Minutes for October 7th

Indyclass Meeting

Facilitated by Cleve

Shayla, Cleve, Kayle, Tessa, Dan, Dave, Nadia, Maria

1. Check Ins/ Status of readings
   1. 6 people had done some of the readings, 2 had done none, no one did all
2. Clarification of Definitions
   1. Decolonization and Indigenous solidarity
      1. Fight for decolonization is part of indigenous solidarity but indigenous solidarity not necessarily decolonization
      2. Indigenous solidarity movements often align with decolonization, sovereignty over land use, fights against industrial development and incorporation ect.
      3. Gord Hill (Zig Zag) article: Colonization and Decolonization Zine

Decolonization: Anything indigenous struggle that doesn’t take into consideration the destruction of colonial system and liberation of land and ppl only leads to greater assimilation,

Implications of statement:

Many indigenous struggles= assimilation

Ex. Treaties legitimize the existence of the Canadian state

Ex. two row rompom (non-interference treaty between Iroquois and Dutch) but doesn’t need to be interpreted as canadian state, can be seen as europeans living here as well. But does not recognized Canadian Government as legitimate because was created when there was no colonial state mechanisms at time

Ex. Grassy Narrows = struggle for recognition of treaty 3 so legitimizes Canadian govt, but fight for this treaty recognition is part into a greater struggle. Crissy stressed the connectedness of struggles, if treaty 3 is recognized and logging stops in Grassy Narrows it won’t be end of the struggle. Also her goal wasn’t solely govt recognition of treaty, but also walk to help ppl see possibilities of resistance.

Also take into consideration very vague and open to interpretation

Gord Hill talks about making alliances with some settlers with the common enemy being ruling class. (possibly Marxist??)

Implications for decolonization:

Wom pom treaty of non-interference, our side (settlers) aren’t doing things right so we need to fight general oppression by our state. Need to deal with hierarchies within our society. Decolonization= multi-faceted struggle.

Interesting note: originally indigenous ppl often signed treaties with lower class settlers, not realizing that these people were part of a much larger hierarchy and did not actually have any control or influence over how the state would decide to expand and colonize.

But is a adopting this “class war“ framework assimilation as well because it is not an originally indigenous notion?  Gord Hill talks about how culture has a role to play in decolonization but decolonization doesn’t mean trying to return to previous culture. After the conflict there will be the disappearance of colonialism and the idea of the colonized vs the colonizer will not exist.

Class War: Decolonization= not conflict with all settlers but settler elite, state and corporations need to be targeted. Clarified in Gord Hill article, that settlers don’t need to leave but hierarchical settler culture needs to be ended

Can non-native people decolonize?

If decolonization revolves around dismantling colonial institutions then Yes. But, non-native people can’t decolonize settler society without indigenous struggles. Also  it is hard to picture settler societies being decolonized by indigenous people alone.

Parallels to Angela Davies talk: Claim techniques developed by racist institutions for racist goals later used against both racialized and white communities.

police = racist institution, and racism can partially account for why police are as brutal as they are to both white and racialized ppl. (Ex. laws created for the purpose of controlling recently released slaves, now used to control everyone)

But the police, are fucked not because they are racist but because they are the police, and racism is just one aspect. Even states with only one race use police

Idea: Colonial institutions (corporations, state ect) have negative effects on settlers as well, which might enable them to play a more active role in decolonization. (but colonialism provides more privilege to settlers through stolen resources ect. than it has negative effects)

Indigenous solidarity

Solidarity with indigenous folk by anyone, indigenous or settlers

Not necessarily decolonization

Common frameworks: rights based, sovereignty based, autonomy based

Rights vs sovereignty clear

Autonomy based framework= attempt to develop institutions completely independent of state (originate with zapatistas) Approach of native youth movement= live off the grid to build autonomy for communities and individuals.

Fighting spirit

Gord Hill says fighting spirit necessary for decolonization, (can’t happen without direct confrontation with state so fighting spirit is needed)

Spiritualism alone= conservative/assimilation

Struggle= connection with warrior culture, and new culture develops out of struggles and confrontation

Also, fighting spirit motivates people live their lives in a more decolonialist way (in all aspects of their lives)

Fighting spirit = not necessarily direct physical conflict, talks about decolonializing mind, and changing ideas, but eventual conflict with state nessesary

Grassy Narrows article

Need to develop relationships with indigenous people to realize your own privilege as a settler. But how oppression plays out in personal relationships context is very different from a oppression on societal levels. Because whole groups of people are affected and in general settlers are benefiting though in individual cases this may not be the case.

Ex. Mining, settlers and indigenous communities may both face problems from mining (which comes from a colonial institution). Link back to Angela Davies idea, BUT overall indigenous ppl are more negatively affected and settlers reap more positive benefits.

(I think I missed a bit at the end so my notes aren’t as clear)

Overview of Tasks

Facilitator: Make questions to spark discussion, find some readings.

Maria, Cleve, Dan, Shayla can likely facilitate for one week. Tessa, Nadia, and Kayle can maybe.

Dave offered to do week on Native Youth Movement.

Doodle: Most ppl. filled out, though some found a bit difficult to understand topics clearly if not at discussion. Also some weeks were very broad and covered many topics. Develop more clarity when readings established??

Likely won’t do class about immigration (Jaggi) before Christmas but may ask him to speak about another topic but not sure about what yet.

Next week: will be Elizabeth Penashue. kayle and cleve will find reading on industrial development, maria  (maybe?) will find reading on community divisions, Cleve facilitating (maybe??)

Room: booked for next week though not for the weeks afterwards

Advertisement