In this blog post, we were asked to do an environmental scan of the identities of the Indigenous peoples’ from the area we grew up in in Canada. We were also asked to diagram the characteristics and juxtapose them to our own identities. For my diagram, I made a little sketch and wrote down some of the different languages, ceremonies, ethnic groups/bands, and beliefs from both the Indigenous peoples and who I am as a Catholic and Filipino person. Upon finishing the sketch, I was able to identify a few similarities between the identities of the Indigenous peoples and my own. A few examples were that each of the cultures have different dialects, their own ceremonies to celebrate, and spiritual beings to believe in. The main similarity I picked up on was the fact that both these groups of people and I share one very specific trait – we both were born and raised on treaty six land.
Growing up, I had friends who come from Indigenous backgrounds, but I did not take the time to learn more about them. When it came to learning about the Indigenous cultures in my history or social studies classes, all I remember learning about was the fur trade, the types of houses the Indigenous peoples lived in, and the food they ate. I also had the chance to attend a couple powwows and jingle dances. Unfortunately, something I never learned about were the injustices, oppression, and empty promises they faced and continue to face today, as well the reasons or meanings behind the powwows or traditional dances. With that, I found it difficult to find a relation between myself and the Indigenous community, which is why I never thought of myself as a treaty person, nor did I think I had connections to the Indigenous culture.
As I entered post-secondary, I was able to take part in a few more Indigenous ceremonies such as smudging and participate in the blanket exercise. I was also fortunate enough to take Indigenous 100 with a professor who was obviously very passionate about the topic. Even through this single blog post, I was able to learn more about the Treaty land I was born and raised on, such as the Indigenous peoples who lived on it, the languages they spoke, and the ceremonies they celebrated. I believe that these classes, as well as the experiences with smudging and the blanket exercise have helped me gain a better understanding of the Indigenous culture and what they have gone through and continue to go through. By doing the blanket exercise twice, I believe helped me gain a different perspective on it. Moreover, the first time I did it last spring, I was one of the last people to be seated. With that, by the time I sat down there was barely any land or people left and I was not able to see the process. The second time, I was one of the first ones seated. With that, I was able to see the heartbreaking progress of the people and land quickly disappearing. The debriefing at the end of the exercise also helped me gain a different perspective and helped me gain new knowledge and connections I believe will help in terms of my miskâsowin process.
Overall, I believe that through the ceremonies, exercises, classes, and discussions I have regarding the Indigenous culture, I am able to see more of myself relating to the Indigenous community.