INDIGENOUS ALLY TOOLKIT “SO YOU WANT to BE an ALLY.” - Lamont, A

INDIGENOUS ALLY TOOLKIT “SO YOU WANT TO BE AN ALLY.” - Lamont, A. Guide to Allyship.

When it comes to creating a ALLY positive & sustainable impact on Being an ally is about disrupting the lives of Indigenous Peoples oppressive spaces by educating living in Montreal, it is important to others on the realities and understand the role that an histories of marginalized people. 1 individual occupies and plays within the collective experience. ACCOMPLICE An accomplice works within a The term ally has been around for system and “directly challenges some time, and recently many institutionalized/systemic racism, critics 2, 10 say that it has lost its original meaning. Instead of being colonization, and white used to identify one’s role within a supremacy by blocking or collective struggle, it has come to impeding racist people, policies, symbolize a token identity – a kind and structures”. 1 of “badge” that people wear to show they are one of the “good CO-RESISTOR guys”. Being a co-resistor is about standing together, as an There are multiple terms a person ensemble, in resistance against can use when identifying the role oppressive forces and requires that they actively play within constant learning. It is anti-oppressive work. Neither is combining theory and practice better than the other and regard- by establishing relationships and less of what you call yourself, each role plays an important part in this being deeply involved within a kind of work. Many want to be an community that informs how ally, which is why this pamphlet one listens critically, understands focuses on that term. However, an issue and influences the way being an ally is not a self-appointed they go about disrupting identity and requires you to show oppressive institutions and your understanding through systemic systems. actions, relations, and recognition by the community. STEP #1: BE CRITICAL OF ANY MOTIVATIONS

KANIEN’KEHÁ:KA When getting involved in this kind This is what the Mohawk call of work, one should ask themselves: themselves and roughly translates to “people of the flint”. They are also one of the original nations Does my interest derive from that called the island of Montreal the fact that the issue is their territory (Tiohtià:ke). currently “buzzing”? HOW Does my interest stem from the fact that the issue will meet quotas or increase chances of any funding? CAN Does my involvement hijack the message and insert my own opinions or values instead of respecting those of the I BE Indigenous communities? Am I doing this to feed my ego? A GOOD These movements and struggles do not exist to further one’s own self-interest, nor are they there ALLY? as “extra-curricular” activities. 2

TO BE AN ALLY IS TO:

Actively support REMEMBER: the struggle.

Being involved in any kind of anti-oppression work is Stand up, even when about recognizing that you feel scared. every person has a basic right to human dignity, respect, and equal access to resources. Transfer the At the end of the day, beneﬁts of your being an ally goes beyond privilege to those checking actions off a list who have less. and it is not a competition. Being an ally is about a way of being and doing. This means self-reflection, Acknowledge that “checking in” with one’s the conversation is motivations and debriefing not about you. 3 with community members is a continual process; it is a way of life. STEP #2: START LEARNING

Here are lists of terms that will help “SO YOU WANT TO you get started on educating yourself on the history of Indigenous Peoples on Turtle Island. Educating yourself is an ongoing BE AN ALLY.” process. Change will not be easy and REMEMBER: you will never truly be an expert on Indigenous challenges and realities, Indigenous people but you can work in allyship. are grandparents, parents, children, & siblings. They are A good rule of thumb is to ask yourself: doctors, teachers, social workers, How can I use this new entrepreneurs, & information in my everyday life? artists – they are What steps can I personally take human beings. to amplify marginalized voices that Indigenous people are too often silenced? are present and thriving in a country What do I have and how can that that expected them be leveraged? to die off and that How can I use my position & continues to enforce privileges to listen, shift power structures of dynamics and take steps towards oppression today – reconciliaction? we are resilient.

INDIGENOUS PEOPLES ARE THE EXPERTS OF THEIR OWN REALITIES & HISTORIES.

1 Opportunities for White People in the Fight for Racial Justice. (2016). 2 Accomplices Not Allies: Abolishing The Ally Industrial Complex. (2014). TERMS THAT ARE NOT OKAY 3 Guide to Allyship. (2016). 4 Algonquin Territory: Indigenous title to land in FOR YOU TO SAY: the Ottawa Valley is an issue that is yet to be resolved. (2018). 5 Turtle Island: The Original Name for North • • America. (2007). Indian Red skins 6 Mapping the Legal Consciousness of First • Savage • Eskimo Nations Voters: Understanding Voting Rights • • Mobilization. (2009). Half-breed Squaw 7 An Overview of the Indian Residential School. (2013). term that theyusetoself-identify. youareNation referring to;usethe respectful to bespeciﬁcabout the favoured term. However, itisalways with Indigenousbeingthemost habitants ofcolonizedcountries, internationally todefinetheoriginal Canada. Bothtermsare used First Nations,Métis,andInuit in These are umbrella terms toinclude INDIGENOUS &ABORIGINAL INUIT &INUK Indigenous nationinQuebec. form. Theymakeupthe11th form, whileInukisthesingular and Alaska.Inuitistheplural regions ofCanada,Greenland peoples from Arctic North Inuit isthetermforIndigenous are 10FirstNationsinQuebec. exist withinthisgroup. There nations, beliefs,&languages inhabitants ofCanada.Various descendants oftheoriginal First Nationsare the FIRST NATION with mixedIndigenousancestry. While métisrefers topeople historic Métiscommunities. River communityorother to peoplewithroots intheRed Indigenous People.Métisrefers The Métisare apost-contact M(m doubt: neverassume,ask! and don’t existinboxes.When complicated, are alwaysevolving, relating toidentity. Identitiesare when itcomestoterminology general idea.Thisisespeciallytrue deﬁnitions are togiveyoua Please beaware thatthese Northeastern nations. Anishinaabeg, andother Peoples, suchastheIroquois, America bysomeIndigenous This isthenamegiventoNorth TURTLE ISLAND authentic people”or“real people”. word roughly translatesto“the Manitoba, andSaskatchewan. migrated furtherWest intoOntario, in Quebec,butsubgroups have ancestral territoriesincluderegions refer tothemselvesas.Their This iswhattheAlgonquinpeople ANISHINAABEG creation stories. originates from theirvarious )ÉTIS 5 Theterm 4 The KANIEN’KEHÁ:KA are eitherafforded orwithheld. into thetypesofprivilegesthey identity andhowthistranslates intersections ofaperson’s in mindthevarious to thiscontinentwillingly. Keep considering theydidnotcome descendants ofslaves, referring topeoplewhoare but doesn’t applywhen applied to“settlersofcolour” colonialism. Thiscouldbealso still benefitfrom ongoing migrated toCanadaandwho people whoseancestors This termisusedtodescribe SETTLER Indigenous communities. with aspecificrole within since beingtwo-spiritcame identify asbeingtwo-spirit, Only Indigenouspeoplecan gender and/orspiritualidentity. people todescribetheirsexual, It isusedbysomeIndigenous is bothmasculineandfeminine. identifies ashavingaspiritthat LGBTQ2S; it’s apersonwho also whatthe“2S”standsforin non-conforming identities.Itis bisexual, andtrans/gender that includesgay, lesbian, Two-Spirit isanumbrella term TWO-SPIRIT to “thefirststoppingplace”. Mooniyaang; roughly translating The Anishinaabegword is the boats/riversmeet”. roughly translatesto“where Montreal Tiohtià:ke,which The Kanien’kehá:kacall TIOHTIÀ:KE &MOONIYAANG POW WOW their territory(Tiohtià:ke). that calledtheislandofMontreal also oneoftheoriginalnations to “peopleoftheflint”.Theyare themselves androughly translates This iswhattheMohawkcall Peoples canusethisterm. “Indian”. OnlyIndigenous Nations reclaiming theword slang andisaboutFirst This termstartedoff asonline NDN meeting orgroup ofpeople. Not tobeused todescribea honoring ofarich heritage. dance, song,socializing and gathering andcelebration of A traditionalFirstNations’ TERMINOLOGY THINGS NOT TO SAY

“CANADA’S INDIGENOUS PEOPLES” “THE INDIGENOUS CULTURE”

or “OUR INDIGENOUS PEOPLES” This is too broad considering that hundreds of Indigenous The Indigenous Peoples on communities, nations, Turtle Island are not owned by languages and cultures exist Canada or by any individual, within Canada. Instead of which is the way the language singular, try using plural forms makes it out to sound. Try to instead. Even better, try being say “the Indigenous Peoples of specific about the nation to what we now call Canada” avoid pan-Indigenizing. I.e. instead. “My Kanien’kehá:ka friends from Kahnawake” or “the many Indigenous cultures.”

“YOU’RE INDIGENOUS? YOU MUST BE AN ALCOHOLIC”

This is incorrect, perpetuates “WHY DON’T YOU JUST false stereotypes, and is a GET OVER IT?” generalizing and discriminatory view to have. Even if you are First Nations were not allowed referencing a joke you heard, to vote in federal elections just avoid saying this until 1960.6 The last residential altogether. school was closed in 1996.7 Today, Indigenous children make up over half of all children in child care.8 These recent acts of colonization did not happen hundreds of years “CAN YOU AND YOUR PEOPLE ago and Indigenous people are FORGIVE MY PEOPLE still healing and dealing with FOR WHAT WE DID?” oppressive structures. One does not recover from traumatic events overnight, Guilt should not be the main much less systemic oppression reason for why you want to that took place over hundreds be a part of ally work. On top of years and of that, no one Indigenous that continues to . person can forgive an entire this day population, nor are they the spokesperson for the entire Indigenous population. As TERMS THAT ARE NOT OKAY you educate yourself, you FOR YOU TO SAY: may grapple with these feelings of guilt and that is “YOU PEOPLE WERE CONQUERED” completely normal but what • Red skins are more important are the Surviving genocide is a • Eskimo steps and actions that you revolutionary act and by saying • Squaw take afterwards – not being this you are both condoning forgiven. and celebrating genocide. 11 10 9 8 imperfect AlliesinCommunityWork. children aged14andunder. (2011). (2017). (1998). experiences, andstories. information, knowledge, and possessionoftheir ownership, control, access, Indigenous Peopleshave decisions thataffect them. theatre, andinmaking in thearts,music,film, Indigenous peopleatevents, Rec ‘ for theirknowledge&time. crediting Indigenouspeople Properly remunerating and and/or forthem. that are madeaboutthem and ownershipofinitiatives be involvedinthecreation Hiring Indigenouspeopleto ALLYSHIP BY: PRACTICE GOOD ORGANIZATIONS CAN WORKPLACES & organization. position atacommunity or through avolunteer impacted bythestruggles directly involvedor could bethrough afriend communication –this establish adirect lineof To dothis,itiscrucialto sign ofprivilege. badge ofhonour, itisa Being anallyisnota critical self-reflection. humility andongoing action andrequires process thatisrooted in being anally. Itisalifelong half oftheworkwhen Educating one’s selfisonly ACT ACCORDINGLY STEP #3: Reynolds,V. (2013).“LeaningIn”as P Living arrangementsofAboriginal I NeedAnAccomplice, NotAnAlly. The FirstNationsPrinciplesofOCAP®. assing themic’to o gnizing that 9

10 any culturalprotocols RESPECTING the factthatyouare a and traditions TO DO’S ACKNOWLEDGING that multiplenationsexist guest onthisland

NEXT STEPS within Turtle Island RECOGNIZING in meaningfulways Continue tosupport&act about thehistory Research tolearnmore on mutualconsent&trust Build relationships based Ask whatyoucando Listen totheexperts voice toelevateothers. ally isaboutriskingyour down toit,beingagood because whenitcomes oppressive behaviours they are displaying them accountablewhen others outandholding This couldentailcalling [email protected] placements: us aboutavailablevolunteer population inMontreal, email the urbanIndigenous that aimtomeettheneedsof supporting localorganizations If you’re interested in 11 1

Content and research by Dakota Swiftwolfe Layout and design by Leilani Shaw

Many people and resources were consulted in the creation of this document. For a full list of resources and collaborators, visit our website: reseaumtlnetwork.com