I’m not a tennis fan. I have an idea of how to play, even owned a racket once, but I don’t watch it. Until maybe now. Maybe now I need to start watching. Serena Williams has been in the news twice in the last weeks for issues that point out (glaringly, to me) the way racism and sexism play … [Continue reading] The Double Standard of Racism and Sexism …ah, Serena Williams
Blog
Happy (?) First Day of School…
I’m writing this amid the screaming of airplanes over my head from Toronto’s Airshow. Why we still “celebrate” this tradition when we have thousands of people living here from war-torn countries is beyond me. But I already wrote about that. I wanted to write about Serena Williams’ catsuit … [Continue reading] Happy (?) First Day of School…
Sacred Space – Reconciliation is a Verb Part 8
It’s the end of the summer holidays and this will be the last post in my reconciliation is a verb series. And it’s a good one! It’s one thing to write about something. It’s another to experience it. Last week I spent 4 days on Manitoulin Island. It was my mom’s 80th birthday trip and she, … [Continue reading] Sacred Space – Reconciliation is a Verb Part 8
What Can a Day Do? – Reconciliation is a Verb Part 7
Before I get into today's topic, how did your role model search go? I found a book at the Glad Day Bookshop that I put on my list to read. It’s by Neel Patel and it’s called If You See Me Don’t Say Hi. It’s stories of his experience as a Native American. I also thought of Susan Aglukart … [Continue reading] What Can a Day Do? – Reconciliation is a Verb Part 7
The Systemic Nature of Whiteness
I’m taking a week’s hiatus from reconciliation because of a conversation I had with my daughter. She is 6, and she just had a birthday. I bit the bullet and bought her a Barbie. It was a “if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em” moment, and she was introduced to them through an Aunt and loooooves them. So, … [Continue reading] The Systemic Nature of Whiteness
Role Models – Reconciliation is a Verb part 6
So….how did the challenge last week go? What new reality did you become aware of? Who did you speak with? What did you listen to? This week we’ll expand our awareness by considering whose land we are on (#61 on the list), and looking for Indigenous role models (#65). Whose Land? Early on in … [Continue reading] Role Models – Reconciliation is a Verb part 6
Stretch Yourself – Reconciliation Part 5
Which podcast or radio show did you listen to this past week? If you’re like me, I finally cleared some time and listened to a podcast on Monday night…and discovered someone I worked with years ago has released an album! So exciting. Jeremy Dutcher is Wolastoq (an Indigenous nation in New … [Continue reading] Stretch Yourself – Reconciliation Part 5
More than what you know – Reconciliation Part 4
Last week I wrote about cultural appropriation. I hope you were able to notice and discover some of the ways we do that with Indigenous cultures. This week is about knowledge, exposure and awareness. Most of the items on the 150 ways list are about information and learning. They include … [Continue reading] More than what you know – Reconciliation Part 4
Cultural Appropriation…?
Part 3 in the Reconciliation Series. This week I’m thinking about cultural appropriation as I consider reconciliation. Obviously, these two don’t mix. First of all, what does it mean to appropriate a culture? It means we are taking something and using it as if it were ours. In so doing, we … [Continue reading] Cultural Appropriation…?
Awareness about Indigenous Realities
Reconciliation is a Verb Series – part 2 One of the foundational pieces to change is awareness. That’s not a new phenomenon; it just makes sense. So to kick start the series, here are a few important things to provide context for reconciliation work. Colonization is devastating. If you’re not … [Continue reading] Awareness about Indigenous Realities