Partners, Allies, and Friends
I belong to Treaty 8.
123 years ago, Treaty 8, was signed by Chief Squirrel in 1899 on behalf of our Nation.
Imagine if today we were celebrating 123 years of true partnership, allyship, even friendship. That together our Nations were planning a gala celebration of the signing of Treaty 8 with:
Ceremonies with our Elders leading us in prayer;
Social gatherings of grand Tea Dances with the best Dene Drummers from the North; and
Sport competitions like fishing derbies, hand games, and/or strength and endurance challenges where we all have fun enjoying each other’s company -win or lose.
Similar to how my Dene people and fellow Northerners have celebrated in our communities since time immemorial.
If only Indigenous people were embraced as partners, allies, and friends for the last 123 years; we would be in a country of vast shared social and economic prosperity. Had the strengths and knowledge of Indigenous people been valued, together we could have shared our learnings and created win/win scenarios, instead of win/lose tragedies. There would be no third world conditions in Canada, where Indigenous adults have never had clean drinking water, among other horrific living conditions.
It's too late to go back 100-plus years ago and change the minds of the past oppressors, people of power who used authority in cruel, unjust, and harmful ways; however, it is not too late to reconcile and build a better tomorrow for Indigenous People and all Canadians.
Reconciliation can’t be achieved without being partners, allies, and friends.
When one reconciles their bank account, both sides are equal.
Indigenous people want to be equal and heal from all deficits that we collectively have had to endure.
Partners, allies, and friends have many things in common, they:
Unite and form a connection
Protect and safeguard each other’s interests
Champion and promote one another’s causes and interests
To be an effective partner, ally, friend, you can start with educating yourself. Learn and understand which Indigenous group(s) claim the territory you live on as their traditional, treaty, or unceded territory. Learn about Indigenous people through research and asking others. Attend and participate in Indigenous social gatherings and sport events. Recognize the privilege you have and the opportunities that came with it at the expense of Indigenous People. Establish meaningful, trusting relationships with Indigenous people and create win/win opportunities for shared prosperity.
Treaty 8 is a Peace and Friendship Treaty. Let’s all live into our Treaties.
How will you move into living in our Treaties?
Take this moment as an invitation for Action. Please feel free to share your plans, whether it is attending a future Indigenous sporting event or an educational course you are undertaking to help you become a more effective partner, ally, and friend.
Mahsi Cho.