Last month was among the most eventful months at York University. We witnessed the largest Spring Convocation in the history of York. More than 9000 new grads and alumni who, due to COVID-19 were unable to experience the thrill of convocation, celebrated their life-changing educational milestone and were recognized for their academic achievements.
During the month of June, the York community demonstrated solidarity with and celebrated the diversity of Canadians who identify as members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community during Pride Month.
At York, we embrace inclusion and reject racism in all its forms. Members of the York community were on hand on June 2 in Vari Hall to witness the unfurling of the Pride flag. Pride Month dates back to 1970 in New York City, where 2SLGBTQIA+ activists organized a march on the anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising — a spontaneous demonstration in response to a police raid on the Stonewall Inn in New York City.
Canada also has a rich history of 2SLGBTQIA+ activism, with noteworthy gay rights protests taking place as early as 1971. Over the years, the demonstrations have evolved into a month of festivals and celebrations across the globe, with one of the largest parades in the world taking place right here in the City of Toronto.
On June 21, we commemorated the history, heritage, culture, resilience and contributions of Indigenous Peoples at York University and across Canada when we observed National Indigenous Peoples Day.
In 1996, then Governor General Romeo LeBlanc proclaimed National Aboriginal Day following many years of consultations and statements of support from various Indigenous groups. In 2017, Prime Minister Trudeau issued a statement renaming the day “National Indigenous People’s Day.” It is a day meant for all Canadians to recognize and celebrate the unique heritage and outstanding contributions of all Indigenous Peoples. It is observed on June 21 to recognize the summer solstice, the day when the earth’s northern hemisphere is maximally tilted toward the sun, resulting in the longest day of light in the year. For thousands of years, this day has held great significance for Indigenous Peoples. It is a day when First Nations gather and share in ceremonies and traditions to thank Mother Earth for her gifts and to celebrate the preservation of Indigenous languages, knowledge, culture and histories.
The month of June is also recognized as Indigenous History Month. An opportunity for Indigenous Peoples to celebrate, and for non-Indigenous people to commit to learning more about the history and the many contributions Indigenous Peoples make across Turtle Island (North America) today.
For many centuries and continuing through to the present, colonial practices and social policies have sought to erase Indigenous history and knowledge. Legislation such as the Indian Act and the residential school system were created to intentionally dismantle cultures, familial ties, histories and knowledge systems. These actions have resulted in tremendous trauma and harm to Indigenous Peoples. We cannot erase the past, we must acknowledge it, learn from it and commit to making the present and the future more hopeful, inclusive and harmonious. This is a commitment that requires substantial work and effort to undo the harm and destruction caused by colonialism.
In the recent past and as part of this commitment, Canada has been on a journey of truth to understand the legacies of harm and has been working with Indigenous Peoples toward reconciliation. In 2015, the multi-volume Truth & Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action was released. The report contains 94 calls to action for Indigenous and non-Indigenous people to come together to help repair the harm caused by colonial practices, former social policies and legislation and to help us move forward. The calls to action were divided into two categories, Legacy and Reconciliation. The Legacy category focus on redressing the catastrophic consequences of the residential schools while the calls under the Reconciliation category aim to establish better relations between the federal and provincial governments of Canada and Indigenous Peoples.
A key component in this journey of truth and reconciliation is learning — learning about the unique culture, traditions, communities and histories of Canada’s Indigenous Peoples and learning from Indigenous Peoples in our community, about ways in which we can live well together, support each other and help each other thrive. And while June is observed as Indigenous History Month, enhancing our knowledge as part of our journey towards reconciliation should not be limited to a single month. Reconciliation is intentional, it is the only way forward and I remain committed to my journey of learning, intentionally seeking out books and articles by Indigenous writers to help me better understand.
I recently read a book with a collection of essays by Haudenosaunee writer Alicia Elliott, titled A Mind Spread Out on the Ground. The title is a rough translation of a Mohawk phrase for depression. The author covers a broad range of topics, from race, parenthood, love, art, mental illness, poverty and sexual assault to gentrification and representation. Elliott sheds light on problems from the seldom-heard perspective of the Indigenous community. She writes with love for her culture, her community and her family. She writes with love for herself while revealing that she is the product of intergenerational trauma and colonialism. She provides historical context about current issues while delving into the ways they manifest on a personal level through vulnerable glimpses into her own life growing up as a biracial, Haudenosaunee woman in the US and Canada. Her essays shed light on how colonial actions continue to reverberate and are being experienced by Indigenous Peoples today.
In her book, Elliott mentions the Haudenosaunee belief in the principle of the seven generations. The principle holds that the actions and decisions we make today will affect seven generations into the future. Imagine knowing what you do today will impact seven generations later. What would you do differently?
As I close off this blog, I would like to extend my best wishes to you for the rest of the summer. I would like to recommend A Mind Spread Out on the Ground by Alicia Elliott as a summer read and I encourage you to join me on a journey of learning. I truly believe that we can be transformed by what we read and how we participate in our community. I believe everyday represents an opportunity for us to: reflect on and learn more about the culture and contributions of Canada’s Indigenous Peoples; to show support for members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community; to embrace our unique diversity; and go forward together, to develop a community and a nation that is fulfilling, safe, inclusive and equitable for all, for now and for the future.
All the best,
Carol
1 Comment
Hi, thanks for the blog it is very informative, looking forward to the summer read ‘Amind Spread out on the Ground by Alicia Eliott, It is true that learning never ends, each day gives us another opportunity to learn something.
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