Farid Medleg’s Reviews > 52 Ways to Reconcile: How to Walk with Indigenous Peoples on the Path to Healing > Status Update

Week 10: Support the Renaming of Colonial Memorializations

*Read sitting across the street from Toronto Metropolitan University*

Week 6 - Write a land acknowledgment:

Avoid recitation and rote memorization of generic acknowledgements. Instead:

- Write one from scratch before you intend to deliver it.
-List ways the land has benefitted you.
-If possible, list ways in which you will give back to the land.
-Acknowledge if land is ceded territory or treaty land.
-Use words from the language of those people who inhabited the land before you.

Week 5: Research Indigenous Place Names

Toronto:

-Originally "Tkaronto" (Mohawk) referring to "where there are trees standing in water," a channel of water between Lakes Simcoe and Couchiching where saplings were placed in the river creating fish weirs.
-The alternative interpretation, derived from "Toronton" (Huron) referring to "meeting place," has now been shown to derive from a colonial interpretation error.

Week 5: Research Indigenous Place Names

Toronto:

-Originally "Tkaronto" (Mohawk) referring to "where there are trees standing in water," a channel of water between Lakes Simcoe and Couchiching where saplings were placed in the river creating fish weirs.
-The alternative interpretation, derived from "Toronton" (Huron) referring to "meeting place," has now been shown to derive from a colonial interpretation error.

Week 4: learn the difference between cultural appropriation and cultural appreciation.

I was struck by this one. He's not saying "don't wear dream catcher earrings." He's asking that, if you do, ask about their meaning; look up their history; ensure the maker is Indigenous; teach others who inquire about them.

Time to read about the other example he brought up that are commonly appropriated: inukshuks.

Week 3: Engage with indigenous social media.

He didn't really leave suggestions here, so I'll start with @indigenous.tv and @indigenousjournalists on Instagram. Let's see if the algorithm takes care of the rest.

Week 2: Start An Indigenous Book Club

This one's a bit tougher, so I'll stick with my current reads for now. Next up, Starlight, by Richard Wagamese.

This will be a yearlong project of implementing the book's recommendations (as suggested by Robertson himself). I think it's time to be pragmatic, in addition to learning.

Week 1: Host A Movie Night.
Yintah (2024) dir by: Wickham, Michell, Toledano. On Netflix.

"Wet’suwet’en leaders unite in a battle against the Canadian government, corporations, and militarized law enforcement to safeguard..."