(DCS1) Concepts in Indigenous-Settler Relations and Decolonization: Building bridges? Or perpetuating divide?

Words can shed light on an issue, build bridges in thought, challenge hate, and foster connection, but they can also fall short. Language has the potential to generate change, but it can also be used as a weapon. During a time when tensions persist, where people and groups continue to be oppressed, language matters, maybe more than ever. In the realm of Indigenous-settler relations and decolonization, how does our language contribute to building relationships and forging a pathway forward? Does it continue to perpetuate division? This session welcomed presentations and papers investigating the use of language and its meaning in Indigenous-settler relations. The goal is to encourage critical conversations exploring whether language contributes to building relationships or reinforces the status quo. Tags: Indigenous Studies

Organizers: Alicia Clifford, McMaster University, J Overholser, University of Calgary, Kerry Bailey, McMaster University and University of Saskatchewan; Chair: Alicia Clifford, McMaster University

Presentations

Priscila Barros, Western University

The implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples: The case of Brazil

The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), adopted in 2007, has been recognized by Indigenous peoples and experts as a turning point in Indigenous history. This declaration is the result of decades of Indigenous peoples activism and it has been recognized as the most comprehensive framework for recognition, reparation and reconciliation. While it has created a new international standard regarding Indigenous peoples’ rights, the implementation of the rights enshrined in this document is still lacking and Indigenous peoples continue to report numerous violations of their rights. For this conference, I will present the findings of my analysis of Brazil's inconsistencies in implementing the UNDRIP. Drawing on Bourdieu’s language and symbolic power approach, I examine official documents issued by the government regarding the recognition of Indigenous peoples’ rights. My analysis reveals how the Brazilian government has manipulated legal language to justify the violation of Indigenous peoples' rights. I pay special attention to the new legislation that changes the criteria for recognizing Indigenous peoples' land rights (Marco Temporal). In essence, I explore how the Brazilian legal system has both recognized and violated the UNDRIP.

Mari Soberal, York University

Apologies to the Future

This paper presentation will analyze the power of apology for past injustices and injustices done to future ancestors yet to come. In the past decade, there has been a significant focus on what constitutes forgiveness, especially from public figures and government structures. With the constant eye of media coverage and social media for accountability, there are no shortage of public figures offering carefully manicured statements of apology. While there is no issue with apology and accountability, if anything, we should become more comfortable with accountability, we have also run into other problems. The first being that these apologies have become so commonplace, that we have become completely desensitized to them. We have also run into the problem of what constitutes a proper apology, who decides what is a proper apology, and the issue of disingenuous apologies. At present in the United States and Canada, we are beginning the process of politicians apologizing for their complicity in colonial violence; because of this, the power of apology is brought to the forefront. This paper utilizes thematic content analysis of Avery Gordon’s Ghostly Matters and Stefan Skrimshire’s Confessing Anthropocene, we can see that we are being held accountable by the ghosts and judgment of the future humans. This analysis will focus on understanding the complicated political landscape of apologizing to the past and the future of colonial violence.

Sophie M. Lavoie, University of New Brunswick; Margaret M. Kress, University of New Brunswick

Words from Elders in the academic context: Explorations of learning

Within the context of the TRC's Calls to Action, many university communities are turning towards Elders to augment their curricular offerings, with the inherent tensions this choice brings. This paper will explore the possibilities and limits of learning and exchange through the example of a case study of a Land-Based academic course held in Mi'kmaki. During this course, graduate students visited various Indigenous communities in the territory to receive teachings and learn from generous Elders, on and off the land about aspects of Mi'kmaw worldviews. Ceremony, language, culture and livelihood embody the storied experience and the sub/conscious reflection and action of students and faculty. We will present and analyse how these critical exchanges took place and how communication challenges faced by those who conceptualized the academic experience, impacted themselves, the Elders and the students. At the forefront of the discussion will be the inherent friction between the Western-based academic system and the community-based oral nature of the Elder's knowledge and sharing.

Mickey Doyley, King's University College

Their Two-Spirit Journeys

This research stems from interest in the impacts of colonialism and religion on gender, sexuality, and the roles individuals fulfill within our society, along with passion for creating textile art. We must understand that the term Two-Spirit exists to help the Eurocentric population of so-called Canada in their attempt to understand a part of Indigenous culture and existence that was unbeknownst to settlers. With this consideration, “Two-spirit identity is about circling back to where we belong, reclaiming, reinventing, and redefining our beginnings, roots, communities, support systems, and collective and individual selves. We ‘come-in’” (Wilson, 2016, p. 198). My original undergraduate research with four Two-Spirit (Laing, 2018) individuals uses Sharing Circles and individual interviews to explore how each person experiences culture, tradition, and Ceremony, including any “coming in” experiences (Wilson, 2016), as well as the impacts of colonization on their everyday lives. The final research product is a handmade piece of embroidery art honouring the stories of and representing the key research findings related to the embodied experiences of Two-Spirit participants. Through the participants’ truths, through their storied words and arts-based representations of their stories, this research explores how language contributes to (re)colonization and decolonization of Two Spirit journeys.

Amanda Williams, Mount Royal University; Emma Duke, Mount Royal University

From images to impact: A case study on the visual language used to represent Indigenous women entrepreneurs in stock photography

In response to this session’s call for papers about language's role in Indigenous-settler relations, our exploratory study investigates how spoken and visual elements shape the portrayal of Indigenous women entrepreneurs in commercial stock photography. Through an examination of the inventory across three major databases, our results reveal a significant scarcity of images depicting Indigenous women, particularly in entrepreneurial roles. Applying Frosh's (2003) framework, we further scrutinize how the existing photographs in these repositories perpetuate problematic categorizations and fail to represent the diverse identities of Indigenous women business owners. Our discussion also emphasizes the substantial contributions of Indigenous women to the Canadian economy as entrepreneurs (Richard, 2021), highlighting the heightened significance of addressing their underrepresentation. Ultimately, we aim to contribute to broader academic discussions concerning the intricate relationship between language, visual representation, and societal dynamics within Indigenous-settler relations. Our findings may provide valuable insights for scholars examining identity, representation, and social justice, shedding light on how problematic narratives persist within the stock photography industry. Specifically, by exploring the sociocultural forces influencing such representation, this research encourages a deeper understanding of how generic racial categorizations in stock photography can obscure cultural distinctions and perpetuate harmful misrepresentations, advocating for a more nuanced perspective.