If I had a dollar for every time I was confronted with the argument that ‘equality’ is the answer to our Indigenous ‘problems’, I would be a millionaire. Phrases like, “We are all equal now, right?” “We need to treat everyone equally.” “I’m not racist, I contribute to equality.” “You bleed red, like I do!” Or “I see us all the same, as equals” are often used in classroom discussions, in staff room banter, on the job, various social circles and political arenas when settlers are faced with the historical trauma of our Indigenous people.
But let me ask you something. Are we ‘equal’? To be treated equally implies that we are ‘equal’ to begin with. Statistically, we are not equal. Indigenous life expectancy is shorter by 6 years, we are 2X more likely to be obese, and we are 3X more likely to commit suicide. Our graduation rate is 50% as compared to 84% for non-Indigenous students. Indigenous women make up 10% of all missing and murdered women and girls yet are only 3% of the population. Furthermore, we are 3X more likely to be murdered by a stranger than non-Indigenous women. My people are overrepresented in prisons and corrections and in fact are 9X higher more likely than non-Indigenous persons to be incarcerated. On any given night 1 out of 15 Aboriginal people are homeless compared to 1 out of 128 non-Aboriginal people. In addition, our youth smoke more and are more likely to contract a sexually transmitted disease, particular chlamydia (if untreated, can lead to the inability to have children) and HIV.
Statistics Canada states, “Colonialism, in its various forms and manifestations, has also been directly associated with culture clash, socio-economic marginalization and systemic discrimination. The existing literature clearly and comprehensively documents the effects of being dispossessed of traditional lands, being subjected to restrictive and discriminatory legislation such as the Indian Act and experiencing the legacy of residential schools and the Sixties Scoop. These and other important factors have directly and indirectly contributed to the tragic toll on Indigenous individuals, families and communities over many generations.”
Aristotle said, “The worst form of inequality is to try and make unequal things equal.” ‘Equality’ diminishes our ability to rise out of the on-going oppressive lives we have been birthed into. Equality does not empower our people, instead it often creates a feeling of shame for all our ‘inequalities’ as Indigenous people. We have come to believe there is something inherently wrong with us as we continue to suffer impoverished lives with tragic outcomes. In the teachings of Gabor Mate, I have learned that nothing is wrong with us, something has happened to us . . .something continues to happen to us.
Equality hurts. Equity reconciles.
DeRay McKesson states, “The difference between equity and equality is that equality is everyone gets the same thing and equity is that everyone gets the things they deserve.” Indigenous people deserve their lands, their inherent rights to fish and hunt, and to create and sustain a thriving economy for their Nations. Our people deserve clean, safe homes to live in, access to work, school and a community that is free of discrimination and racism. We need to have our history of colonization understood and empathy cultivated for each individual Indigenous person. The goal for equity must include consistent opportunities to create conditions that allow each of us to reach our full potential.
100% of our people have and continue to be impacted by historical trauma. Although we all have the potential to heal, each Indigenous person is going to journey differently. If you consider yourself an ally, you will find innovative ways to hold space for Indigenous people with respect and understanding, whether they are a friend, a co-worker, an employee, a colleague or someone you cross on the street. It will be important to question, to be curious and to be reflective of how we find ourselves reacting or responding in given situations that involve Indigenous people. We may wish to examine value systems, policy’s, laws and/or society’s norms that continue to oppress Indigenous people or their abilities to be their authentic self, in times of pain and suffering and wellness.
If we find ourselves in situations where we can influence change, be the change. It’s going to take the Creator, our Ancestors, the four directions, unconditional love, and all our combined gifts to transform the world spiritually, mentally, physically and emotionally. In the words of Tori Amos, “Healing takes courage, we all have courage, even if we have to dig a little to find it.”
~ Luugaak~
https://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2012/ccs-hcc/H174-37-2005-1-eng.pdf