Yo! (Hi in Lik'wala)
For 2025 I am going to focus on hope. Hope that as Canadians we can learn from the current power dynamics at play and aim to change them.
Here, locally in Campbell River, I would like us to consider the history of how power has shifted and morphed over the past 200 years.
I recently wrote a post for my Critical Social Work Practice class at UVIC , reflecting upon why I started this petition. How now, I see power imbalances everywhere and how I consider what is ethical in decision making and who benefits from the power of these decisions. The fact that we have municipalities on Indigenous traditional territories, around reserve lands, all the while Nations are in treaty/self-government negotiations with the federal and provincial governments, makes this additionally complex. Why should we require support from a municipality? The system was set up to fail First Nation communities, and continues to do so today.
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So now to my meeting with the City. I met with the CAO, Elle, as well as a city planner, Andy. A few things stand out to me:
- The staff did not know about a basic term such as enfranchisement, nor did they know that if a non-Native woman married a Native man she received status because a non-Native woman would then teach her children the non-Native ways, whereas, a Native woman who married a non-Native man, was enfranchised (my grandmother/our family experienced this) and sent off reserve so that she would then have to raise them the non-Native way away from Native influence. The purpose of both, was assimilate children into the Eurocentric way at a higher rate - exactly the purpose of residential and day institutions ("schools").
2. The above, minus the knowledge of residential schools, has caused intergenerational trauma that they were completely unaware of. This allowed me to consider what else they did not know about. These aspects are integral to building relationships with Indigenous communities who have no choice but to experience the racism and discrimination of non-Indigenous people/communities they have been forced upon.
If we are to understand who we are, we must know about the history of our encounter with the Native people of the Americas. We cannot judge what it is right to do now without knowing what has gone before.
(Berger, 1999, p. xii)
3. The CAO confirmed that they will hire a support person for the Economic Development and Indigenous Relations role so support in efforts of reconciliation. This is terrific success and I, along with many others, will ensure the City remains accountable in their decision making moving forward. Especially when we consider who benefits from their power.
4. While in discussion with the City, I reminded them about the December 4, 2024, letter I wrote to the Union of BC Municipalities (which I cc'd them on), that while the Indigenous population of Campbell River is only 10%, is it not shocking that the homeless population of Campbell River is 50% Indigenous? And now the City has purchased a building which houses some of the most vulnerable peoples, which will be demolished in under eight months. In the meeting, and as I read this article, Elle confirmed that the City has taken ownership of this transition and will be supporting in the relocation of these people, thankfully.
What a journey which I am so thankful to you for sharing with me, with us. A huge Gilakas'la for support. Please be sure to reach out to jamiebryant1@uvic.ca should you like to connect, inquire, or build community in future.
ALL MY RELATIONS
Jamie Bryant
P.S. This makes me curious as to next steps with the City: Centuries-old First Nations burial discovered at Campbell River construction site - Campbell River Mirror
The photo is of Tribal Journeys 2017 in Campbell River