Page 55 - Walking_The_Red_Road

We had an opportunity to explore the perceptions of 14 grade nine students about the Idle No More movement. All of the students were non-Aboriginal and generally provided comments suggesting they had discussed the issue in the classroom. When asked, “What is Idle No More?” they responded:
Fighting for your rights.
It’s the Aboriginals taking a stand for their rights.
They are not shy. I love that. They fight for their freedom and rights. A movement to be heard by the government to protect their nation. First nations standing up for their rights and their beliefs.
I know nothing about it – someone starving themselves.
Protecting land and their rights.
We know from the research literature that among younger or middle-income non-aboriginals, having a relationship with an Aboriginal person or receiving education about Aboriginal culture, are considered significant factors in improving impressions.10
This tiny snapshot of one classroom in North Bay suggests that we are making headway. Our Community Action Circle and cross-cultural partnerships put cross-cultural learning and relationship- building into action. Our Shine-A-Light Gala raised awareness about community accomplishments and helped people feel good about themselves—all at the same time.
One of the key recommendations coming out of the project is to undertake community-wide cultural safety training. We are excited to think about how our many partners, including the boards of education, housing and health services, will be coming together to learn more about our history, traditions, and culture and how they will put that learning into action through service protocols and standards.
10Environics Institute (2010) Urban Aboriginal Peoples Study.
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