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It's Indigenous People's Day!!
Here are five ways to celebrate, acknowledge, and honor their collective PRESENCE on our precious Earth. #IndigenousPeoplesDay2020
Here are five ways to celebrate, acknowledge, and honor their collective PRESENCE on our precious Earth. #IndigenousPeoplesDay2020
1) Honor the land, and acknowledge that you are a guest here. Indigenous folx were, and continue to be, the original caretakers of lands all across the globe. Invite your people to know & name whose land they reside on. Use this link: http://bit.ly/AcknowledgeLand
2) Start to take care of the Earth and advocate for Environmental Justice. EJ is powerfully linked to returning habitats, weather patterns, & forestry cycles to their natural state. Read: " A Healthy Earth Needs Its Indigenous People" https://mg.co.za/environment/2020-09-29-a-healthy-earth-needs-its-indigenous-people/
This is a way of life for many Indigenous folx. Let us look to their way of life for guidance instead of imposing stance rooted in industry and capitalism. Check out the Indigenous Environmental Network https://www.ienearth.org/ .
3) Indigenize teaching and learning spaces. Start with decolonizing classrooms by learning more about epistemicide of Indigenous cultures in schools,
Resources:
Facing History: https://www.facinghistory.org/stolen-lives-indigenous-peoples-canada-and-indian-residential-schools/chapter-7/cultural-genocide
(More researchy/scholarly work): https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/14754835.2014.886951?src=recsys&journalCode=cjhr20
Resources:
Facing History: https://www.facinghistory.org/stolen-lives-indigenous-peoples-canada-and-indian-residential-schools/chapter-7/cultural-genocide
(More researchy/scholarly work): https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/14754835.2014.886951?src=recsys&journalCode=cjhr20
4) Move towards embracing circular, non-hierarchical relationships and mentorships. Reflect on the kinds of relationships you have with people in your school-principals, students, teachers:
Are they transactional? Relational? Trust-based?
Check out this tool @MisterMinor @Ninjagenius and @MsKass1 made to support folx reflection:
Check out this tool @MisterMinor @Ninjagenius and @MsKass1 made to support folx reflection:
5) Underscore the lived presence of Indigenous peoples in our world today. If you are a teacher, ensure you are not teaching only the historicized version of American Indians.
There are many great social media accounts from Indigenous folx, and excellent #ownvoice picture books illustrating this point. To orient yourself most powerfully to this idea, check out Dr. Leilani Sabzalian's @leilanisabz
recent text https://www.routledge.com/Indigenous-Childrens-Survivance-in-Public-Schools/Sabzalian/p/book/9781138384507
recent text https://www.routledge.com/Indigenous-Childrens-Survivance-in-Public-Schools/Sabzalian/p/book/9781138384507
YA books / Pic books I use: https://www.amazon.com/Indigenous-Peoples-History-ReVisioning-American/dp/0807049395
Social Media: @debreese @leilanisabz @IndigenousX IG: @cinnamonkillsfirst
This is all big work. It's stance as opposed to steps. Immerse yourself, listen. Step back. Make Space. Keep learning. Don't be afraid of what you don't know, embrace possibility through commitment.
This is all big work. It's stance as opposed to steps. Immerse yourself, listen. Step back. Make Space. Keep learning. Don't be afraid of what you don't know, embrace possibility through commitment.
