October 2020

There is an assumption that systemic injustice is generally hidden; however as Canadians, we can begin by examining the injustice that is plainly written into our country’s laws. Many citizens do not even know about this fundamental piece of legislation, since schools have not uniformly taught about its complex histories and structures until more recent generations. The book 21 Things You May Not Know About the Indian Act by Bob Joseph does not linger on this failure, and instead starts at the beginning and chooses the key facts that illuminate the experiences of Indigenous people since the Indian Act was brought in shortly after Canada was founded. The book also supports the reader to unequivocally condemn the Act’s continued intention to assimilate Indigenous people, and equips us to begin understanding the complexity of possible paths forward.

So many attempt to comfort themselves with the idea that racism in Canada is “not as bad” as in other places; however once we see the continued intentions and mechanisms of the Indian Act, denial must be set aside. One group member who read and presented about this book was struck immediately with anger at the deliberate nature of subjugation: “whenever there was some growth and success, the Canadian state would always find a way to interrupt and impede positive developments.” They were disturbed by Canada’s founding leaders’ intention to control and change First Nations cultures rather than learn about cultural practices, names, hunting and harvest protocols and many other things that they didn’t understand. They saw this book as an important way to not only to have a more complete view of history, but also better appreciate the perspectives at play in current events.

Another speaker observed that it is now so obvious to see that young people who do not identify with their ancestors’ First Nations culture have been affected by the direct and deliberate design of the Indian Act to have this impact. They appreciated the opportunity to review their prior knowledge about the Indian Act, and recognized that many people do not yet have this knowledge, and can easily obtain it by reading this short and accessible book. However, they also noted that it is just an entry point, as it leaves many unanswered questions about what reconciliation can possibly look like in context with the Indian Act’s continuing legislative power.

Our recommendation in Learning Leap will always be that others who are interested in this dialogue join the conversation by reading the book themselves. In this case, when readers pick up the book, we suggest a continuing focus on the incredible resilience Indigenous people have demonstrated throughout the history of subjugation they have endured. We owe not only our continued attention and support of Indigenous Rights in Canada, but also our appreciation and admiration for those among us who carry the cultural knowledge and resilience that allows them to survive and thrive in the face of the devastation intended by the Indian Act.

Lastly, here are some questions to invite further conversation…

• When in your life do you feel it would have best served you to learn the content of this book, and what parameters prevented that from taking place?
• Can you think of moments in your life when this knowledge would have changed your understanding of a situation or person?
• What change in perception does this knowledge invite for you in the present – whether small or dramatic?

… and a couple additional resources:

The Indian Act in full text, and an accessible online resource about the Indian Act from UBC that makes valuable additional connections.

A key difference between the Learning Leap initiative and more mainstream book clubs is the commitment to avoid a stance of judgment. Whereas many collective reading experiences begin with forming opinions, “I enjoyed this book because…” or “I didn’t connect with this book because…” Learning Leap intends to listen to the writers as valued guest teachers, viewing the books as offerings, and respectfully receiving the writer’s intended messages with an open mind and heart. Instead, we ask: “What can I learn from the life and perspective of this guest teacher?” The teachings of appreciative inquiry have informed this shift in mindset. This approach, coupled with the unprecedented access we now have through social media and online resources, mean that there has never been a better time to engage in this style of learning.

As we move through the series of guest teachers, the books also become conversation starters and inspiration to action. In this intention, we are inspired by the work of #DisruptTexts, and have developed three simple prompts to use to guide the first readers of each book as they prepare to present their thinking to others.

1. What it says – something that you learned or found remarkable

2.  What it means – what it means to you, to education, or to society

3.  What I’ll do – turning learning into an action – some change to your teaching practice or to your life, however small

Through dialogue, we are also encouraging each other to further our understanding beyond the books, and engage in any unlearning that is necessary to continue moving forward in a good way.

As you begin to read with this shifted intention, here are some questions to guide further reflection. Feel free to share what you notice here, or on social media.

• What do you notice about your prior thought processes while reading?
• How does this way of thought feel familiar or strange?
• How will it affect your experience of the books to read with these particular intentions at heart?

Do you have any additional suggestions for others about how to make the most of this learning experience?

Happy listening, connecting and taking action! We value your ideas and collaboration!

Entering into the 2020 school year, we decided as a group to commit to the ongoing staff learning focus of intersectional and anti-racist reading and dialogue. We have made a good start and are ready to share this focus with anyone who would like to join the conversation. See our books in the poster below, and comment on our posts here, or find us on Instagram @learning.leap.dialogue and Twitter @DialogueLeap. Better futures begin with learning!