Indigenous Elders Reflection

This week’s readings touched on the experiences of Indigenous Elders to demonstrate the upsetting realities of poverty and poor-health, that can be attributed to the lasting effects of colonization. Contributing to our understanding of this week’s topic on the wisdom of our Elders, the readings share the life experiences and perspectives of Indigenous women who have shown strength and resilience in the face of systemic oppression. The experiences expressed in the text shows how valuable it is to pass down heritage, as it can play a crucial part in individual identity formation.

Although the methods of presentation-participatory research, reflection, journal entries and poetry-were different amongst the readings, the themes were consistent.

We see in the Canadian government, between federal and provincial levels this push of jurisdiction and accountability, an example of this lack of care resulted in the Jordan’s Principal. Although, the recent change in legal recognition is promising Desmarais feels that change will be slow (2017, pg. 239). I believe that the lengthy process isn’t necessarily just attributed to the legal process, but to the lack of priority given to the Indigenous population. This discrimination is also evident in the healthcare and education system where racism is prevalent and reflected in the care received. One of the interviewed Elders, Jolene, felt that she was being treated inconsiderately (Green, 2017, pg. 234). Overall, the lack of research and experiences of these women show that the government is failing to address significant

Closely tied to speaking-out, reclamation, healing, and the overall importance of community; identity was coherent in almost all of the experiences presented. The introduction of patriarchy upon colonization, weighed heavily on the realities of these women. The following quote I found to be particularly moving, as I interpret it to show how silence is reinforced: “… my first art performance. “Independence” My only audience was a very angry man…” (Green, 2017, pg. 342). Shirley Green, whose mother tried to shield by withholding heritage and language, felt as if she didn’t fit in (2017, 308). Community is a really important agent and can alter identity, provide financial security and belonging; the act of speaking out and reclaiming heritage after years of silence can be considered activism in