Truth and Reconciliation face challenges with existing two solitudes & attitudes
May 13, 2007 - 7:01am | by Anonymous
From the Peterborough Examiner ...
Local News - Saturday, May 12, 2007
An aboriginal lawyer says there is no hope of common ground between native and non-natives.
"There is no cultural common (ground). People who are trying to talk about one are likely to fail," said Paul Williams, an aboriginal lawyer from Six Nations who has handled more than 100 Indian land claims.
Instead, natives and non-natives are on a "collision" course that began when Europeans landed on North American soil and the only possible shock absorbers are respect, trust and friendship, Williams told a gathering of about 30 educators and academics at Trent University yesterday.
"What appears to be happening is in fact repeated offers to paths of assimilation, which essentially means elimination," he said.
"Not at the senior government level, not at the university levels do people understand - these are irreconcilable differences.
"
Calling the conversation "chilling and challenging," Joe Sheridan, a York University professor and organizer of this weekend's Eco-Justice Education Conference, said the "future of humanity" is at stake.
The topics ranged from spirituality to the environment, but all had the same core - there is no way to separate the outside world from humanity.
The problem is that non-natives have a different world view, Sheridan said.
This is most evident in universities and colleges, he said.
"At the post-secondary education level, we are doing something grievously wrong," Sheridan said.
"It's eco-apartheid. By requiring aboriginal people to take PhDs in post-secondary institutions, prevents the voices of traditional knowledge from being heard."
That's something the leader of the 42-member First Nations of the Anishinabek Nation said must change.
"All too often universities want to put all of their apples in one basket," Grand Council Chief John Beaucage told the group at Gzowski College's Gathering Space.
"Our elders have every bit as much knowledge as a person with a PhD in environmental science. We would be cheating ourselves and our children if we don't consider the teachings of our elders."
Williams said the problem stems from people focusing on some future point, rather than the here-and-now.
"Forgive my cynicism," Williams said. "I don't think human beings are the be-all and end-all on earth. Once you become a society that believes you have a destination, what about the people you meet along the way?"
If there is no hope for reconciliation, there's no need for truth and reconciliation commissions, he said.
While he says it's a "huge challenge," Bob Watts, newly appointed director of the Assembly of First Nations' truth and reconciliation commission, said he's optimistic.
"There may be a need to set aside notions of superiority and imperialism," Watts said.
Curve Lake First Nation Chief Keith Knott said he was "inspired" by the conference.
"What I would like to see is to take the setting and bring it out in the open," he told The Examiner.
"Nobody knows when the rest of the world is ready."
Knott said Trent University - with its history of respect for indigenous studies and with buildings set part in the city, part in the country - is a good place to start.
Two solitudes; No hope of common ground between natives, non-natives: aboriginal lawyer
JEANNE PENGELLY / Examiner Education WriterLocal News - Saturday, May 12, 2007
An aboriginal lawyer says there is no hope of common ground between native and non-natives.
"There is no cultural common (ground). People who are trying to talk about one are likely to fail," said Paul Williams, an aboriginal lawyer from Six Nations who has handled more than 100 Indian land claims.
Instead, natives and non-natives are on a "collision" course that began when Europeans landed on North American soil and the only possible shock absorbers are respect, trust and friendship, Williams told a gathering of about 30 educators and academics at Trent University yesterday.
"What appears to be happening is in fact repeated offers to paths of assimilation, which essentially means elimination," he said.
"Not at the senior government level, not at the university levels do people understand - these are irreconcilable differences.
"
Calling the conversation "chilling and challenging," Joe Sheridan, a York University professor and organizer of this weekend's Eco-Justice Education Conference, said the "future of humanity" is at stake.
The topics ranged from spirituality to the environment, but all had the same core - there is no way to separate the outside world from humanity.
The problem is that non-natives have a different world view, Sheridan said.
This is most evident in universities and colleges, he said.
"At the post-secondary education level, we are doing something grievously wrong," Sheridan said.
"It's eco-apartheid. By requiring aboriginal people to take PhDs in post-secondary institutions, prevents the voices of traditional knowledge from being heard."
That's something the leader of the 42-member First Nations of the Anishinabek Nation said must change.
"All too often universities want to put all of their apples in one basket," Grand Council Chief John Beaucage told the group at Gzowski College's Gathering Space.
"Our elders have every bit as much knowledge as a person with a PhD in environmental science. We would be cheating ourselves and our children if we don't consider the teachings of our elders."
Williams said the problem stems from people focusing on some future point, rather than the here-and-now.
"Forgive my cynicism," Williams said. "I don't think human beings are the be-all and end-all on earth. Once you become a society that believes you have a destination, what about the people you meet along the way?"
If there is no hope for reconciliation, there's no need for truth and reconciliation commissions, he said.
While he says it's a "huge challenge," Bob Watts, newly appointed director of the Assembly of First Nations' truth and reconciliation commission, said he's optimistic.
"There may be a need to set aside notions of superiority and imperialism," Watts said.
Curve Lake First Nation Chief Keith Knott said he was "inspired" by the conference.
"What I would like to see is to take the setting and bring it out in the open," he told The Examiner.
"Nobody knows when the rest of the world is ready."
Knott said Trent University - with its history of respect for indigenous studies and with buildings set part in the city, part in the country - is a good place to start.