Decolonization

“practices contest divisive and demeaning actions, policies, programming, and frameworks. Indigenization is the healing, balancing force; it calls us to action, inspires opportunities for mutual cultural understanding, and helps us to find comfort in the discomfort decolonization can entail.” (ohpahotân oohpaahotaan, Let’s Fly Together, Indigenous Strategy for the University of Saskatchewan)

Decolonization, by its most basic definition, is when a country obtains freedom from the colonizing country. For Peoples living on the land called Canada, that is an impossible goal. Rather, decolonization is the process by which Indigenous peoples refute historical and current colonialist stories about themselves, and reclaim their languages, cultures, knowledge systems, political and social worldviews. Decolonization is about reversing the damage inflicted upon Indigenous Peoples through the educational, health, social, justice and political systems. Colonization is about the colonizer imposing its worldview on the original inhabitants.

The USask ohpahotân | oohpaahotaan – let’s fly up together – Indigenous Strategy for the University of Saskatchewan defines decolonization as “…practices contest divisive and demeaning actions, policies, programming, and frameworks.” Decolonization begins at the individual level — decolonization of the mind. In many cases, it will be a lifelong process for a colonized person to get out from under the oppressed, disenfranchised victim mantle placed on their shoulders at the time of birth. Decolonization means reclaiming Indigenous identity and being proud to be Indigenous. It means reclaiming traditional roles and responsibilities, traditional family and community structure and leadership, traditional governance systems and cultures. Decolonization means reclaiming the sacred connection to the land.

Colonialism is exerting power and control over one group for the purpose of taking resources and lands for another group. Colonialism in Canada included an imposition of language, religion, political structure, values, and practices.

Decolonization is the act of dismantling colonialism.  Decolonization includes the practice of removing colonial policies, practices, and structures that were created to destroy one group, while benefiting another. Because colonialism is embedded in ideologies of superiority and privilege, deconstructing these systems will take authentic engagement and deep understandings of colonial impacts. Decolonization, although requires the collective, starts with self.

The following video presents Indigenous youth and what decolonization means to them: 

For a non-Indigenous person, decolonization also begins at the individual level, recognizing and refuting colonialism; the conscious and unconscious manifestations including the microaggressions that are so rampant most people don’t even think about (i.e. referring to a group of people gathered together as having a ‘pow wow’). Lowman & Barker (2015) offer the following clarification on decolonization from a settler perspective:

Truly meaningful decolonization is going to be a lengthy process and in order for Canada to become the friendly, open, welcoming country it espouses to be, the work of decolonization cannot fall upon the shoulders of Indigenous peoples. Decolonization must be a partnership endeavor.

 The following video featuring Taiaiki Alfred talks about decolonization from a resurgence perspective.