Land Acknowledgement

I’ve always known that I am Métis, and that my family has Métis and Northern Cree heritage, but I've always been hesitant to express it, because I didn't always entirely know what it meant. I also found that as an extremely white-passing person, telling non-Indigenous people in positions of authority that I am Métis often led to me being treated as an expert on Indigenous issues, and in extreme cases people would favour my thoughts and opinions on Indigenous issues over non-white passing Indigenous people who were much more knowledgeable and connected to their culture. They also often prefer to use my words over their own when writing land acknowledgements or engaging with indigenous issues, which prevents them from learning about their own connections to the land.

There's this fear when it comes to Indigenous history and Indigenous issues. The fear that we will get it wrong, that we will say something offensive, that we will appropriate it somehow. I've felt this fear a lot, especially when people treat me like an expert on Indigenous issues just because I am Métis. But the truth is, the more scared we are to engage with it, the more we actually risk causing harm.

I have been guilty of this fear as well, but I’ve been figuring it out more as I grow older, and what has helped the most was a conversation I had with a Blackfoot Elder. When he learned that I was Cree, at first we joked and laughed about the historic rivalry between the Cree and Blackfoot peoples. And then he asked me where I was born, and when I said “Lethbridge”, he laughed and said, “Oh, then you’re Blackfoot”. 

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The land that we have lived on, regardless of what treaty it is on, has shaped more of our identities than we even know. We are part of it, and it is part of us. This land has always done its part to take care of us regardless of who we are or how we treat it, to make sure that we can continue to live and grow, and we are not doing enough to return the favour. Our government’s current climate action plan is grossly insufficient, based on harmful colonial ideals, and disproportionately affects Indigenous communities. We cannot view this land as something that we own, something to sell, or something to profit off of,  but rather as something that we all have a responsibility to restore and take care of. Saying that we acknowledge the land is not enough. Saying that Indigenous voices should be included means nothing without actual follow-through and action. Truth and Reconciliation needs action. None of us, including myself, are taking enough action. Call on your representatives. Think critically about legislation and politics, even if they seem like they don’t directly affect you. Vote, and know what you are voting for. Theatre allows us to imagine and portray the potential that human beings have for change in the world, and I strongly encourage anyone who believes in the power of theatre to utilize that power for change.

 

I strive to keep the idea of the Seventh Generation Principle, a Haudenosaunee philosophy, in mind; the idea that the decisions we make now should teach and assist in maintaining sustainability for the next seven generations. Because of this, I prioritize working with emerging, marginalized, and underrepresented artists to ensure that my work remains sustainable, community focused, and in touch with reality. As an emerging artist myself, I am constantly aware of the significant disadvantages that I have faced and continue to face as a result of being unable to access consistent arts training in my youth. In order for my work to have real impact and maintain integrity it must be accessible and inclusive for artists and audiences regardless of their experience, socioeconomic status, or other systemic barriers. Please, take action with me.