Member Liz
MemberForum Replies Created
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In regards to the ‘deinstitutionalization‘ you mentioned on the factsheet: How does the nonprofit industrial complex harm the land and our relationship with it? What are some current examples of working outside / in resistance to the nonprofit sector to strengthen Indigenous sovereignty and land repatriation?
Thank you Joey-Lynn and Michelle!
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how can non-indigenous folks support the work that’s already being done and spread awareness/message to their communities in an equitable way?
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Kwey kwey Amina. Allyship within Indigenous (First Nations, Metis, Inuit) communities, agencies, departments et cetera is part of the supportive structure which allows Indigenous voices to be heard and action to be taken. Allies can be seen as support although sometimes sadly also seen as barriers. This can happen when allies centre themselves around Indigenous work that is being done by and with Indigenous peoples. Instead of seeing themselves as peripheral (and still integral) support, they situate themselves within a role that may not be theirs to fill. This can be harmful to the movement in which they are involved. There are scholars that are doing work on allyship, what it means, and how to do it effectively. Lynn Gehl, Algonquin Anishinabe scholar has created an Ally Bill of Responsibilities which can be used to inform non-Indigenous people and educate them. I have listed 2 of the 16 responsibilities below:
1. Do not act out of guilt, but rather out of a genuine interest in challenging the
larger oppressive power structures;2. Understand that they are secondary to the Indigenous people that they are
working with and that they seek to serve. They and their needs must take a
back seat;http://www.lynngehl.com/uploads/5/0/0/4/5004954/ally_bill_of_responsibilities_poster.pdf
You can support the work that’s already being done
and spread awareness/message to their communities in an equitable way by situating and understanding your own role first. Once you know why you are wanting to help and the role you have it will become clearer. It is very easy to share, like, retweet Indigenous issues on social media. I would like to ensure that the messages that are being spread can also be positive. Share good stories, successful Indigenous youth who are reclaiming their identity, resources et cetera. We need to hear those messages along with the realities that land protectors and warriors face on a daily basis. Warriors on the streets, warriors raising the next generations of babies, warriors caring for Elders…every Indigenous person who is living on Turtle Island is a warrior. My friend and colleague, Dr. Celeste Pedri-Spade told me one day, “Joey, your very existence is political”. It resonated within me and I see myself as a warrior whose matriarchal line has survived so much for me to even be here.I am probably getting off topic here, so I will wrap it up by sharing what Erica Violet Lee, a nehiyaw (Plains Cree) iskwew shared about allies. She said we don’t need allies, we need accomplices.
Do the work WITH Indigenous peoples, not FOR them! 🙂
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The Land As Our First Teacher Factsheet by Dr. Joey-Lynn Wabie and Michelle Kennedy is now available on our Knowledge Hub! See here: https://youthrex.com/factsheet/land-as-our-first-teacher-2/
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Obviously, the pandemic is affecting everyone in various ways. What I would like to know is how land-based learning and teachings from Elders to the youth/ communities are affected. Are the teachings/ guidance/ supports still able to take place regardless of the current environments?
Chi-miigwetch!
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Kwey kwey Adam. Great question! The pandemic definitely has changed the manner in which many people gather. Also, older adults are one of the high-risk groups that can have fatal effects with COVID-19. Elders are held in high regard in many Indigenous (First Nation, Metis, Inuit) communities so the risk of exposing them is too high. Amadou Hampâté Bâ shared, ” In Africa, when an old man dies, it’s a library burning”. When an Elder or older adult dies in one of our communities, they are taking stories, wisdom, genealogical history, et al. with them. We want to protect our Elders and older adults with love and kindness which may mean not interacting with them in person and requesting ceremonies et cetera in person.
There are other ways of communication that can be used: phones, letters, and modern technology! The teachings/guidance/supports are still able to take place but the delivery of it may be different. We, as Indigenous peoples, also are able adjust to the new ‘normal’ and ensure the transmission of knowledge and teachings still happen. I see a lot of online teachings happening! One thing I have noticed is when a person passes and is on their way to the Spirit World, many people are left in grief and are unable to gather. Small outdoor gatherings with strict physical distancing guidelines and masks may work in these situations, while being mindful of the Elder in attendance and keeping them safe and healthy. Miigwetch, Adam. I hope this answered your question!
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A question for the panel…what do you think of the Orange Shirt Movement? Does it benefit Indigenous communities? Is it too settler focused?
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I think that Orange Shirt Day is a time for settlers to listen to First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Peoples. It is a day of remembrance and for survivors to speak about the impacts of IRS and how it has affected individual, family, and community relations. I think settlers should participate in Orange Shirt Day as it not only represents a validation of historical harms but also the current needs to recognize that every child matters, including in the present. I think it is beneficial to the Indigenous community and for settlers relations that on September 30th IRS survivors are honored and remembered. It contributes to education and can lead to an accurate understanding of history. Settlers have can take part in honouring survivors by listening and wearing an Orange Shirt. Where I think it can go sideways is when settlers host events but do not invite the community or Elders to speak. It is important to make space and time for Indigenous Peoples to speak about their own experiences. Settlers need to be aware of where the spotlight is on September 30th, give up power, and make room for Indigenous voices.
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Edit: This AMA has ended. Thank you to Joey-Lynn and Michelle for hosting and sharing your knowledge.
Dr. Joey-Lynn Wabie – I am the academic director of Indigenous Initiatives for YouthREX and teach Indigenous social work. My research is with Indigenous youth and their perspectives on Truth and Reconciliation in Canada. Ask me anything!
More info:
https://youthrex.com/webinar/land-as-our-first-teacher/
https://jps.library.utoronto.ca/index.php/ijih/article/view/31677
Michelle Kennedy – I am a PhD student who teaches at a northern Ontario university. My research focuses on curriculum development that accompanies a collection of repatriated artwork created by Indigenous children during the Indian Day School era. Ask me anything!
More info: https://iswo.ca/michelle-lynn-kennedy/
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Check out this panel discussion on cannabis use amongst diverse youth happening on Sept 29 at 12:00 pm EST. Panelists will dive in on how to meet the needs of diverse youth and provide concrete skills that practitioners can use when working with youth – you don’t want to miss it! Click here to register online!
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How can evaluation ‘improve’ youth programs rather than just ‘proving’ that they work?
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Planned Parenthood Toronto, with the support of Toronto Urban Health Fund, is seeking volunteers for a Youth Advisory Committee that will help to develop, shape and deliver a new drop-in program for other young men and masculine youth. This volunteer opportunity is open to all young men and masculine identified youth between the ages of 16-26 who are interested in exploring sexual health, relationships, masculinity, and developing digital media skills.
Deadline: October 25, 2020
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Yesterday, as part of our In Conversation series on Reimagining Youth Work in a COVID-19 Era, the team from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Ottawa shared some of their evaluation strategies, as well as some of the initial lessons learned from surveys with youth participants and staff members. The recording of this conversation is now up on our Knowledge Hub!
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This YouthREX factsheet identifies six signs of risky or harmful cannabis use. I’m curious to hear if others have found these helpful in their work. How else can we support youth in evaluating their use?
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Funding opportunity! The Home Depot Canada Foundation has launched its Community Impact Grant Program. Grants are up to $10K and provide support to charities that need repairs/renovations to continue offering services to youth during these challenging times.
Deadline: December 14th. Click here for more info!
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As the lockdown continues to lift, and young people go back to school this fall, some may be experiencing “return anxiety”. How are you supporting youth who may be struggling with feelings of stress and anxiety at this time? This resource offers a few helpful tips.
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So cool, thanks for sharing!
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I think this guide might be helpful for youth workers and caregivers. It addresses common claims about cannabis (“It is commonly claimed…”) and provides a summary of the current scientific evidence (“But research suggests…”). It’s an accessible resource that takes a harm reduction approach.
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How can youth and youth-serving organizations build their critical literacy about the claims and counterclaims about cannabis?
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What are the challenges facing youth with the legalization of cannabis?
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Some youth self-medicate with cannabis and others find cannabis preferable to medical options. What can support them to recognize when cannabis use is more harmful than helpful?
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One of the things that stood out to me is that it is illegal to have ‘open’ cannabis in a vehicle (i.e., the same logic as ‘open container’ liquor laws). If you’re transporting cannabis and it’s not in the trunk, it must be sealed AND in its original packaging. I found this especially interesting considering dried cannabis cannot be readily consumed… I’m curious how many people (not just youth) are aware of this particular law.
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I think this factsheet we developed as part of our collection on Cannabis Use is really helpful because it outlines what youth and youth workers need to know about cannabis legalization, including the law that you point out, @katarina : 8 Things to Know About Cannabis Legalization and Youth in Ontario
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Check out this learning opportunity with Dr. Jean Rhodes on Youth Mentoring in the 21st Century. Date: September 14th, 2020 at 11 AM (EST). Register online here.
P.S. there are lots of resources on YouthREX’s knowledge hub on youth mentorship!
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Yes! Sometimes we can be listening to reply rather than listening to understand.
I’ve been thinking about resilience since our conversation yesterday. In our work, we talk about strategies to foster resilience in young people, and strength-based approaches will support us in focusing on, and amplifying, capacities to respond to and to overcome ‘hardship’. But I also appreciate what Deji cautioned about recognizing someone, for example, as “strong,” so that we don’t inadvertently erase (or, as Deji described, go “deaf” to) the ways in which that person has had to respond to injustice in order to survive and the oppressive forces they experience in their daily life and across their story.
What are your strategies for fostering resilience in critical, collaborative, and supportive ways, and during this challenging time?
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That’s a deep question, Kathe…thank you for asking: “What are your strategies for fostering resilience in critical,
collaborative, and supportive ways, and during this challenging time?”. COVID has pushed me to rethink my ideas of what “productivity” means…… I have loosened the expectations I have of myself of what I needed to wrap up this Summer and then extended this to this Fall. I realized that I needed to first release myself from my preconceived ideas around productivity to be able to extend this grace to others. I am going to keep this thought in mind in my virtual classrooms with social work students this Fall. Working and learning from home in a pandemic when lives are on the line is not just working and learning from home. COVID has sharpened my understanding of why collaborative work is so important! I miss the gatherings of our youth sector colleagues that YouthREX facilitates …..I desperately miss the sense of community that breaking bread together usually created…
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I really enjoyed the conversation today! https://youthrex.com/webinar/the-relentless-pursuit-of-better-youth-outcomes-towards-mental-wellness-in-conversation-with-dr-oyedeji-ayonrinde
One thing I took away from the conversation series was to Listen and to leave space to Learn from the people we support about how we can be more helpful. What works for some, may not work for others, and what worked yesterday might not be the most helpful intervention for today.
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Well said, Cyril! Yes, we must listen and learn. But even more importantly, we must get comfortable with uncertainty. I love this quote by Bertrand
Russel: “In all affairs, it’s a healthy thing now and then to hang a
question mark on the things you have long taken for granted”.
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Are you looking for resources to support your work with youth during this time, or do you have resources to share?
