Land back

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!

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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

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​© 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.

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