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). Please be aware that these NDN definitions are to give you a This term started off as online general idea. This is especially true slang and is about First when it comes to terminology Nations reclaiming the word relating to identity. Identities are “Indian”. Only Indigenous complicated, are always evolving, Peoples can use this term. and don’t exist in boxes. When in doubt: never assume, ask! KANIEN’KEHÁ:KA This is what the Mohawk call themselves and roughly translates to “people of the flint”. They are also one of the original nations FIRST NATION that called the island of Montreal First Nations are the their territory (Tiohtià:ke). descendants of the original inhabitants of Canada. Various TIOHTIÀ:KE & MOONIYAANG nations, beliefs, & languages The Kanien’kehá:ka call exist within this group. There Montreal Tiohtià:ke, which are 10 First Nations in Quebec. roughly translates to “where the boats/rivers meet”. M(m )ÉTIS The Métis are a post-contact The Anishinaabeg word is Mooniyaang Indigenous People. Métis refers ; roughly translating to people with roots in the Red to “the first stopping place”. River community or other historic Métis communities. TWO-SPIRIT While métis refers to people Two-Spirit is an umbrella term with mixed Indigenous ancestry. that includes gay, lesbian, bisexual, and trans/gender INUIT & INUK non-conforming identities. It is Inuit is the term for Indigenous also what the “2S” stands for in peoples from Arctic North LGBTQ2S; it’s a person who regions of Canada, Greenland identifies as having a spirit that and Alaska. Inuit is the plural is both masculine and feminine. form, while Inuk is the singular It is used by some Indigenous form. They make up the 11th TERMINOLOGY people to describe their sexual, Indigenous nation in Quebec. gender and/or spiritual identity. Only Indigenous people can ANISHINAABEG identify as being two-spirit, This is what the Algonquin people since being two-spirit came refer to themselves as. Their with a specific role within ancestral territories include regions Indigenous communities. in Quebec, but subgroups have migrated further West into Ontario, SETTLER Manitoba, and Saskatchewan.4 The This term is used to describe word roughly translates to “the people whose ancestors authentic people” or “real people”. migrated to Canada and who still benefit from ongoing TURTLE ISLAND colonialism. This could be also This is the name given to North applied to “settlers of colour” America by some Indigenous but doesn’t apply when Peoples, such as the Iroquois, referring to people who are Anishinaabeg, and other descendants of slaves, Northeastern nations.5 The term considering they did not come originates from their various to this continent willingly. Keep creation stories. in mind the various intersections of a person’s INDIGENOUS & ABORIGINAL identity and how this translates These are umbrella terms to include into the types of privileges they First Nations, Métis, and Inuit in are either afforded or withheld. Canada. Both terms are used internationally to define the original POW WOW habitants of colonized countries, A traditional First Nations’ with Indigenous being the most gathering and celebration of favoured term. However, it is always dance, song, socializing and respectful to be specific about the honoring of a rich heritage. Nation you are referring to; use the Not to be used to describe a term that they use to self-identify. meeting or group of people. 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.