 Gurus (leaders who guide us from darkness to light) from Guru Nanak Sahib to the Guru Granth Sahib (our scriptures in homes/Gurduaras).
Guru Hargobind Sahib was our 6th Guru; Bandi Chhor Divas remembers his imprisonment.
3/ What Happened?
Guru Sahib was imprisoned by Emperor Jahangir at the Gwalior Fort for months-years (uncertain how long exactly)
Alongside Guruji, were 52 imprisoned political prisoners, the Hindu Rajahs (Kings/Princes)
First dose Dec 20 & second dose Jan 31st.
At the time we weren't sure what optimal dosing interval was & had ongoing supply issues, so many got 2 doses at varying shorter intervals.
Now we know ~12 weeks is a good interval, but also are seeing waning immunity.
3/ Waning Immunity
Data is showing our antibody levels to #COVID19 are decreasing, but that doesn't mean our overall immunity is, as we are seeing by our vaccine effectiveness data in BC.
But, in BC we still are losing too many ppl, almost 50 have passed in last week.