Introduction to Anti-Racism Work: A Conversation with Jimmy Weasel Child

Meet Jimmy Weasel Child

Note, the interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.

Interviewer: Can you tell me about your work in anti-racism and decolonization?

I'm Jimmy Weasel Child. I live in Siksika Nation which is part of the Blackfoot tribe and Treaty Seven. I come from a big family on both my mother and father’s sides. My community is important, especially because my parents taught my siblings and I to always do our best and help others. My mom is a teacher and she's been teaching longer than I've been alive. My dad has worked with youth groups and was a part of our government - Chief and Council. They're used to working with and helping people. I picked it up from them.

When it comes to anti-racism and decolonization work when you’re living in Alberta as a minority, you're born into it. When you have to find that strength within yourself to stand up when someone's saying or doing something racist. I've been kind of doing that my whole life. As I got older, I learned how to use my words to speak out. Even in high school. I was part of the Leo Club and the Native Club. Just by being visible, you go against people’s stereotypes. I graduated from high school in Strathmore which is a town close to Siksika. Then I attended Mount Royal University and I graduated with a history degree. While attending MRU, I was President of the Native Student’s Club.

Humour is one of the best things to connect with and deal with the tough stuff in life. I’ve seen that a lot in my native community where I live, people always talk about how natives they are always joking around, using humour as a way to get through things. Laughter is something that people can have if they find humour within the situation, it’s a good way to connect.

I’ve always joined different groups and committees. I was the Youth Chief of my reserve. Usually the youth chief you only get the job for one year but I was one of the few to hold the position for two years. We apply with the summer student job program and then they interview you to see if you're qualified to be an example for the youth. It was challenging but a worthwhile job to support and help youth. At that same time, I was in charge of a group of youth counsellors. It was very cool.

A lot of people before me have used their voices to try and help and go against the status quo. They knew that life wasn’t great for people, and so they pushed, they fought for the future of the children of our tribe. It’s really important and kind of really inspiring to push people to stick up for what they think is wrong. I see that even some of my relatives, before my time, they fought for the rights for natives and have been speaking out for people that don’t have a voice because a lot of times minorities are looked down upon, they don’t have that confidence to speak up for themselves. If people can find it within themselves to push and speak up, I think it’s important to have a voice and use it for the people who can’t.

People have mentioned here in Siksika, have been saying that education is like the new buffalo. Traditionally my people, you know, they used everything from the buffalo - nothing went to waste - and that’s what I mean, we knew how to live, and now they’re saying that education is the new buffalo because we need to take everything we can from it to help our people in the future.

Interviewer: What is the hardest part of advocating for others and movement building?

There’s always going to be naysayers, whether it’s going to be people outside your community or even within your community. You’re not going to be everyone’s favourite person. Finding the strength within yourself is really hard, you know, it’s a hard thing to do, to find that and push and motivate yourself. Sometimes when you’re doing something, it looks like it can be tough, but if people can just take a couple steps at a time, they can accomplish a lot.

The bigger picture and working together as a team is a really important thing to do, and it’s, it can be hard when there are people who have different views in life. But it’s good when people come together and can even put those thoughts aside and work together for the better good.