Decolonization in Everyday Life
What is Decolonization?
Without a doubt you have heard the term decolonization before. Maybe it was in the context of education, politics, personal stories, or work. Maybe it was used in a meaningful and directed way or possibly it was used as ‘performative activism’ with no real intention behind it. No matter where you have heard it, it is likely that each time the word had a different meaning and encompassed unique ideas, which is not abnormal. Throughout the world there are many different definitions of what decolonization means and looks like in practice. Sometimes decolonization is used as a buzz word by corporations, governments or individuals, even if they are not quite sure what it means or how it shows up in everyday life. Nevertheless, if you have heard it in the context of a settler framework or in spaces where Indigenous voices are not centred I urge you to be critical of the definitions being put forth.
It is vital to always centre definitions and practices of decolonization that come from Indigenous peoples and their meaning of the term. Decolonization has many interpretations and looks different to almost every individual, showing the importance of understanding each individual’s perspective. However, decolonization should always be grounded in an Indigenous framework, not a colonial one. A note for settlers, like myself, it is of utmost importance that when thinking about decolonization the actions you engage in are not simply the ones outlined by the settler state. In order to stand in solidarity with Indigenous peoples, decolonization must come from a place of centring Indigenous views of what decolonization should or could look like.
Definition of Decolonization
I am going to draw on a few different definitions and meanings of decolonization for the purposes of this article, to outline the depth and reach of the term. Firstly, I am going to relay the definitions and ideas of decolonization put forth by a panel of Indigenous elders and academics brought together by CBC news. Secondly, I am going to include a definition of decolonization from an article discussing what decolonization is in a broad sense, for individuals who may just be getting introduced to the term.
Starting with the panel, each individual present described what decolonization means to them, and everyone had a different response showing the fluidity of the idea and the importance of centring it in Indigenous knowledge, as there is no uniform definition. Niigaan Sinclair who is a professor at the University of Manitoba relayed how taking a critical look at how Indigenous peoples in “Canada'' have been affected by colonization and at it’s core decolonization is about reacting to the oppression they have faced. Sinclair quotes decolonization as being about “rethinking the sort of relationships that exist on these lands''. Another member of the panel, Chickadee Richard, an Anishinaabe elder, depicted decolonization as “going back to the ceremonies, knowing where you came from, our history and how it has shaped us”. She also spoke about how colonization has resulted in a lack of self-governance for Indigenous peoples and how decolonization is the road back.
A more broad, overarching, definition of decolonization depicts how it is about Indigenous peoples ultimately achieving sovereignty, the right and ability to practice self-determination in all areas of life, through cultural, psychological and economic freedoms. Indigenous peoples have a right to self-determination and “by virtue of that right they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development”. The right to self-determination has been repeatedly undermined and yet to be achieved in “Canada”. Therefore, decolonization involves actively deconstructing and challenging colonialism and its systems that do not account for the lives of Indigenous peoples.
Decolonization in Everyday Life
Decolonization could take place in large movements, rallies, and protests, where people come together with a collective goal to make the world a better place than it ever has been. These large scale events allow people to be seen and heard, and they are often viewed as sites of resistance, rightfully so. However, the small-scale sites of resistance such as those that take place individually, between friends and family, or within communities are just as important to the decolonizing process and should be discussed. This is not to say that large scale actions should not take place as they are important and have assisted in enacting great change throughout history, it is simply to say that decolonization on other levels is also crucial. Throughout this portion of the article I will be referring to a theoretical “you”, which refers to those engaging in the article. An additional note, the practices discussed in this section of the article are some that I have gathered through various conversations in personal and educational spaces, through stories, and research into the academic and personal works of individuals. As I am a settler on this land in “Canada” I can only speak from my perspective and relay the knowledge that has been granted to me, in an effort to better understand how to stand in solidarity with Indigenous peoples.
Beginning on an individual level, there are many actions that can be taken to engage with decolonization. Importantly, view everything you intake with a critical lens, as our society and world is based in colonialism it is likely that much of the information you consume is as well. This applies to education taught in schools, books written by non-Indigenous authors, social media, and news outlets. By ensuring you are engaging with the works of Indigenous authors, scholars and peoples as well as examining the information put in front of you, you are questioning the colonial knowledge systems in place. Another place where decolonization can occur is in the individual choices made in day to day life concerning interacting with others and one’s own thoughts.
Regarding interacting, if you find yourself in a circumstance where you are positioned in life next to someone who carries harmful, racist or settler views it is your choice to remain around them or not, speak up or not. As our systems in this society are built on a colonial foundation it is almost inevitable that there are going to be people in the proximity that hold harmful and discriminatory beliefs, explicit or implicit. When encountering people such as these it is important to make the individual choice to either speak up and say what they are thinking/saying/doing is wrong and hurtful (this is especially crucial for settlers to do) or create distance between you and said person. Decolonization requires the ideas rooted in a colonial framework to be dismantled and challenged, showing why it is important to actively engage in the tearing down of these ideas as you encounter them in day to day life.
Due to the deep roots of colonialism it is probable that your own thinking is based in harmful narratives, binaries, and ideas. Critical thinking can again be a useful tool to examine your own thoughts and behaviours with. When an awareness is established and one can acknowledge where certain thoughts arise from and seek to reframe, or change them they are engaging in beneficial practices. Through this practice of reframing thoughts, the whole world is opened up and can be examined through another lens that seeks to bring justice for Indigenous peoples through everyday action, large and small.
By incorporating decolonization into your friendships, relationships with family members, and intimate partner relationships the door is opened for opportunities of accountability, growth, and reciprocity. Accountability is especially important if one member of the relationship is part of the dominant culture, allowing them to hold more privilege and therefore a deeper connection to colonial roots. It is important that the member of the dominant culture is held accountable for their actions pertaining to colonialism or actions that hurt members of socially marginalized communities. In relationships there is also a space for learning and the expanding of knowledge through personal stories and experiences. By allowing ourselves to listen deeply to those around us and their unique experiences we will learn about the world we live in and consequently the issues with said world. These stories can lead to action and through action we can see change. This is the aspect of relationships that allow for communication across differences and the acknowledgment of other perspectives that may inform our future thoughts, behaviours and decisions. Decolonization in close relationships also looks like challenging one another to think differently, critically and move into uncomfortable states to unlearn. When involved in relationships of any kind, it is important to also consider intersectionality in the case of race, gender, class, sexuality etc. and how that may impact those around you. In all cases, support and love are required in relationships everyday.
A note to white settlers: White privilege and colonialism are aspects of relationships that can arise and be very harmful for Indigenous peoples. As these aspects are so embedded in our society it is not surprising that they occur in our close relationships and can perpetuate harm just as large institutions do. In this case, listen and respect those in your relationships, provide space for them to share, and examine hurtful behaviours or actions of yours that have been brought to your attention.
By engaging with those around you, friends, family, and loved ones, in conversations about the society that we live in and what it truly means to live in “Canada”, decolonization could be occurring. These conversations lead to more surrounding issues of equity and justice, which ultimately challenge the colonial narrative we are fed from the moment we are born. Integrating practices into everyday life that tap into these components lead away from dominant mythology and history taught in society. Ask questions about our world, our place in it and what we can do to engage with decolonization in our everyday life. Close relationships and individual choices allow for decolonial practices to be put into action in meaningful and important ways much like large scale protests, rallies and blockades. We must work to move away from white settler logics, systems of knowing and narratives, and towards respectful and accountable ways of being in relation with one another.
How are you going to incorporate decolonization into your everyday life?
References:
https://www.ictinc.ca/indian-act-vs-self-determination
https://www.cbc.ca/news/indigenous/panel-debate-decolonization-meaning-1.4609263
http://anishinabeknews.ca/2013/11/06/decolonization-a-daily-chore/
https://globalsolidaritylocalaction.sites.haverford.edu/what-is-decolonization-why-is-it-important/
https://globalsolidaritylocalaction.sites.haverford.edu/how-can-we-practice-decolonization/
Hunt, S., & Holmes, C. (2015). Everyday Decolonization: Living a Decolonizing Queer Politics, Journal of Lesbian Studies, 19(2), 154-172. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10894160.2015.970975
Graphic on Decolonization and aspects of Decolonization. Created by and for the Indigenous Foundation
(Design by Meera Baswan).
