The red spots illustrate 1.3% of Algonquin territory. This is what Ontario and Canada are willing to "offer" in the Algonquin of Ontario land claim process. This process will sever Algonquin territory. This is what nation states do; It is called genocide!
Allow Indigenous people to lead the way; follow them
Understand that being an ally / activism is not about doing what you like to do
Do not mistake social activity as doing something for Indigenous people
Understand that Indigenous needs are more than about your need entertainment
Move beyond your need for an education; you becoming educated is not a legitimate ally / activist role
Do something as we define our needs to be; not yours
Don’t hold up our books like trophies; do something
Understand the most important knowledge is practiced; do something
Like Jean says, “shut up and listen”; yes, she said this
Learn the difference between anti-colonial knowledge and Indigenous knowledge; value both
Learn the difference between Elders’ knowledge and Indigenous intellectual knowledge; value both
Serve the most oppressed; not who you want to serve or get off serving
Do not project your shame and mistakes on Indigenous people; they are your issues
Understand lateral violence and stop causing it; think deeply here
Stop interfering with Indigenous people's relationships; such as the one between them and their Elders
Indigenous Elders are not for you; get over it
Stand behind Indigenous people; not in front
Understand that saving the land and water is more than about an aesthetic for humans to enjoy
Stop gossiping about Indigenous people; it is pitiful
Value Indigenous people who have done the hard work to get an education and who stand up
Stop Romanticizing Indigenous knowledge; resolve your issues with this
Stop thinking smudging absolves you or stands in place of you doing something
Dig into your pocket and give generously weekly, monthly, yearly
Seek out and purchase from Indigenous artists and crafters
Fundraise for someone who is working hard already; you can do this
Serve Indigenous food banks in real ways – weekly, monthly, yearly
Stop pretending to be naïve, we can see right through it and it is patronizing
Stop talking about hope; it is not a plan; and it is patronizing
End your false generosity, we can see right through it to and again it is patronizing
Understand the depth of knowledge an intersectionally oppressed person carries; and respect it
Stop assuming lawyers and historians understand an Indigenous framework; most do not
Stop thinking Indigenous knowledge is only about how you feel; it is more than this
Understand the greatest gift we have is our minds; this is fundamental to Indigenous knowledge
End racism, sexism, and ableism
Learn about genocide and the doctrine of discovery
Give your Land Back through your last will and testament
Understand that being an ally / activism is not about doing what you like to do
Do not mistake social activity as doing something for Indigenous people
Understand that Indigenous needs are more than about your need entertainment
Move beyond your need for an education; you becoming educated is not a legitimate ally / activist role
Do something as we define our needs to be; not yours
Don’t hold up our books like trophies; do something
Understand the most important knowledge is practiced; do something
Like Jean says, “shut up and listen”; yes, she said this
Learn the difference between anti-colonial knowledge and Indigenous knowledge; value both
Learn the difference between Elders’ knowledge and Indigenous intellectual knowledge; value both
Serve the most oppressed; not who you want to serve or get off serving
Do not project your shame and mistakes on Indigenous people; they are your issues
Understand lateral violence and stop causing it; think deeply here
Stop interfering with Indigenous people's relationships; such as the one between them and their Elders
Indigenous Elders are not for you; get over it
Stand behind Indigenous people; not in front
Understand that saving the land and water is more than about an aesthetic for humans to enjoy
Stop gossiping about Indigenous people; it is pitiful
Value Indigenous people who have done the hard work to get an education and who stand up
Stop Romanticizing Indigenous knowledge; resolve your issues with this
Stop thinking smudging absolves you or stands in place of you doing something
Dig into your pocket and give generously weekly, monthly, yearly
Seek out and purchase from Indigenous artists and crafters
Fundraise for someone who is working hard already; you can do this
Serve Indigenous food banks in real ways – weekly, monthly, yearly
Stop pretending to be naïve, we can see right through it and it is patronizing
Stop talking about hope; it is not a plan; and it is patronizing
End your false generosity, we can see right through it to and again it is patronizing
Understand the depth of knowledge an intersectionally oppressed person carries; and respect it
Stop assuming lawyers and historians understand an Indigenous framework; most do not
Stop thinking Indigenous knowledge is only about how you feel; it is more than this
Understand the greatest gift we have is our minds; this is fundamental to Indigenous knowledge
End racism, sexism, and ableism
Learn about genocide and the doctrine of discovery
Give your Land Back through your last will and testament
© Lynn Gehl, Ph.D. is an Algonquin Anishinaabe-kwe from the Ottawa River Valley. She is a published author of Claiming Anishinaabe: Decolonizing the Human Spirit and The Truth that Wampum Tells: My Debwewin on the Algonquin Land Claims Process. You can reach her and see more of her work at www.lynngehl.com.
