03/07/2026
Note: this was written in 2020 in the height of the Wet'suwet'en being all over the news. I invite you to watch 'Yintah' if you have never heard of it. It is still timely due to what I C E and all that is being waged on people because of how they look. Much respect to caring human beings and humanity folx.
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"Represent"
What does this represent?
The arm is brown. It is raised.
It's mind blowing to me at times what we can represent based on the pigment of our skin, where we grew up and beliefs we were taught. Really we aren't so different from one another biologically but based on skin colour, experiences can be quite different.
Some examples:
-being followed in a store. Normal to me. I teach my children to keep their hands out of their pockets when in a store & make sure to not bring in any toys that were bought in store previously, on another occasion. This includes jackets and anything that looks too new.
-awareness that many brown people in movies and on tv were invisible or portrayed as the help or 'lower than' in terms of wealth
-being told 'good for you' when sharing an accomplishment that might be expected of a person of wealth or average canadian (i.e. oh you are a teacher? Gooood for you! Oh you're married? Good for you! Oh you are a Manager? Good for you! Oh your children do well in sports? Good for you!)
-side remarks when talking of things like funding for housing or schooling. Having to defend and speak on behalf of all indigenous people to a class full of people or people turning to look at you when they say indigenous or first nations. Or look away when they say indian or residential school. Literally being expected to answer on behalf of 500plus distinct Nations who are all unique and have differing connections and beliefs ("but there are general similarities right?")
-being overlooked. I.e. At a camp of mainly non-indigenous being told I am doing something the wrong way. Or assuming the other person has looked at all options and if something won't work, it won't work no matter what I try. Very subtle at times but I can feel the disregarding of my opinion or expectation that I cannot know something if the other person of another race doesn't.
-micro aggressions: can be even more subtle. Some people appear friendly but they might say something 'just jokingly.' Or it's meant to make another feel 'less than' to ensure their own 'superiority.' I.e. "Oh! Your ______ is sooo intimidating!" *their smile that doesn't reach eyes* *continue working alongside but you can feel their competitiveness*
-joining a publicly advertised event or group. Arriving and being the only indigenous person. The expressions of people tell their welcome, discomfort, unwelcome, or seeing you as invisible. You make yourself fit in or know clearly You Do Not Fit In
-fashion advertising recently went multicultural. There are very few indigenous people represented. My colour and race are seen as having too many negative stereotypes. We are not 'popular culture.' And if an item connected to our culture is represented, it is likely ripped off of a hard working artist who gets no credit or in some cases, a whole nation's historically connected item gets absolutely no credit. There will never be retribution.
-being told over and over all my life how I don't pay taxes. Any time I step off the little reservation you better believe there is taxes paid on every single item under the sun.
-people being surprised if I have worked my whole life, as my parents have. Or assuming if I work, it must be at the Band Office. Seriously.
-people moving here for short amounts of time, immediately securing employment, and a home.
-people showing disgust at the smell of salmon. Culturally, this is so rude. (Had to throw in a PSA for the salmon, our lifeline)
The examples are literally endless. Endless. I hope people continue educating themselves... Ourselves. Themselves. Us and Them. At the end of the day I continue to go back to the basics of all human beings -water, food, shelter (love). (Water is life!)
It IS true. Many of my people have gone Without (waterfoodshelterlove)for decades while imposed systems have kept oppression at high levels. Not for lack of working hard! I know so many people who have worked themselves literally to death to help our Nations out of the mess. ...So if you see this brown arm, with hand raised up - if you have any kind of racist reaction internally, disgust or some feel fear, I hope you can pause - and consider even one of the above examples of human beings being disregarded, invisible or being made out to be a villain ("protestor (not protectors) are still being mischievious"). The cycles go on. You can disregard or be silent or show support.
I cry when I raise my arm like this in public. I cried (angry tears) when my kid (they/them) told me they sat down at high school during 'the anthem' and a teacher ran up to them and hissed in their face to Stand Up Now! With hatred on the teacher's face. (everyone was looking at my kid, so stand up they did)
So I ask you now, settlers or people of different colour - can you Stand Up Now?
Sincerely & with Much Love,
From a not popular, not favoured, an invisible - when many times you aren't. Your voice matters during a time when many are showing the racism that's always existed. Change is possible.
-mangus
❤️🩷🧡🤎💜💜🩵💙💚💛
