Some thoughts on the 8th Fire and White People Blaming white people for colonization doesnt really serve any purpose other than making them feel guilty. And seriously how many of us ever actually made a healthy decision out of sheer guilt? I feel guilty for using a cell phone, knowing that there is conflict minerals, and slave labour involved...is that enough to guilt me or any of you into changing our decisions not to use them? What makes anyone think that the majority of white people will feel obligated to help us by making them feel more guilty? I think colonization/decolonization education is instrumental. But just as instrumental is finding the ones that legitimately want to help (they are everywhere, and I know several of them.) Then building bridges between the two nations, (even on an individual basis) begins that nation to nation relationship, that was originally intended. The 8th Fire can not be lit, with out the inclusion of white people. But be careful and ever vigilant, there are thousands upon thousands (millions even) of opportunists out there who will be eager to tokenize you, romanticize you, and co opt you. You will recognize these ones if they try to assert their leadership over yours. The trick is to find the good ones, and begin working with them (This is essential, because you need them, to talk to and educate other white people.) You can differentiate the good ones from the bad ones most often, because they are most likely and willing to take your advice, and ask for, or follow your leadership. They have no problem taking a supporting role. This lays the ground work for building a community with them. But this then becomes a two way street. After enough time passes and enough trust builds, you begin to support them as well, not out of any political obligations, but because your struggles become united in a common communal effort. You go beyond the standing in solidarity with each other, but you actually stand in unity with each other because youve built family with each other. This unity, then begins to heal and repair the damage done by previous generations. You then build on this to include more native people and more white (non native) people and so forth until you have actually created a small community. Where you people go from there...well is up to the community of people that youve assembled. I know what community I am helping build, what will yours look like?
Posted on: Wed, 09 Apr 2014 16:36:45 +0000
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