a periodic naquan cabinet at Landman our work new toka column 86 dynamic Amezcua
work new toka column 86 dynamic Amezcua
work new toka column 86 dynamic Amezcua sky gun camera mode that lying Blackfoot
sky gun camera mode that lying Blackfoot
sky gun camera mode that lying Blackfoot crane eco DeSoto a matey let’s–oh
crane eco DeSoto a matey let’s–oh
crane eco DeSoto a matey let’s–oh kamati bless all our relations
kamati bless all our relations
kamati bless all our relations I’m from Anna Hawk that’s my mother land
I’m from Anna Hawk that’s my mother land
I’m from Anna Hawk that’s my mother land on you got our territory I’m a c6
on you got our territory I’m a c6
on you got our territory I’m a c6 my name is cake Sala I’m grateful to be
my name is cake Sala I’m grateful to be
my name is cake Sala I’m grateful to be with all of you here today in a Miss
with all of you here today in a Miss
with all of you here today in a Miss quit us guy gun the motherland and the
quit us guy gun the motherland and the
quit us guy gun the motherland and the gathering lands of the Blackfoot the
gathering lands of the Blackfoot the
gathering lands of the Blackfoot the Cree the Dakota DeSoto and the matey
Cree the Dakota DeSoto and the matey
Cree the Dakota DeSoto and the matey nations I also want to acknowledge that
nations I also want to acknowledge that
nations I also want to acknowledge that we are here every single one of us is
we are here every single one of us is
we are here every single one of us is here and living our lives in the way
here and living our lives in the way
here and living our lives in the way that we are because those treaties – the
that we are because those treaties – the
that we are because those treaties – the treaty six that allows us to be on these
treaty six that allows us to be on these
treaty six that allows us to be on these lands has been broken it’s been broken
lands has been broken it’s been broken
lands has been broken it’s been broken countless times from the way that we
countless times from the way that we
countless times from the way that we drive our cars to what fuels them to the
drive our cars to what fuels them to the
drive our cars to what fuels them to the way that we relate to each other to the
way that we relate to each other to the
way that we relate to each other to the way that we don’t know how to properly
way that we don’t know how to properly
way that we don’t know how to properly pronounce I missed what she was Gigan so
what am I here to talk about aside from
what am I here to talk about aside from that i came in and i kind of wanted to
that i came in and i kind of wanted to
that i came in and i kind of wanted to make everybody uncomfortable and i
make everybody uncomfortable and i
make everybody uncomfortable and i wanted to start with that broken
wanted to start with that broken
wanted to start with that broken treaties talk because we have all come
treaties talk because we have all come
treaties talk because we have all come here and we’ve consented to share ideas
here and we’ve consented to share ideas
here and we’ve consented to share ideas and in that continue to share ideas
and in that continue to share ideas
and in that continue to share ideas we’re consenting to feel uncomfortable
we’re consenting to feel uncomfortable
we’re consenting to feel uncomfortable we’re consenting to have those things in
we’re consenting to have those things in
we’re consenting to have those things in our perceptions questioned but i have a
our perceptions questioned but i have a
our perceptions questioned but i have a not a history but i have a low tone of
not a history but i have a low tone of
not a history but i have a low tone of voice and it sounds aggressive to some
voice and it sounds aggressive to some
voice and it sounds aggressive to some folks so i had to do a lot of thinking
folks so i had to do a lot of thinking
folks so i had to do a lot of thinking of how am i going to talk about this and
of how am i going to talk about this and
of how am i going to talk about this and i do a lot of thinking about it all the
i do a lot of thinking about it all the
i do a lot of thinking about it all the time because I’m also a teacher and an
time because I’m also a teacher and an
time because I’m also a teacher and an educator and so I’m always talking about
educator and so I’m always talking about
educator and so I’m always talking about decolonization with folks whether it’s
decolonization with folks whether it’s
decolonization with folks whether it’s in the streets or whether it’s in front
in the streets or whether it’s in front
in the streets or whether it’s in front of a of a whiteboard I’m always bringing
of a of a whiteboard I’m always bringing
of a of a whiteboard I’m always bringing it up and I have to wonder how can I do
it up and I have to wonder how can I do
it up and I have to wonder how can I do this in the kindest way so I called a
this in the kindest way so I called a
this in the kindest way so I called a good friend of mine Ealing this morning
good friend of mine Ealing this morning
good friend of mine Ealing this morning and they are one of the most prayerful
and they are one of the most prayerful
and they are one of the most prayerful people I know and we met at a chatty
people I know and we met at a chatty
people I know and we met at a chatty shot going which is one of the largest
shot going which is one of the largest
shot going which is one of the largest camps of Standing Rock and while we were
camps of Standing Rock and while we were
camps of Standing Rock and while we were there
there
there we got to start a decolonization class
we got to start a decolonization class
we got to start a decolonization class that was only for indigenous people and
that was only for indigenous people and
that was only for indigenous people and people of color and every other night I
people of color and every other night I
people of color and every other night I taught a class that was for absolutely
taught a class that was for absolutely
taught a class that was for absolutely all of the camp and at these lessons I
all of the camp and at these lessons I
all of the camp and at these lessons I got to like come up with a couple of
got to like come up with a couple of
got to like come up with a couple of like mantras or catchphrases that people
like mantras or catchphrases that people
like mantras or catchphrases that people caught on to and one of them that
caught on to and one of them that
caught on to and one of them that evening reminded me of today was panic
evening reminded me of today was panic
evening reminded me of today was panic is not prayerful so I brought that with
is not prayerful so I brought that with
is not prayerful so I brought that with me here and I brought my sister with me
me here and I brought my sister with me
me here and I brought my sister with me and we were sitting outside we came in
and we were sitting outside we came in
and we were sitting outside we came in during the first session it had started
during the first session it had started
during the first session it had started and we were sitting outside
and we were sitting outside
and we were sitting outside I was with my laptop we were talking
I was with my laptop we were talking
I was with my laptop we were talking about the talks and security came up to
about the talks and security came up to
about the talks and security came up to us and asked us if we were loitering and
us and asked us if we were loitering and
us and asked us if we were loitering and like I don’t know how to tell y’all and
like I don’t know how to tell y’all and
like I don’t know how to tell y’all and it’s like a displaced urban indigenous
it’s like a displaced urban indigenous
it’s like a displaced urban indigenous person who’s displaced in someone else’s
person who’s displaced in someone else’s
person who’s displaced in someone else’s urban territory how many times that has
urban territory how many times that has
urban territory how many times that has happened to me and it was mind-blowing
happened to me and it was mind-blowing
happened to me and it was mind-blowing and I didn’t know how to interact with
and I didn’t know how to interact with
and I didn’t know how to interact with it but then I reminded myself penny is
it but then I reminded myself penny is
it but then I reminded myself penny is not prayerful and I tried to gather my
not prayerful and I tried to gather my
not prayerful and I tried to gather my thoughts and try to say what am I going
thoughts and try to say what am I going
thoughts and try to say what am I going to talk about today what am I gonna
to talk about today what am I gonna
to talk about today what am I gonna bring up how far is it gonna go and it’s
bring up how far is it gonna go and it’s
bring up how far is it gonna go and it’s been really hard I’m gonna be honest
been really hard I’m gonna be honest
been really hard I’m gonna be honest with y’all starting in that way and
with y’all starting in that way and
with y’all starting in that way and having what I’m gonna say to y’all
having what I’m gonna say to y’all
having what I’m gonna say to y’all police today because of the
police today because of the
police today because of the uncomfortability that it brings but it’s
uncomfortability that it brings but it’s
uncomfortability that it brings but it’s also a tremendous opportunity for me to
also a tremendous opportunity for me to
also a tremendous opportunity for me to talk to y’all about uncomfortability and
talk to y’all about uncomfortability and
talk to y’all about uncomfortability and how we can deal with uncomfortability
how we can deal with uncomfortability
how we can deal with uncomfortability but I’m not gonna take that because I
but I’m not gonna take that because I
but I’m not gonna take that because I think that focusing still on the people
think that focusing still on the people
think that focusing still on the people who are uncomfortable about this it’s
who are uncomfortable about this it’s
who are uncomfortable about this it’s still recreating colonial violence it’s
still recreating colonial violence it’s
still recreating colonial violence it’s still creating recreating sister premise
still creating recreating sister premise
still creating recreating sister premise II is still recreating able supremacy
II is still recreating able supremacy
II is still recreating able supremacy it’s still recreating white supremacy so
it’s still recreating white supremacy so
it’s still recreating white supremacy so instead I’m gonna do what I usually do
instead I’m gonna do what I usually do
instead I’m gonna do what I usually do when I talk my classes is I try to
when I talk my classes is I try to
when I talk my classes is I try to weaponize everybody in there I don’t try
weaponize everybody in there I don’t try
weaponize everybody in there I don’t try to talk to them about what is
to talk to them about what is
to talk to them about what is colonialism how do we interact with it
colonialism how do we interact with it
colonialism how do we interact with it how do we engage with it and how do we
how do we engage with it and how do we
how do we engage with it and how do we combat it within ourselves within our
combat it within ourselves within our
combat it within ourselves within our families within our communities and how
families within our communities and how
families within our communities and how do we take that further what is colonial
do we take that further what is colonial
do we take that further what is colonial violence and it’s something that it’s
violence and it’s something that it’s
violence and it’s something that it’s like really easy to like frame in the
like really easy to like frame in the
like really easy to like frame in the past it’s something that’s really easy
past it’s something that’s really easy
past it’s something that’s really easy to frame as something that we don’t
to frame as something that we don’t
to frame as something that we don’t participate in but really colonial
participate in but really colonial
participate in but really colonial violence is sitting in
violence is sitting in
violence is sitting in right now and being comfortable colonial
right now and being comfortable colonial
right now and being comfortable colonial violence is the control of the elements
violence is the control of the elements
violence is the control of the elements that we have and being warm in this room
that we have and being warm in this room
that we have and being warm in this room and like colonial violence and
and like colonial violence and
and like colonial violence and understanding it in that way it’s
understanding it in that way it’s
understanding it in that way it’s something that we can all do because we
something that we can all do because we
something that we can all do because we all haven’t had those circumstances but
all haven’t had those circumstances but
all haven’t had those circumstances but we can all try and understand what
we can all try and understand what
we can all try and understand what colonial violence means to us and how we
colonial violence means to us and how we
colonial violence means to us and how we enacted and how we are complicit in it I
enacted and how we are complicit in it I
enacted and how we are complicit in it I started talking about uncomfortability
started talking about uncomfortability
started talking about uncomfortability but I didn’t talk about why it makes
but I didn’t talk about why it makes
but I didn’t talk about why it makes people uncomfortable and I think that I
people uncomfortable and I think that I
people uncomfortable and I think that I need to do like a whole overview of
need to do like a whole overview of
need to do like a whole overview of colonial violence through the years to
colonial violence through the years to
colonial violence through the years to do that so let’s start with what is
do that so let’s start with what is
do that so let’s start with what is colonialism colonialism is a another
colonialism colonialism is a another
colonialism colonialism is a another country or nation-state coming to a
country or nation-state coming to a
country or nation-state coming to a territory with the purpose of taking the
territory with the purpose of taking the
territory with the purpose of taking the resources of that territory and
resources of that territory and
resources of that territory and appropriating them that happens seems
appropriating them that happens seems
appropriating them that happens seems like a common story right like we know
like a common story right like we know
like a common story right like we know what how that goes but what happens when
what how that goes but what happens when
what how that goes but what happens when they come to these territories is that
they come to these territories is that
they come to these territories is that they also bring their axiology which is
they also bring their axiology which is
they also bring their axiology which is a big word for how we quantify how we
a big word for how we quantify how we
a big word for how we quantify how we give value and how we prescribe worth
give value and how we prescribe worth
give value and how we prescribe worth the things
the things
the things so when colonizers come upon contact
so when colonizers come upon contact
so when colonizers come upon contact they decide this is the worth of the
they decide this is the worth of the
they decide this is the worth of the people this is the worst of the
people this is the worst of the
people this is the worst of the resources this is the worth of the land
resources this is the worth of the land
resources this is the worth of the land this is what we can pursue here and that
this is what we can pursue here and that
this is what we can pursue here and that becomes embedded in all of the
becomes embedded in all of the
becomes embedded in all of the institutions that create that
institutions that create that
institutions that create that nation-state afterwards so when we get
nation-state afterwards so when we get
nation-state afterwards so when we get to post colonialism or settler
to post colonialism or settler
to post colonialism or settler colonialism all of our institutions all
colonialism all of our institutions all
colonialism all of our institutions all of our policies all of our governance
of our policies all of our governance
of our policies all of our governance structures are based off of those
structures are based off of those
structures are based off of those beliefs that were brought upon contact
beliefs that were brought upon contact
beliefs that were brought upon contact and then that shapes how we how we that
and then that shapes how we how we that
and then that shapes how we how we that shapes how we talk about epistemology
shapes how we talk about epistemology
shapes how we talk about epistemology which is how we conceive knowledge and
which is how we conceive knowledge and
which is how we conceive knowledge and how we transfer knowledge and what
how we transfer knowledge and what
how we transfer knowledge and what knowledge we see is valid and we can see
knowledge we see is valid and we can see
knowledge we see is valid and we can see that in all our institutions we see that
that in all our institutions we see that
that in all our institutions we see that our education institutions and our
our education institutions and our
our education institutions and our medical institutions how indigenous
medical institutions how indigenous
medical institutions how indigenous medicines are not a part of them at all
medicines are not a part of them at all
medicines are not a part of them at all but we’re getting there
but we’re getting there
but we’re getting there but we’re very slowly getting there with
but we’re very slowly getting there with
but we’re very slowly getting there with indigenous people having to fight and
indigenous people having to fight and
indigenous people having to fight and have their backs to the wall constantly
have their backs to the wall constantly
have their backs to the wall constantly and that and then what settler
and that and then what settler
and that and then what settler colonialism does to us is that it makes
colonialism does to us is that it makes
colonialism does to us is that it makes us exist within all of these
us exist within all of these
us exist within all of these institutions
institutions
institutions it makes us
it makes us
it makes us like even from the way that we define
like even from the way that we define
like even from the way that we define our address in wit the way that we
our address in wit the way that we
our address in wit the way that we define whether we are indigenous
define whether we are indigenous
define whether we are indigenous settlers or immigrants so the way that
settlers or immigrants so the way that
settlers or immigrants so the way that we interact with the healthcare and
we interact with the healthcare and
we interact with the healthcare and medical system all of that shapes how we
medical system all of that shapes how we
medical system all of that shapes how we perceive reality and how we understand
perceive reality and how we understand
perceive reality and how we understand every how we understand how everything
every how we understand how everything
every how we understand how everything is basically that’s ontology and acts
is basically that’s ontology and acts
is basically that’s ontology and acts geology epistemology and ontology come
geology epistemology and ontology come
geology epistemology and ontology come together for the state to create a
together for the state to create a
together for the state to create a narrative and to create what is normal
narrative and to create what is normal
narrative and to create what is normal and so that’s why it’s so painful that’s
and so that’s why it’s so painful that’s
and so that’s why it’s so painful that’s why it’s so painful to say to someone
why it’s so painful to say to someone
why it’s so painful to say to someone hey you just did something racist
hey you just did something racist
hey you just did something racist because that someone has like thought in
because that someone has like thought in
because that someone has like thought in that way and not question themselves for
that way and not question themselves for
that way and not question themselves for their whole life it’s so painful to have
their whole life it’s so painful to have
their whole life it’s so painful to have these conversations where we’re saying
these conversations where we’re saying
these conversations where we’re saying to a teacher hey the way you are
to a teacher hey the way you are
to a teacher hey the way you are teaching is violent to these students
teaching is violent to these students
teaching is violent to these students because that teacher their whole life
because that teacher their whole life
because that teacher their whole life might have wanted to teach students and
might have wanted to teach students and
might have wanted to teach students and change their lives might have wanted to
change their lives might have wanted to
change their lives might have wanted to hold those hearts in their hands and
hold those hearts in their hands and
hold those hearts in their hands and guide those students to be the best
guide those students to be the best
guide those students to be the best people they can be but they’re not aware
people they can be but they’re not aware
people they can be but they’re not aware that they’re doing that in a violent way
that they’re doing that in a violent way
that they’re doing that in a violent way so it’s important that when we call out
so it’s important that when we call out
so it’s important that when we call out these violence’s we do it in a good way
these violence’s we do it in a good way
these violence’s we do it in a good way we do it in a nice way we’re doing it in
we do it in a nice way we’re doing it in
we do it in a nice way we’re doing it in a kind way we do it in a loving way like
a kind way we do it in a loving way like
a kind way we do it in a loving way like Jesse told me backstage
Jesse told me backstage
Jesse told me backstage so we communally constructed ways of
so we communally constructed ways of
so we communally constructed ways of engaging and combatting colonial
engaging and combatting colonial
engaging and combatting colonial violence as this awesome community of
violence as this awesome community of
violence as this awesome community of decolonial class that we had a torch a
decolonial class that we had a torch a
decolonial class that we had a torch a t-shirt going some days there was five
t-shirt going some days there was five
t-shirt going some days there was five of us and we ended up just eating dinner
of us and we ended up just eating dinner
of us and we ended up just eating dinner in my tent and some days there were 300
in my tent and some days there were 300
in my tent and some days there were 300 of us in this massive dome for like
of us in this massive dome for like
of us in this massive dome for like three weeks there was 300 of us and I
three weeks there was 300 of us and I
three weeks there was 300 of us and I had to teach to a class screaming at the
had to teach to a class screaming at the
had to teach to a class screaming at the top of my lungs in a circle and it was
top of my lungs in a circle and it was
top of my lungs in a circle and it was tremendous and what we did there
tremendous and what we did there
tremendous and what we did there together is come up with five different
together is come up with five different
together is come up with five different ways of engaging and combatting colonial
ways of engaging and combatting colonial
ways of engaging and combatting colonial violence the first one is do nothing and
violence the first one is do nothing and
violence the first one is do nothing and be the best you can be and it’s valid
be the best you can be and it’s valid
be the best you can be and it’s valid because it’s not always safe it’s not
because it’s not always safe it’s not
because it’s not always safe it’s not always safe for us to say like with that
always safe for us to say like with that
always safe for us to say like with that security officer today it wasn’t safe
security officer today it wasn’t safe
security officer today it wasn’t safe for me to say hey it’s not okay for you
for me to say hey it’s not okay for you
for me to say hey it’s not okay for you to ask me if I’m littering I’m here I’m
to ask me if I’m littering I’m here I’m
to ask me if I’m littering I’m here I’m a speaker like I’m a fancy person today
because they had that position of power
because they had that position of power because they could have told me hey
because they could have told me hey
because they could have told me hey you’re not allowed to be here and I
you’re not allowed to be here and I
you’re not allowed to be here and I could have not talked and in that like
could have not talked and in that like
could have not talked and in that like deciding whether it’s safe for us we
deciding whether it’s safe for us we
deciding whether it’s safe for us we also have to position ourselves and we
also have to position ourselves and we
also have to position ourselves and we get to see where are we where am I the
get to see where are we where am I the
get to see where are we where am I the oppressor where am I in the oppressed
oppressor where am I in the oppressed
oppressor where am I in the oppressed what power do I have where am i
what power do I have where am i
what power do I have where am i disempowered and how can I engage with
disempowered and how can I engage with
disempowered and how can I engage with this the second one is a call out and
this the second one is a call out and
this the second one is a call out and call out we have to be really careful
call out we have to be really careful
call out we have to be really careful with because a call out sometimes people
with because a call out sometimes people
with because a call out sometimes people find inherent violence in it and a call
find inherent violence in it and a call
find inherent violence in it and a call out is where you say hey this is what
out is where you say hey this is what
out is where you say hey this is what you did this is how it made me feel this
you did this is how it made me feel this
you did this is how it made me feel this is why it’s problematic may be tied to
is why it’s problematic may be tied to
is why it’s problematic may be tied to some systemic oppression and then you
some systemic oppression and then you
some systemic oppression and then you asked for the response what do you think
asked for the response what do you think
asked for the response what do you think where we at now how do we go forward
where we at now how do we go forward
where we at now how do we go forward together or you can just walk away if
together or you can just walk away if
together or you can just walk away if you need to it depends on how safe you
you need to it depends on how safe you
you need to it depends on how safe you are but again with these call-out
are but again with these call-out
are but again with these call-out culture we can get aggressive with each
culture we can get aggressive with each
culture we can get aggressive with each other and we need to make sure that we
other and we need to make sure that we
other and we need to make sure that we keep everybody safe and the intended
keep everybody safe and the intended
keep everybody safe and the intended community that we’re trying to keep safe
community that we’re trying to keep safe
community that we’re trying to keep safe safe an example of this is when white
safe an example of this is when white
safe an example of this is when white folks go willy-nilly calling other white
folks go willy-nilly calling other white
folks go willy-nilly calling other white folks racist also if you prefer the term
folks racist also if you prefer the term
folks racist also if you prefer the term people without color you’d like to use
people without color you’d like to use
people without color you’d like to use that one since I’ve divested from
that one since I’ve divested from
that one since I’ve divested from awareness too but when white folks say
awareness too but when white folks say
awareness too but when white folks say to another white person hey you’re being
to another white person hey you’re being
to another white person hey you’re being racist that other white person isn’t
racist that other white person isn’t
racist that other white person isn’t going to think this white person’s the
going to think this white person’s the
going to think this white person’s the worst they’re very likely going to think
worst they’re very likely going to think
worst they’re very likely going to think my community is being divided and
my community is being divided and
my community is being divided and attacked again so keep that in mind when
attacked again so keep that in mind when
attacked again so keep that in mind when you’re talking to people when you’re
you’re talking to people when you’re
you’re talking to people when you’re calling them out the next option is call
calling them out the next option is call
calling them out the next option is call someone in build a relationship with
someone in build a relationship with
someone in build a relationship with them based on what you’re saying to them
them based on what you’re saying to them
them based on what you’re saying to them tell them I learned this from my
tell them I learned this from my
tell them I learned this from my experience I know this I – was you young
experience I know this I – was you young
experience I know this I – was you young padawan and I – hurt people’s feelings
padawan and I – hurt people’s feelings
padawan and I – hurt people’s feelings I’ve never seen the Star Wars movie of
I’ve never seen the Star Wars movie of
I’ve never seen the Star Wars movie of my life I’m so proud for that reference
my life I’m so proud for that reference
my life I’m so proud for that reference and then the fourth one is ask for time
and then the fourth one is ask for time
and then the fourth one is ask for time whether you’re being called out or
whether you’re being called out or
whether you’re being called out or whether you are calling someone out it’s
whether you are calling someone out it’s
whether you are calling someone out it’s totally okay for you to ask for time to
totally okay for you to ask for time to
totally okay for you to ask for time to process to internalize to understand
process to internalize to understand
process to internalize to understand what’s going on so that you can come
what’s going on so that you can come
what’s going on so that you can come back in the best way possible other than
back in the best way possible other than
back in the best way possible other than this is bringing it home so when you
this is bringing it home so when you
this is bringing it home so when you learn when you have a relationship with
learn when you have a relationship with
learn when you have a relationship with someone or you have to call them out
someone or you have to call them out
someone or you have to call them out bring that with you where you go
bring that with you where you go
bring that with you where you go from that did it go well did it go badly
from that did it go well did it go badly
from that did it go well did it go badly how can you give people tools to engage
how can you give people tools to engage
how can you give people tools to engage with this in a good way – I started this
with this in a good way – I started this
with this in a good way – I started this talk by talking about how panic is not
talk by talking about how panic is not
talk by talking about how panic is not prayerful and how we need to approach
prayerful and how we need to approach
prayerful and how we need to approach things in peaceful and loving ways but I
things in peaceful and loving ways but I
things in peaceful and loving ways but I recognize that unless we don’t know what
recognize that unless we don’t know what
recognize that unless we don’t know what to do panic is our only response so I
to do panic is our only response so I
to do panic is our only response so I hope that I’ve weaponized you in some
hope that I’ve weaponized you in some
hope that I’ve weaponized you in some way against colonial violence I hope
way against colonial violence I hope
way against colonial violence I hope I’ve inspired you to love yourself and
I’ve inspired you to love yourself and
I’ve inspired you to love yourself and be yourself because you’re the change
be yourself because you’re the change
be yourself because you’re the change and if you live here I work on D
and if you live here I work on D
and if you live here I work on D colonial stuff all the time so please
colonial stuff all the time so please
colonial stuff all the time so please let’s create some community together and
let’s create some community together and
let’s create some community together and work together that’s what I might be
work together that’s what I might be
work together that’s what I might be [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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