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I have a question for y'all:
During the Colton Bouchie murder trial the term "settler law" was brought up. To me this indicates that some view us Caucasians as "settlers" when we were in fact born here. The term "colonizers" has also come up.
Don't even get me started on the "We are all immigrants" train of thought.
Am I being a bit too sensitive? Food for thought.
(long post ahead...bear with me)
As a First Gen Canadian, I find the whole "you're all immigrants settlers/colonizers!" trope a bit much.
My parents came here as children in the 1950s and were told they weren't welcome here by many of the same folks that facilitated these atrocities in the residential schools. My father had the shit beat out of him by a nun in grade school for not speaking English as well as being left-handed. He was later targeted by a predatory priest in high school, but was lucky enough to project enough confidence to have this creep think twice about it. My mother was give similar treatment, but was "tolerated" because she was a Scot. Their parents were poor, blue collar, and faced discrimination for not being "Canadian" enough.
My family cannot trace roots in Canada any further than that. They weren't at the reigns of power in 1876 any more than they were in 1956. We have an axe to grind with the Catholic Church too for the abuses my parents suffered, even if there aren't any mass graves outside their schools.
And of course both the church and the Canadian Government are relishing this finger pointing. JT is quick to give platitudes akin to...."We're all colonizers, and we all have a responsibility in righting the injustices and atrocities that have been committed against our Indigenous peoples." I will concede that this is true in the sense that systemic racism is just that, systemic; and plays towards a greater intolerance of different peoples. However, I don't hold the purse strings to fund things like clean drinking water, improving conditions on reservations, providing support and funding to locating these mass graves, etc.
My forbearers and I didn't set policy for the GoC and I cannot provide tangible solutions to promote reconciliation and healing, as I don't have a tax revenue in the Trillions or my own gendarme. Its important to note that the TRC's Calls to Action are not addressed to the individual Canadian, but to our governments and institutions. I plan on doing my part with my vote, but that is about as far as I can go with setting government policy.
Much like our government's policies on Climate Action force me to pay a tax every month and using a reusable coffee mug has done fuck all in preventing a literal fire in the ocean, my solidarity and support is all I can give in this situation. Demonizing me based on my ancestry (which, talk about colonization to a Highland Scot or a Sicilian...) only serves to alienate me from your cause. My neighbour is Huron and has more hatred towards the Iroquois than they do to your average Canadian.
While we fight and name call and tear down statues and totem poles... the Catholic Church and the Government Of Canada are sneaking out the side door and absolving themselves of their role in this genocide. That role is much bigger than yours or mine.
just my $0.02