This past week has been rather troubling for me after reading online comments regarding the vandalism of churches, statues and totem poles.
Firstly, I want to say that I do not support vandalism of any kind. I do not support the vandalism of statues or totem poles or anything else. There are better ways to make a point or express anger, sadness, and/or frustration.
When I first learned of these recent events, I was worried about the repercussion that might occur in our region and beyond.
I was reading articles and posts online as these events unfolded and I was scared when I read the comments. Many were racist and threatening. There were comments that spoke of cutting down totem poles in Beacon Hill Park and defacing longhouses. It was not long after I read the comment on totem poles that one on the Malahat was set on fire.
I read comments expressing people’s outrage toward Indigenous people as a whole, with ideas about how to get back at all Indigenous people.
When there are vocal people and people who are taking steps to make large public demonstrations, we need to remember that those are the actions of individuals — they are not speaking for everyone.
I know this is a hot topic right now and the Times Colonist has said that it has not received this many letters on one topic since 2003, when Gordon Campbell was arrested for drunk driving in Hawaii.
Reading comments fuelled with hate, racism and an “us-versus-them” mentality left me scared. Last week, I was organizing a series of drum workshops with the goal of bringing Indigenous and non-Indigenous people together and creating a safe place to learn and share Indigenous culture.
On the evening of Friday, July 2, I had laid out an orange shirt that I was planning on wearing to the final drum-making workshop of the week. Later that evening, I started reading comments online in response to the destruction of the statue of Capt. James Cook.
In the morning, I looked at my orange shirt and I chose not to wear it. I was worried that if I were out in the community, it could make me and my daughter a target for the hate that I saw shared so openly online. That is the first time I have ever felt that way.
The workshops were offered for free and made possible through a partnership between the Victoria Foundation, West Shore Parks and Recreation and M’akola Housing Society.
Indigenous Knowledge Keepers Rick Peter, Henry Chipps and Natasha Parrish facilitated the cultural teachings and drum-making components. The workshops were really well received, and we achieved our goals of making space to create understanding. These workshops gave me hope and reinforced that coming together is the solution.
At the end of the day, we all call Greater Victoria home, regardless of our race, culture, families, age, gender and affiliations. We are stronger when we work together, and these acts of division are not going to benefit anyone.
charla@makola.bc.ca
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