Last weekend, I had the privilege and the pleasure to attend a Community Conversations event between Awkwesasne and Cornwall, hosted by Farhana Meghji and Abraham. I have been thinking about it ever since, and struggling to put those thoughts into concise words.
There are a lot of elements I could call “takeaways” but the ones that stand out to me are land acknowledgements and gratitude, native joy (and fish fries), the flip side of that and the ongoing concern around human trafficking, and the sound of the rapids that for a long time was the sound of homecoming for the Akwesasne people.
We began our time with an opening ceremony that was all about gratitude. I didn’t understand the words - they were in Mohawk - but there were slides that gave indicators of what or who were being thanked, from trees to stars to bees and beyond. Grounding the ceremony there reminded us all why were there and, indeed, where we all were.
There was a short discussion on land acknowledgements which particularly spoke to me. I have felt that many land acknowledgements I’ve heard over the years have been very tokenizing and almost flippant, but one participant pointed out that, even if we’re hearing it that way, others may not be - it may be their first time hearing one, and sparking a curiosity that they did not previously have about the land and the peoples around them. Beyond that, the moderators gave an exercise to consider what have we done since the last land acknowledgement we heard? - an exercise to complete, quietly and in our heads, each time we hear one. A reminder of ongoing action and not completing a checkbox.
I will admit, coming off the back of the (incredible and energetic) Pow Wow the weekend before, part of what caught my ear was talk of fish-fries and the idea of bringing them to Cornwall as part of cultural exchange: sign me right up. These conversations came as stories of joy that participants had in their culture, something I feel often gets let out of conversations I’ve seen in the First Nations space.
On the flip side of that coin, we heard one story about the ongoing human trafficking problem in Akwesasne and other similar communities. It was a stark reminder that if we want to solve a problem, we cannot ignore it. Since the conversation I’ve read a number of articles about the history and current state of human trafficking in Canada, and still have a lot to learn there. (If you have any suggestions for places to learn more, please email me!)
Finally, I learned that the rapids - a sound that doesn’t flow through our trees since the dam was constructed in the 50s - were a sound associated with coming home to the Akwesasne. That simple fact has resonated me more than almost anything: the idea of a community touch-stone being revoked in such a massive and unthinking manner; the exhibit right in the Power Dam Visitor Centre about the apology made to the Akwesasne that, of course, does nothing to repair that relationship; the fact that I had never even considered that impact myself.
I have a lot to learn, and I am eager to do that and share that with anyone who wants to learn with me. The National Day of Truth and Reconciliation is around the corner and I know how I’ll be spending it this year: making some bannock, doing some reading (up next: The Red Deal: Indigenous Action to Save Our Earth by The Red Nation), and reflecting a lot on what I have done, what I can do, and how all of that may change if I end up on Cornwall city council in November.
How will you be spending your National Day of Truth and Reconciliation? Do you have any suggestions on reading, watching, or events I can attend to learn and do more? Email me at dan@danbeaudoin.ca and let me know!