Where to start? This question seems appropriate for every level of this discussion, from knowing what to write here in this blog entry, to reckoning with the atrocities committed against Indigenous peoples here in British Columbia. The challenge: to engage with the process of reconciliation in an authentic way that centres Indigeneity, that balances acknowledging the consequences of the trauma First Nations have suffered with raising up and celebrating their resilience, achievements, and culture.
We started this conversation as a lab on Canada Day, 2021. We decided that the first step was the Respect, Sincerity & Responsibility: Land Acknowledgement @ UBC course developed by CTLT Indigenous Initiatives. This is a 60 minute course designed to help members of the UBC community develop their own land acknowledgements. Personally, I found this course to be very demanding from an emotional perspective. It made me really think about what my choice to be a Canadian citizen meant, in terms of the obligations and responsibilities I have to work for the betterment of this country.
One important part of this process is positionality- to reflect on where I come from, and what reconciliation means to me. I was born in the UK, and moved here 15 years ago after spending nearly three years in Texas completing my post-doctoral training. I fell in love with Vancouver on my first visit, and reveled in its proximity to the mountains and ocean. I was totally ignorant of the contribution made by the First Nations to the stewardship of this beautiful land, and knew little of their history. Through listening to the CBC, and reading Canadian literature, I began to realise something of the harm these communities suffered. As for many Canadians, the discovery of the 215 children buried at the site of a former residential school in Kamloops was the event that forced me to really absorb the full horror of this time in BC’s history, and to confront the ongoing toxic legacy of colonialism. I was also raised in the Roman Catholic faith, and know something of the impact it can have. Collectively, it feels like too much to face, let alone change. Yet, Indigenous peoples face this every day. I am humbled and inspired by their bravery, resilience, determination and patience.
One of the critical steps is to take the time to learn about the history and culture of the local First Nations with whom we want to form meaningful relationships and honor their stewardship of the land where we live. For example, my home is on Tsleil-Waututh Nation territory in North Vancouver. The Nation’s website tells their story, both past and present, in their own words. The Nation has over 500 members, and there is much to celebrate in their community. The Tsleil-Waututh Nation school, which has a strong focus on experiential learning, is thriving, and instills pride and confidence in First Nations language and heritage. The local resource management company Inlailawatash, named after an ancient Tsleil-Waututh village at the northern point of Indian Arm, won a BC Aboriginal Business Award for Outstanding Achievement in 2015. Maplewood Flats, a wild bird conservation area, also lies on Tsleil-Waututh land. For thousands of years, the Tsleil-Waututh would harvest clams and crabs from the mudflats. The Tsleil-Waututh Nation have been holding the Osprey Festival there for the past 14 years, with music and poetry performed by Nation members. New partnerships are emerging between the Tsleil-Waututh company Takaya Tours and the non-Indigenous organisation that has been ostensibly managing this area, and the new osprey logo was designed by Tsleil-Waututh artist Jordan Gallie. Attending this festival really helped me see the vibrancy and warmth of First Nations communities.
A common theme when learning about all Indigenous communities has been the importance of language, and how the very structure of these languages reflected the different way in which First Nations communities felt about their people and the land. When we consider the big questions in neuroscience, such as how does the brain produce consciousness, it often seems we are restricted by our lack of language to describe ideas. Throughout the history of neuroscience, people have used the latest technological advance as a metaphor for the brain (telegrams, robots, computers etc.) but all ultimately fail to capture what the brain does and can lead the field into erroneous assumptions. I can’t help but wonder what we could discover about our brains and our humanity if we considered Indigenous ways of seeing and knowing as the starting point.
Catharine Winstanley, 15th September 2021, updated October 4th 2021
My name is Brett, I’m a PhD student in Dr. Winstanley’s lab. I was raised in Nanaimo, on Snuneymuxw territory. I have Métis heritage on both sides of my family. However, I haven’t had much chance to connect with that ancestry. Through participating in this blog, I’d like to learn more about the cultural depth of Indigenous groups in Canada, as well as increase my understanding of how to tackle the challenges we face. I’d also like to reconcile with my own family history and maybe get a better understanding of where I come from. I look forward to starting this journey!
Brett Hathaway