Being a Better Ally

August 24, 2020

Resources for Reflection and Education

To say that this year has been rocky would be an understatement.

That being said, my family is healthy, we have a safe place to live and nutritious food to eat. The past few months have made me grateful for what we have, and more aware of what others don’t.

When George Floyd was murdered by police on May 25th, I don’t think anyone anticipated the international response. I had never contemplated how de-funding the police could work. I thought I was an ally. I thought I understood Black Lives Matter. I didn’t think I needed to overhaul how I taught, parented, and interacted with people in my community.

My good friend, a teacher, calls this period of time “The Reckoning”. It may feel like the end of the world, but it isn’t. All of these problems have existed for years, decades, centuries. I think that because people have had to spend a few months in isolation at home that we are finally taking a cold, hard look at ourselves. I don’t know.

As an activist, environmentalist, teacher, mother I didn’t think I had much to reckon with myself. My feelings were mostly of sadness and outrage. I thought that the work that needed to be done was more structural and related to attending protests and letter writing and donations. I was quick to make donations to Vancouver based organizations, as well as those supporting systemic change in the US.

I needed to listen. I also needed to come to terms with how my privilege has contributed to systemic racism. That story is for another day.

Over the summer I took the time to process how I operate in society, how I was educated and how I have educated others.

So, this month I am posting resources for reflection and education. One area I think is most important is to PAY people for their work when you can. A lot of people looking to do better are asking people of Colour or Indigenous people for help, and getting that help for free. This does not take into account the intense work that goes into this process.

Listen:

The Henceforward

The Henceforward is a podcast that considers relationships between Indigenous Peoples and Black Peoples on Turtle Island. Through this podcast series, we take an open and honest look at how these relationships can go beyond what has been constructed through settler colonialism and anti blackness.

Episode 29: Black – Indigenous Identity in Canada

In this episode, Kayla Webber and Paige Grant interview Denise Baldwin, from Ontario, to discuss her experiences of being a Black-Indigenous woman in Canada. The conversation considers the ways that Black-Indigenous and/or Afro-Indigenous identities have, and continue to be, invisbilized in Canada. Some members of these communities have been taught to dishonour their Indigenous and/or Black ancestors who have made it possible for them to be here. Denise draws attention to how she understands and expresses her Black-Indigenous identity. This episode was originally recorded in March 2019.

Episode 19: Policing Black Lives: An Interview with Robyn Maynard

In this episode, Danielle Cantave and Sefanit Habtom interview Robyn Maynard, author of the new book Policing Black Lives: State Violence in Canada from Slavery to the Present. In her book, Maynard narrates little known – or entirely unknown – stories of Blackness in Canada and the continued state-sanctioned violence enacted upon Black people. This conversation includes her reasons for writing the book and her imaginings for the future.

The Secret Life of Canada

The Secret Life of Canada highlights the people, places and stories that probably didn’t make it into your high school textbook. Join hosts Leah and Falen as they explore the unauthorized history of a complicated country.

Season 3: Whats the Deal with Blackface?

In this episode we look into the past to try to figure out why some present-day people are still doing blackface — including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. We talk to Dr. Cheryl Thompson and look at what a minstrel show is, what “O, Canada” has to do with it, and how Canadian universities are connected. We also give a quick breakdown of blackface in entertainment — Kim Kardashian and her spray tan are on notice.

Season 3: Crash Course on Black Nurses

In this Crash Course we look into the surprisingly young history of Black nurses in Canada and why many of these women had to travel to the U.S. for their education. We also take a look at the story of the Black Cross Nurses and how Black nurses went from shutouts to leaders in a matter of decades.

Thunder Bay

The highest homicide and hates crime rate in the country. A mayor charged with extortion. A police chief who faced trial for obstruction of justice. Nine tragic deaths of Indigenous teenagers.

Why does it all happen here?

Chapter 1: There is a Town in Northern Ontario

Locals call it Murder Bay. It might be the most dangerous city for Indigenous youth in the world. But to others, it’s their white nirvana. Host Ryan McMahon wants to know – not who killed all those kids, but what killed them. This is Thunder Bay.

All My Relations

Welcome! All My Relations is a podcast hosted by Matika Wilbur (Swinomish and Tulalip) and Adrienne Keene (Cherokee Nation) to explore our relationships— relationships to land, to our creatural relatives, and to one another.

Indigenous Artist to Artist (Part 1): Adapting To Pandemic & Daring to Dream

In a world of cultural appropriation and “Native inspired” junk showing up on Instagram ads and in stores, we wanted you to get to know actual Indigenous artists. Folks who have been in the game for a long time, navigating the complicated and careful lines of culture, tradition, innovation, and art. We want you to hear their voices and their stories, know their work and their passion, and learn why its so important to support Native artists directly. Secondly, the pandemic has hit us all in a lot of different and difficult ways. But when the Native art world is so dependent on in person relationships, this time has meant that things have had to dramatically shift and change in a very short period of time. Many of our artist friends rely on art markets and shows for the majority of their income each year, and all of those have been cancelled. We wanted to bring these two pieces together, and introduce you to some of our artist friends, as well as check in and hear how their work and lives are moving forward in this new and challenging time.

Missing and Murdered

Where is Cleo? Taken by child welfare workers in the 1970’s and adopted in the U.S., the young Cree girl’s family believes she was raped and murdered while hitchhiking back home to Saskatchewan. CBC news investigative reporter Connie Walker joins the search to find out what really happened to Cleo.