tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7380618732341414866.post5912123781920576737..comments2013-08-10T21:49:31.181-04:00Comments on These are my moccasins.: What means "political"?Mallory Whiteduckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11391821692246018955noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7380618732341414866.post-61036195177689724492011-07-22T09:39:19.381-04:002011-07-22T09:39:19.381-04:00I really like the idea of replacing the word polit...I really like the idea of replacing the word political, in order to move beyond the barrier the word creates for both Indigenous peoples and Canadians/settlers. Depending on who you're talking to the term "political" can have many connotations, including elite, distrustful, negative, etc. <br /><br />In conversation with our own people, I think we can say that we're not being "political," rather, we're "being mindful of future generations." I think that would be good dialogue.<br /><br />I think it's a bit more difficult to find an alternative term for "political" when speaking to settlers, particularly when talking about things they view as overtly political like land claims, traditional territory, self-government, etc. I'm sure there's one out there I just can't think of it.Mallory Whiteduckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11391821692246018955noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7380618732341414866.post-27818991860043308462011-07-22T09:19:40.407-04:002011-07-22T09:19:40.407-04:00My favorite is when people tell me that they don&#...My favorite is when people tell me that they don't like to get political in an attempt to shut down an uncomfortable conversation. A good way to move forward is to ask them what they mean. "What do you mean political?" <br /><br />Some of my favorite people say that they don't get political, and over a series of conversations they tell me it's because they feel like they don't know enough about politics. When something was labelled as political it was like a stop sign from the other person telling me that they didn't want to talk about the topic anymore. When we got to the place where we could throw out the word political and replace it with the idea that our job is to think of a better future and figure out how to get there. When we had thrown out the word "political" dialogue progressed. <br /><br />I've heard the saying "when you're born native, you're born political." I think everyone's political, however non-Aboriginal people have the luxury of never being forced to question the ongoing colonial reality that is Canada and their role in it.Starleigh Grasshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17549806249237292582noreply@blogger.com