(October 1 entry from Honorary Indian Decolonized, available on Amazon.) Do not open your eyes. Just listen … Words Tears Deep breaths Gulps More tears. Do not open your eyes. Just do as heart says … Hug Console Be silent Cry too Care. Do not open your eyes. Colour of skin shouldn’t Play into this.

https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/video/1.4052605 The words of the late Senator Murray Sinclair.

Prejudice is when you have thoughts prior to meeting someone. Prejudice turns into discrimination. Discrimination is assumptions you have about someone. Oppression is sanctioned by the government and accepted by society. An example is the "boil water" advisory. Internalized oppression is an internalized voice that tells you you cannot do something - ex: I cannot go to college or be successful.

This makes very good sense to me. If I were to travel to another area, I would research the culture, food, experiences, etc. I should definitely do that when working for an Indigenous employer. Learn about the company, learn about the people, culture, customs, etc. Ask the questions - better to ask than assume.

For each of the following, share in the community if you think they are an example of violence, acquiescence, or non-violent resistance. 1. An Indigenous young woman goes onto her favourite social media platform and slams another woman on the reserve for taking her man. VIOLENCE 2. A group of teenagers stage a sit-in to protest lack of education funding. NON VIOLENT RESISTANCE 3. A youth takes their life. ACQUIESENCE 4. A student chooses to leave the reserve to pursue a higher education. NON VIOLENT RESISTANCE 5. A student quits school. ACQUIESENCE 6. A Chief blocks a railway or highway to protest the fact that his community has been under a boil-water advisory for decades. NON VIOLENT RESISTANCE 7. A teenager drops out of school because she wants a family. ACQUIESENCE 8. A young man shoots a music video, highlighting the violence in his community. NON VIOLENT RESISTANCE 9. Employees sit around the lunchroom table gossiping about each other. VIOLENCE 10. A child asks her Mom for regalia. NON VIOLENT RESISTANCE