Decolonizing Community Development: Learnings, Un-learnings, Reflections, and Resources
Recently, I’ve been working through some of the online mini-courses offered by Ta7talíya Michelle Nahanee and Nahanee Creative around Decolonizing, through their new on-demand (un)learning platform.
Some of the courses Nahanee Creative offers are:
“Etiquette for Allies”
“Introduction to Territorial Acknowledgements”
“Decolonizing Identity 101”
“Restorying Colonialism”
“Cultural Protocols, Cultural Empathy and Cultural Safety”
“Introducing Decolonizing Practices”.
The teachings of Ta7talíya Michelle Nahanee, as well as Ta7talíya Paisley Eva Nahanee and Kota Gallipeau, have been guiding me in very big ways. I must credit their work with so much of my recent learnings around decolonization and I am grateful to them for providing me (and so many others) with such important and accessible educational tools and learning opportunities, so that I can continue to learn how to decolonize my work, my relations, my language, and my life. Thank you Nahanee Creative for sharing your teachings, knowledge and wisdom. I encourage anyone with a desire to disrupt neocolonial oppression and to deepen their understanding of decolonization to take these mini courses, learn from Ta7talíya Michelle Nahanee’s amazing workbooks, and make time and space to do your own learning and reflecting.
Before I share more, I’ll introduce myself. My name is Vic, my pronouns are they/she and I’m a white settler living in Mohkinstsis (colonially known as “Calgary"), part of Treaty 7 territory. I honour the nations of Treaty 7 and those caring for this land - the Piikani First Nation, the Siksika First Nation and the Kainai First Nation, which make up Siksikaitsitapi (the Blackfoot Confederacy) as well as the Stoney Nakoda First Nations and the Tsuut'ina First Nation. Treaty 7 is also home to Metis Nation of Alberta, Region 3.
I’ve been working with CDLI for a few months now. I’m grateful to work for an organization that makes space to learn about decolonizing and anti-racism and considers how to hold these practices within the work that we do. Working through Ta7talíya Michelle Nahanee’s Decolonize… Workbook as a team each week has been so meaningful to me. Anti-oppressive and anti-racism lenses must be applied to community development work and this work needs to be grounded in decolonizing practices and relations so that we are aware of the ways that community development work can perpetuate harm and oppression and take steps to disrupt colonialism. It is my responsibility to always question the ways in which I show up in community, the space I take, and the ways in which I perpetuate settler-colonialism as a white person engaged in community work.
As a white settler, it is the reality that my ancestors and myself have benefitted from (and continue to benefit from) the ongoing devastation and genocide of Indigenous people as a result of colonialism. We (I) have been complicit in upholding these systems of oppression. Ta7talíya Michelle Nahanee’s Decolonize… Workbook has helped me recognize the ways in which I am conditioned by colonialism to think, speak and act and the harm this conditioning causes. Her Decolonize Accountability work page has me questioning, who am I accountable to?
I am accountable to those who have been and are systemically harmed by systems and institutions that my existence and privileges are rooted in. I am accountable to those who have been, and those who continue to, disrupt and fight settler-colonialism, systemic racism and white supremacy. I am not accountable to the systems that created (and continue to uphold) colonialism, neo-colonialism, settler-colonialism, racism, and anti-Indigeneity. I must, however, recognize the ways in which those systems have afforded me privilege and actively work to disrupt and challenge them.
In a capitalist society, getting money directly to those who are disproportionately harmed by systems of capitalism, colonialism, and white supremacy is necessary and I encourage everyone, in their own ways, to disrupt the status quo in your spheres of influence.
Mutual aid and redistribution of wealth is one way I do this. I talk about these things within my circles and try to prompt my white (especially wealthy) family members and friends to redistribute their wealth, particularly those who may not regularly do so. I share causes, organizations and GoFundMe links, in need of funds. This is also one way that I hold myself accountable. When I’m participating in these conversations within my circles, it’s a way for us to hold each other accountable to decolonizing practices and anti-racism work.
I think that a big reason why talking about money is considered “taboo” and uncomfortable (especially among many wealthier white people) is because living under capitalism causes disproportionate harm to certain groups and benefits few, but those few who do benefit under a capitalist system are only benefitting at the cost of others’ oppression. And talking about money (again, especially as a wealthy person) confronts this systemic oppression. So many white people avoid this discomfort and therefore resist accountability or any actual social change. Figure out how much you can take from your income each month and redistribute it. Share mutual aid calls with your friends and family. And be persistent. If you get pushback, that may be a sign to reevaluate certain relationships in your life.
*Note - wealthy people may avoid explicitly discussing money, but actions can speak louder than words and people often display their wealth through the things they buy and how they spend their time and money.
Many times I’ve heard the argument (and made it myself) that we shouldn’t be blaming individuals for the ongoing harm caused by the systems of oppression that we live under and that we need to hold governments and corporations accountable for how they actively uphold and enable those systems of oppression. However, this isn’t an either/or kind of thing. Of course, governments, institutions, and corporations do need to be held accountable as they play such a big role in ensuring harmful systems like capitalism, colonialism, imperialism, and white supremacy remain and dominate. But we must also hold ourselves and other individuals in our lives, accountable for our complicitness in these systems. Individuals are behind governments and corporations. We need individuals to disrupt the systems that they operate within on a local level. We also need movements to mobilize and disrupt systems on a larger scale.
Obviously, change does not happen overnight. Social change takes ongoing, consistent actions from individuals, and Indigenous people have always been fighting for decolonial social change. Look to them and listen to them.
Some ways that settlers can do this include:
Learn: there are so many in-depth and accessible educational resources available from Indigenous educators. Find these, purchase the work, do the work. Start with Ta7talíya Michelle Nahanee’s “Decolonize Everything” resources.
Listen (actively) to Indigenous people. National Day of Truth and Reconciliation is now federally recognized but Indigenous people have always been speaking out and disrupting colonialism - listen to them and be grateful to those who teach you. As a white person, I’ve learned how important it is to not be defensive and deflective when learning about my roles in white supremacy and colonialism and not to centre my own experiences.
Learn about the different host nation’s whose land you are on and grew up on and their unique ways of being. Listen, read, watch art and media from Indigenous creators. Remember intersectionality - the ways in which a person’s identities and lived experiences intersect with systems of oppression.
Dedicate time regularly for learning, organizing, reflecting, processing, on your own and in your workplaces and communities.
Bring these things up in your workplace - ask those in power in your workplace and in communities you are involved with how decolonizing and anti-racism is being approached. I recognize that not everyone is in a place to do this but white allies need to do the things that may be considered “risky” (ex. risk your job) especially those with more class/wealth privilege - leave your racist jobs.
Call in/call out the harm you see in your communities - write to your local political leaders and hold them accountable for their words and actions. Call out micro aggressions you witness. Call out someone who makes a racist comment. Call out that business who is appropriating Indigenous culture.
Remember that colonialism is ongoing today and it is false to believe that it’s in the past, or a “dark chapter” in history.
Remember that Indigenous people have always been fighting for decolonial social change and this isn’t new. Colonial conditioning is powerful and deeply embedded in our day to day lives. If it’s new to you then you have been choosing not to listen. Take this opportunity to listen, learn, reflect and act.
Do not say “Canada’s First Nations" or “Canada’s Indigenous People”. This is possessive and further perpetuates colonialism.
Research allies vs accomplices.
Decolonizing is uncomfortable - accept this discomfort. So often, when talking about the effects of colonialism, people are silenced because it’s uncomfortable. Change is not comfortable. Disrupting power systems is not comfortable.
Show up in solidarity by attending Indigenous-led marches, vigils, gatherings and events where you live. We need to show up and we need to listen.
This list is obviously not exhaustive and there are so many other ways to practice decolonizing. These are rooted in my own learnings and experiences as a white person working to decolonize. Think about the ways that you can practice decolonizing in your own life. Anti-racism and decolonizing work needs to be ongoing and not only centred around days like the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation or July 1.
Here are some people and groups local to Mohkinstsis and the areas of Treaties 6, 7 and 8, to support and learn from:
Awo Taan Healing Lodge Society
Voices - Calgary’s Coalition of Two-Spirit & Racialized lgbtqia+