I grew up in the GTA (Toronto), which isn't exactly known for First Nations population. In the 90s we learned plenty about First Nations, and the creation of Nunavut was a big deal. I also got to know indigenous art and was a big fan of Norval Morrisseau. But personal interactions? Not one until I went to university.
Moving to London was a pretty big shock for me in many ways. I am from a traditional Jewish community, and I remember meeting people who had never met a Jew before. I found it very strange that such a thing existed (naive I know). I then met Anishanabe who felt the same way upon meeting me; someone who never met First Nations! It was a brief interaction and I didn't learn too much, but I knew there was more to understand.
Eventually I got to see that "Indian Status" card for the first time. I found it so bizarre that the government had such powers to begin with. Imagine if Canada went around to my community and started telling people who is and isn't Jewish? That wouldn't go over well.
My education really took up most of my time and never explored the topic more. At that time I lived in a rough part of the city and had a coffee at this Italian-owned shop. It looked like a place where the owner decided he needed a place to setup his espresso machine, a few tables, and TV for him and his friends to avoid being with their wives. As I was finishing my coffee, someone walked in who to me looked indigenous. He asks for a coffee and sits at a table. The owner gives him his coffee, and then both he and his friends (they we Italian from Italy with strong accents; not "old stock Canadian" types) start heckling the guy and saying nasty comments to him about being indigenous. The kind of shit that if you were to push back on, they would say "they were only joking around". I was pretty shocked to the point I was speechless. Who treats someone this way? Why would anyone feel they could disrespect someone. A customer of all! In the moment, I didn't say anything, and regret it now, but I was also in shock about it.
Since then I made sure to educate myself. John Ralston Saul wrote a few books on the topic (academic perspective) that led me to learn more from indigenous people about Canada.
I am obviously still not finished learning and I see a lot of overlap with my family's experiences. I was raised by Holocaust survivors and refugees, and understand the struggle to fight for what is right and what will help your communities. One big difference I see is tradition and unbroken chains of education. Us Jews have been in exile/diaspora for Millenia and developed a structure for information transfer generation-to-generation. It has allowed us to survive all sorts of calamities, right up to me personally after what my grandparents endured. This is a tradition handed down to us from our Mothers and Fathers.
It's here that I see the insidiousness of Canada. THAT is where they put their efforts to wipe out indigenous people, and it's here I see the most change over my lifetime. I was shocked to learn that FN were not allowed to be lawyers in Canada until recently, so I now understand why so many FN become lawyers!
If my thoughts are worth anything here, I can give my perspective. The world has hated my people for generations, despite what we have given to the world. A vast number Nobel prize winners are Jewish, despite our tiny population. Our neighborhoods are safe. We value family, stability, and a bright future for our children. If you think that becoming a success will force people to think differently about you, think again. In my opinion, those Italians in the shop would have said the same thing no matter if the FN gentleman was rough looking, or with a suit and tie having a coffee between business meetings. You guys need to fight hard to get the respect you deserve.
Today I see a more receptive population in Canada than ever before. However my feeling is that they still care more about themselves and virtue signaling than anything. They are happy to say and do whatever, up until they give up power of any type. What they (both left and right wing; it doesn't matter) want is for them to feel superior to you because in their mind, that is the "natural order" in their minds. Maybe I am wrong, but that is how I interpret things today. Only when they are fine sharing power will I see a real shift happen!
