An Indigenous Journey to Leadership | Eddy Robinson | TEDxStMaryCSSchool

[Music]

[Music] [Applause]

so you guys been sitting a long time I’m

so you guys been sitting a long time I’m going to just do a quick exercise before

going to just do a quick exercise before

going to just do a quick exercise before I begin my talk is really quick it only

I begin my talk is really quick it only

I begin my talk is really quick it only takes like 10 seconds so I just need you

takes like 10 seconds so I just need you

takes like 10 seconds so I just need you to stand up

okay you guys follow me so I just need

okay you guys follow me so I just need you to say this one word bozo so that’s

you to say this one word bozo so that’s

you to say this one word bozo so that’s a verbal agreement in my language that

a verbal agreement in my language that

a verbal agreement in my language that means we’re going to learn from each

means we’re going to learn from each

means we’re going to learn from each other today we’re going to respect each

other today we’re going to respect each

other today we’re going to respect each other so this is how I teach young

other so this is how I teach young

other so this is how I teach young children how to say bozo so you can

children how to say bozo so you can

children how to say bozo so you can teach your your younger siblings this

teach your your younger siblings this

teach your your younger siblings this okay

okay

okay first part is this Shh can you guys do

first part is this Shh can you guys do

first part is this Shh can you guys do that second part is this third part is

that second part is this third part is

that second part is this third part is this last part is woo you jump up okay

this last part is woo you jump up okay

this last part is woo you jump up okay so the key is I tell children is do this

so the key is I tell children is do this

so the key is I tell children is do this as loud as loud as loud as loud as you

as loud as loud as loud as loud as you

as loud as loud as loud as loud as you can

can

can alright show through the to the rooftops

alright show through the to the rooftops

alright show through the to the rooftops because we’re Wayne a bozo was a

because we’re Wayne a bozo was a

because we’re Wayne a bozo was a spiritual being in our creation story

spiritual being in our creation story

spiritual being in our creation story for Anishinabe so we’re saying hello to

for Anishinabe so we’re saying hello to

for Anishinabe so we’re saying hello to winning a bozo and the the process I

winning a bozo and the the process I

winning a bozo and the the process I just showed you is an idea of the Big

just showed you is an idea of the Big

just showed you is an idea of the Big Bang Theory you guys ready you don’t

Bang Theory you guys ready you don’t

Bang Theory you guys ready you don’t sound ready you guys ready alright let’s

sound ready you guys ready alright let’s

sound ready you guys ready alright let’s do this whoa you guys are pretty lame

do this whoa you guys are pretty lame

do this whoa you guys are pretty lame I’ve heard great oohs louder than you

I’ve heard great oohs louder than you

I’ve heard great oohs louder than you one more time well last time whoa

one more time well last time whoa

one more time well last time whoa awesome awesome much better you guys can

awesome awesome much better you guys can

awesome awesome much better you guys can have a seat

thank you for doing that with me so the

thank you for doing that with me so the reason why I sounded the drum four times

reason why I sounded the drum four times

reason why I sounded the drum four times is to acknowledge for directions lobna

is to acknowledge for directions lobna

is to acknowledge for directions lobna dung jounin and gaba young kuwaiti known

dung jounin and gaba young kuwaiti known

dung jounin and gaba young kuwaiti known in my language and I followed it up with

in my language and I followed it up with

in my language and I followed it up with a beat to acknowledge the creators of

a beat to acknowledge the creators of

a beat to acknowledge the creators of Digimon tattoos first thoughts first

Digimon tattoos first thoughts first

Digimon tattoos first thoughts first sounds of the universe but also the

sounds of the universe but also the

sounds of the universe but also the sounds of the Thunder beings the

sounds of the Thunder beings the

sounds of the Thunder beings the Thunderbirds in the Thunderbirds to the

Thunderbirds in the Thunderbirds to the

Thunderbirds in the Thunderbirds to the Anishinabe are the protectors protectors

Anishinabe are the protectors protectors

Anishinabe are the protectors protectors of the human beings and you can find

of the human beings and you can find

of the human beings and you can find evidence of the name qEEG Thunderbirds

evidence of the name qEEG Thunderbirds

evidence of the name qEEG Thunderbirds in Agawam a just north of Sioux

in Agawam a just north of Sioux

in Agawam a just north of Sioux sainte-marie

sainte-marie

sainte-marie there’s pictographs there which is where

there’s pictographs there which is where

there’s pictographs there which is where some of my people are from so i’m

some of my people are from so i’m

some of my people are from so i’m Anishinabe that means human being in the

Anishinabe that means human being in the

Anishinabe that means human being in the Ojibwe language today I’m going to tell

Ojibwe language today I’m going to tell

Ojibwe language today I’m going to tell you a story of a human being

you a story of a human being

you a story of a human being Elena bozo bozo noting additional cars

Elena bozo bozo noting additional cars

Elena bozo bozo noting additional cars to chuck totem Barnum snobby Korean dong

to chuck totem Barnum snobby Korean dong

to chuck totem Barnum snobby Korean dong Juba Anishinabe Nene endow Jimmy watch

Juba Anishinabe Nene endow Jimmy watch

Juba Anishinabe Nene endow Jimmy watch Bob Yong Zhao Jun and GABA nong khiaw

Bob Yong Zhao Jun and GABA nong khiaw

Bob Yong Zhao Jun and GABA nong khiaw denim jimmy couch mozzie Iquique Jimmy

denim jimmy couch mozzie Iquique Jimmy

denim jimmy couch mozzie Iquique Jimmy coach mucho más Jesus Jimmy Gucci no

coach mucho más Jesus Jimmy Gucci no

coach mucho más Jesus Jimmy Gucci no mr. bejesus Jimmy Gooch manobo matzah

mr. bejesus Jimmy Gooch manobo matzah

mr. bejesus Jimmy Gooch manobo matzah win’ and so when I say that in my

win’ and so when I say that in my

win’ and so when I say that in my language I’m acknowledging the universe

language I’m acknowledging the universe

language I’m acknowledging the universe I’m acknowledging my place in the

I’m acknowledging my place in the

I’m acknowledging my place in the universe

universe

universe and for the longest time I couldn’t do

and for the longest time I couldn’t do

and for the longest time I couldn’t do that

that

that I had no idea on how to begin that I had

I had no idea on how to begin that I had

I had no idea on how to begin that I had no idea on how to teach children how to

no idea on how to teach children how to

no idea on how to teach children how to say hello to when a bozo

say hello to when a bozo

say hello to when a bozo had no idea why didn’t I have an idea

because of the indigenous narrative in

because of the indigenous narrative in Canada and throughout North America

there has been a huge omission of

there has been a huge omission of information Sarge’s quickly timers not

information Sarge’s quickly timers not

information Sarge’s quickly timers not working and I don’t want to go over time

working and I don’t want to go over time

working and I don’t want to go over time okay all right

so why there has been a huge omission in

so why there has been a huge omission in information is because the Canadian

information is because the Canadian

information is because the Canadian narrative around the world is not

narrative around the world is not

narrative around the world is not inclusive of indigenous people so in

inclusive of indigenous people so in

inclusive of indigenous people so in terms of equilibrium there’s an

terms of equilibrium there’s an

terms of equilibrium there’s an inequality inequality here there’s a the

inequality inequality here there’s a the

inequality inequality here there’s a the balance is off and my teachers and my

balance is off and my teachers and my

balance is off and my teachers and my traditional teachers and spiritual

traditional teachers and spiritual

traditional teachers and spiritual people have told me that whenever we

people have told me that whenever we

people have told me that whenever we think about the good in the bad we

think about the good in the bad we

think about the good in the bad we should always think about positive and

should always think about positive and

should always think about positive and negative because without the negative we

negative because without the negative we

negative because without the negative we can’t have the positive thought the

can’t have the positive thought the

can’t have the positive thought the positive we can have the negative

positive we can have the negative

positive we can have the negative negative things in our life are there to

negative things in our life are there to

negative things in our life are there to teach us things teach us things about

teach us things teach us things about

teach us things teach us things about ourselves so that we can reflect

ourselves so that we can reflect

ourselves so that we can reflect introspect change transform help it and

introspect change transform help it and

introspect change transform help it and help use the information to inform our

help use the information to inform our

help use the information to inform our current location

current location

current location so as Anishinabe when we say that

so as Anishinabe when we say that

so as Anishinabe when we say that announcement we’re locating ourselves to

announcement we’re locating ourselves to

announcement we’re locating ourselves to the universe we say our spirit name our

the universe we say our spirit name our

the universe we say our spirit name our Anishinabe knows when that is given to

Anishinabe knows when that is given to

Anishinabe knows when that is given to us at birth usually by our grandparents

us at birth usually by our grandparents

us at birth usually by our grandparents we indicate our location or where we’re

we indicate our location or where we’re

we indicate our location or where we’re from

from

from I’m from the place of the rapids my

I’m from the place of the rapids my

I’m from the place of the rapids my father’s from misson Abby Cree I said my

father’s from misson Abby Cree I said my

father’s from misson Abby Cree I said my clan my clan is my purpose and my role

clan my clan is my purpose and my role

clan my clan is my purpose and my role to my community I’m Chi Chuck the echo

to my community I’m Chi Chuck the echo

to my community I’m Chi Chuck the echo maker the crane we are designated by the

maker the crane we are designated by the

maker the crane we are designated by the people to bring forth the voice of the

people to bring forth the voice of the

people to bring forth the voice of the community to other nations just like I’m

community to other nations just like I’m

community to other nations just like I’m doing right now that is our sole

doing right now that is our sole

doing right now that is our sole responsibility but as a young person

responsibility but as a young person

responsibility but as a young person being born into poverty marginalization

being born into poverty marginalization

being born into poverty marginalization my household didn’t have any evidence of

my household didn’t have any evidence of

my household didn’t have any evidence of culture my grandparents spoke three

culture my grandparents spoke three

culture my grandparents spoke three dialects of anishinaabemowin or Ojibwe

dialects of anishinaabemowin or Ojibwe

dialects of anishinaabemowin or Ojibwe but they didn’t teach me because they

but they didn’t teach me because they

but they didn’t teach me because they wanted me to learn English and this

wanted me to learn English and this

wanted me to learn English and this became a practice within Canada to

became a practice within Canada to

became a practice within Canada to separate indigenous people from their

separate indigenous people from their

separate indigenous people from their culture who the

culture who the

culture who the are so there’s a sense of place lessness

are so there’s a sense of place lessness

are so there’s a sense of place lessness so as I’m travelling through the

so as I’m travelling through the

so as I’m travelling through the territory here there’s barely any

territory here there’s barely any

territory here there’s barely any evidence a reflection of the indigenous

evidence a reflection of the indigenous

evidence a reflection of the indigenous people here when you go to places like

people here when you go to places like

people here when you go to places like Toronto same thing when you go to

Toronto same thing when you go to

Toronto same thing when you go to Vancouver there is indicators of the

Vancouver there is indicators of the

Vancouver there is indicators of the indigenous people in that area of that

indigenous people in that area of that

indigenous people in that area of that territory so we have to reflect and face

territory so we have to reflect and face

territory so we have to reflect and face ourselves in terms of what is the truth

ourselves in terms of what is the truth

ourselves in terms of what is the truth here if we’re going to move towards this

here if we’re going to move towards this

here if we’re going to move towards this call to action in terms of

call to action in terms of

call to action in terms of reconciliation so I’ve used the process

reconciliation so I’ve used the process

reconciliation so I’ve used the process in my own life to help me understand my

in my own life to help me understand my

in my own life to help me understand my role as a leader as a spokesperson as a

role as a leader as a spokesperson as a

role as a leader as a spokesperson as a husband as a father as a teacher it’s

husband as a father as a teacher it’s

husband as a father as a teacher it’s been a process of kinship introspection

been a process of kinship introspection

been a process of kinship introspection and transformation so I’m going to share

and transformation so I’m going to share

and transformation so I’m going to share a couple quick stories with you so as a

a couple quick stories with you so as a

a couple quick stories with you so as a young person growing up in Toronto I was

young person growing up in Toronto I was

young person growing up in Toronto I was like one of two indigenous people in the

like one of two indigenous people in the

like one of two indigenous people in the whole school and there was no reflection

whole school and there was no reflection

whole school and there was no reflection of who we were so there is no inclusive

of who we were so there is no inclusive

of who we were so there is no inclusive education of indigenous ways of knowing

education of indigenous ways of knowing

education of indigenous ways of knowing that’s the new word for culture digitus

that’s the new word for culture digitus

that’s the new word for culture digitus ways of knowing but when I went to

ways of knowing but when I went to

ways of knowing but when I went to senior kindergarten this one day and

senior kindergarten this one day and

senior kindergarten this one day and sometimes we have these unexpected

sometimes we have these unexpected

sometimes we have these unexpected allies in our life it was a senior

allies in our life it was a senior

allies in our life it was a senior kindergarten teacher that took me by the

kindergarten teacher that took me by the

kindergarten teacher that took me by the hand up to the second floor to visit

hand up to the second floor to visit

hand up to the second floor to visit with an a visiting indigenous artist who

with an a visiting indigenous artist who

with an a visiting indigenous artist who had his artwork laid all up against the

had his artwork laid all up against the

had his artwork laid all up against the lockers and being from the 70s

lockers and being from the 70s

lockers and being from the 70s and seeing star wars in the theater one

and seeing star wars in the theater one

and seeing star wars in the theater one of the things that struck being about

of the things that struck being about

of the things that struck being about this artist was just how cool he was at

this artist was just how cool he was at

this artist was just how cool he was at the time might not be cool these days

the time might not be cool these days

the time might not be cool these days but he had long flowing hair and as he

but he had long flowing hair and as he

but he had long flowing hair and as he moved to kind of like moved in the wind

moved to kind of like moved in the wind

moved to kind of like moved in the wind and he had this jean shirt that was kind

and he had this jean shirt that was kind

and he had this jean shirt that was kind of open to his like his navel and he had

of open to his like his navel and he had

of open to his like his navel and he had these bell-bottom jeans with these

these bell-bottom jeans with these

these bell-bottom jeans with these leather sandals

leather sandals

leather sandals and the first question he came up and

and the first question he came up and

and the first question he came up and asked me as a five-year-old it’s a big

asked me as a five-year-old it’s a big

asked me as a five-year-old it’s a big question he asked me what kind of Indian

question he asked me what kind of Indian

question he asked me what kind of Indian are you and I didn’t know how to respond

are you and I didn’t know how to respond

are you and I didn’t know how to respond and I shrugged my shoulders and said I

and I shrugged my shoulders and said I

and I shrugged my shoulders and said I don’t know Indian I went home and asked

don’t know Indian I went home and asked

don’t know Indian I went home and asked my family kind of Indians are we they

my family kind of Indians are we they

my family kind of Indians are we they said we’re Nash nabe we’re a jib way and

said we’re Nash nabe we’re a jib way and

said we’re Nash nabe we’re a jib way and so at that point I felt a kinship to

so at that point I felt a kinship to

so at that point I felt a kinship to something bigger than I was a nation a

something bigger than I was a nation a

something bigger than I was a nation a nation I felt connected to my nation

nation I felt connected to my nation

nation I felt connected to my nation hood as an Egyptian but the only

hood as an Egyptian but the only

hood as an Egyptian but the only evidence I could connect to was these

evidence I could connect to was these

evidence I could connect to was these objectified images within media within

objectified images within media within

objectified images within media within school books that were always in the

school books that were always in the

school books that were always in the past stereotypes athletic teams movies

past stereotypes athletic teams movies

past stereotypes athletic teams movies this globalization of this objectified

this globalization of this objectified

this globalization of this objectified image of who indigenous people are but

image of who indigenous people are but

image of who indigenous people are but not really who we are because if you get

not really who we are because if you get

not really who we are because if you get to know some of us even within this

to know some of us even within this

to know some of us even within this territory you’ll find out that we have

territory you’ll find out that we have

territory you’ll find out that we have indigenous methodologies and Sciences

technology this drum is a form of

technology this drum is a form of Technology and so thinking about that

Technology and so thinking about that

Technology and so thinking about that senior kindergarten that was a big

senior kindergarten that was a big

senior kindergarten that was a big question to answer the second time I

question to answer the second time I

question to answer the second time I connected with my culture was when I was

connected with my culture was when I was

connected with my culture was when I was visiting my uncle’s in prison at eight

visiting my uncle’s in prison at eight

visiting my uncle’s in prison at eight years old and so not knowing any

years old and so not knowing any

years old and so not knowing any different because I was so used to

different because I was so used to

different because I was so used to having turmoil and violence and abuse

having turmoil and violence and abuse

having turmoil and violence and abuse around me going to a prison didn’t seem

around me going to a prison didn’t seem

around me going to a prison didn’t seem like a big deal but as I walked into the

like a big deal but as I walked into the

like a big deal but as I walked into the prison I heard the sound of the drum I

prison I heard the sound of the drum I

prison I heard the sound of the drum I swelled this I smelt the sweet sweet

swelled this I smelt the sweet sweet

swelled this I smelt the sweet sweet smell of sweet grass sweet grass as a

smell of sweet grass sweet grass as a

smell of sweet grass sweet grass as a medicine for us as Anishinabe we use it

medicine for us as Anishinabe we use it

medicine for us as Anishinabe we use it for cleansing and I just felt this sense

for cleansing and I just felt this sense

for cleansing and I just felt this sense of home the sense of belonging it was a

of home the sense of belonging it was a

of home the sense of belonging it was a weird place to feel that sense of

weird place to feel that sense of

weird place to feel that sense of belonging within a prison visiting my

belonging within a prison visiting my

belonging within a prison visiting my incarcerated uncle’s it’s not something

incarcerated uncle’s it’s not something

incarcerated uncle’s it’s not something normal that you hear in persons

normal that you hear in persons

normal that you hear in persons narrative

narrative

narrative but the interesting thing about my

but the interesting thing about my

but the interesting thing about my narrative is it’s not really unique to

narrative is it’s not really unique to

narrative is it’s not really unique to me as you start listening to the

me as you start listening to the

me as you start listening to the indigenous narrative right across this

indigenous narrative right across this

indigenous narrative right across this country you’ll find that most a lot of

country you’ll find that most a lot of

country you’ll find that most a lot of indigenous people have the same or

indigenous people have the same or

indigenous people have the same or similar narrative and so what when I met

similar narrative and so what when I met

similar narrative and so what when I met this priest in my grandparents church

this priest in my grandparents church

this priest in my grandparents church the native peoples parish he showed me

the native peoples parish he showed me

the native peoples parish he showed me the four medicines he took us on a fast

the four medicines he took us on a fast

the four medicines he took us on a fast or Vision Quest up near dreamers Rock he

or Vision Quest up near dreamers Rock he

or Vision Quest up near dreamers Rock he introduced us to this beautiful elder it

introduced us to this beautiful elder it

introduced us to this beautiful elder it was the first time in my life I actually

was the first time in my life I actually

was the first time in my life I actually sat out in the land and reflected on who

sat out in the land and reflected on who

sat out in the land and reflected on who I was and all the mistakes I made

I was and all the mistakes I made

I was and all the mistakes I made because when you’re sitting out there on

because when you’re sitting out there on

because when you’re sitting out there on the earth or in nature within forests

the earth or in nature within forests

the earth or in nature within forests within the forest you’re forced to face

within the forest you’re forced to face

within the forest you’re forced to face herself so facing myself led me to the

herself so facing myself led me to the

herself so facing myself led me to the drum the drum led me to different

drum the drum led me to different

drum the drum led me to different healers elders and one of the most

healers elders and one of the most

healers elders and one of the most significant elders I met in my life

significant elders I met in my life

significant elders I met in my life helped me transform into the person I am

helped me transform into the person I am

helped me transform into the person I am today because I didn’t go to high school

today because I didn’t go to high school

today because I didn’t go to high school like you I dropped out when I was 14 I

like you I dropped out when I was 14 I

like you I dropped out when I was 14 I was incarcerated I was on the streets

was incarcerated I was on the streets

was incarcerated I was on the streets all those kinds of things all that kind

all those kinds of things all that kind

all those kinds of things all that kind of turmoil was happening in my life but

of turmoil was happening in my life but

of turmoil was happening in my life but I found that the time to do a

I found that the time to do a

I found that the time to do a confirmation even though I’m not

confirmation even though I’m not

confirmation even though I’m not religious today in the priest that I was

religious today in the priest that I was

religious today in the priest that I was talking about allowed me to pick my

talking about allowed me to pick my

talking about allowed me to pick my saint and the Saint that I selected was

saint and the Saint that I selected was

saint and the Saint that I selected was Crazy Horse because at the time I was

Crazy Horse because at the time I was

Crazy Horse because at the time I was feeding my brain with literature of

feeding my brain with literature of

feeding my brain with literature of leadership from all over the world so

leadership from all over the world so

leadership from all over the world so that was informing my location so that

that was informing my location so that

that was informing my location so that when I came to this point of meeting

when I came to this point of meeting

when I came to this point of meeting this elder leadership was on my mind so

this elder leadership was on my mind so

this elder leadership was on my mind so he helped me connect to who I was to who

he helped me connect to who I was to who

he helped me connect to who I was to who I am today and the first thing he did

I am today and the first thing he did

I am today and the first thing he did was he gave me my spirit name when I was

was he gave me my spirit name when I was

was he gave me my spirit name when I was around 19 years old and he told me I

around 19 years old and he told me I

around 19 years old and he told me I needed to fast again so I went out in a

needed to fast again so I went out in a

needed to fast again so I went out in a fast I had an experience there and I

fast I had an experience there and I

fast I had an experience there and I received a song I share that song with

received a song I share that song with

received a song I share that song with you

this song the name of it is my language

this song the name of it is my language means hey hey hey hey hey oh hi hi

means hey hey hey hey hey oh hi hi

means hey hey hey hey hey oh hi hi hey hey hey uh hi uh hi oh hey hey oh

hey hey hey uh hi uh hi oh hey hey oh

hey hey hey uh hi uh hi oh hey hey oh hey oh hey

hey oh hey

hey oh hey [Music]

so when I came back with that song it

so when I came back with that song it took me to a different understanding of

took me to a different understanding of

took me to a different understanding of who I was as an inch knob a face with

who I was as an inch knob a face with

who I was as an inch knob a face with all the statistics social determinants

all the statistics social determinants

all the statistics social determinants of health

of health

of health relating statistics in every possible

relating statistics in every possible

relating statistics in every possible area one and two First Nation children

area one and two First Nation children

area one and two First Nation children live in poverty today we have some of

live in poverty today we have some of

live in poverty today we have some of the highest suicide rates in the world

the highest suicide rates in the world

the highest suicide rates in the world here in Canada in indigenous communities

here in Canada in indigenous communities

here in Canada in indigenous communities there’s over 130 communities on boil

there’s over 130 communities on boil

there’s over 130 communities on boil water advisories so in terms of this

water advisories so in terms of this

water advisories so in terms of this role that you’re going to occupy in your

role that you’re going to occupy in your

role that you’re going to occupy in your life through this process of kinship

life through this process of kinship

life through this process of kinship introspection and transformation one of

introspection and transformation one of

introspection and transformation one of the things I want to leave you with is

the things I want to leave you with is

the things I want to leave you with is this understanding of leadership and the

this understanding of leadership and the

this understanding of leadership and the balance of leadership for the crane chi

balance of leadership for the crane chi

balance of leadership for the crane chi chuck is the echo maker and the

chuck is the echo maker and the

chuck is the echo maker and the symbolism behind the crane is that we

symbolism behind the crane is that we

symbolism behind the crane is that we carry the community on our shoulders and

carry the community on our shoulders and

carry the community on our shoulders and the cranes will carry smaller birds on

the cranes will carry smaller birds on

the cranes will carry smaller birds on its back when they’re flying south it’s

its back when they’re flying south it’s

its back when they’re flying south it’s a common belief right around the world

a common belief right around the world

a common belief right around the world so my question to you and reigniting

so my question to you and reigniting

so my question to you and reigniting that sacred fire within your within your

that sacred fire within your within your

that sacred fire within your within your spirit understanding your role in the

spirit understanding your role in the

spirit understanding your role in the universe or your location my question to

universe or your location my question to

universe or your location my question to you is who is balancing on your

you is who is balancing on your

you is who is balancing on your shoulders like the crane and whose

shoulders like the crane and whose

shoulders like the crane and whose shoulders are you balancing on