Éy Swáyel,
My name is Maggi Davis. I am honoured to be writing to you from the traditional territory of the Stó:lō people, on S’olh Temexw and with my fellow representative Chantel Watt on behalf of DRISC — the Decolonization, Reconciliation, Indigenization Standing Committee of the FSA, a committee which I have recently joined.
I am a person of Indigenous decent; however, I am from a family that was disenfranchised through the legal systems of the Canadian government and have no lived knowledge as an Indigenous person. Yet, I have lived my life with the aftereffects of generational trauma that is only now starting to be understood. It is from this path that my personal transformation is taking place. I must unlearn, re-learn, and open my heart and listen to the Indigenous voices locally and globally, as they share their truths. As we near the second ever National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30th, we wanted to take a moment to share some thoughts on this with you all.
It has been well over a year since the findings in Kamloops at the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc Nation, and since then many other former Residential School sites have been searched. At each one of these sites, the same discovery of unidentified graves. More names are being added to the national memorial for those who never made it home. The trauma and truth of these sites has been painful, vindicating, as well as healing. Whereas before there were “only stories”, now there is irrefutable proof for the colonial population of the genocide enacted against the Indigenous peoples of this land. The rose-coloured glasses have slipped, so just as the autumn leaves transform and fall so too must our illusions around the history of this country transform and fall.
The most current example of this that comes to mind is the death of Queen Elizabeth II. While, for the certain citizens of the Commonwealth, her reign was one of peace and plenty, but for the Indigenous peoples of the world that fell under the British monarchy’s powers, that story was vastly different. It took over forty years of her being in power before the Residential School system was shut down in Canada, and there has never been an apology from Buckingham Palace for the actions of the British against the Indigenous peoples that were wronged. While her passing was poignant for many, it was also celebratory for others.
The University of the Fraser Valley as an institute has many big ideas to move forward with Indigenization and decolonization yet still upholds systems of oppression by commemorating a colonial figurehead. The Queen represents cultural imperialism, forced assimilation, and genocide of Indigenous communities. The monarch stood behind and condoned violent atrocities toward Indigenous people in Canada. Paying tribute to Queen Elizabeth is NOT reconciliation.
It is time to witness. It is time to learn and unlearn. It is time to bring Indigenous voices forward and make space for them. It is time to say goodbye to our colonial past and truly reach for genuine reconciliation.
We invite you to join us in wearing orange not only on September 30th, but also on September 29th on all campuses. Let us show our Indigenous friends and family that we support them, we hear them, and we stand with them. We also invite you to find a local day of learning through your home community’s Friendship Centre, such as the one in Mission.
In solidarity,
Maggi Davis & Chantel Watt
UFV-FSA reps, FPSE Decolonization, Reconciliation & Indigenization Standing Committee
P.S. Check out https://ufv.ca/indigenous/resources/ or speak to a librarian here at UFV for a book recommendation. Need a shirt? Orange T-Shirts that support survivors and UFV Alumna Chantelle Trainor-Matties are available through the UFV Bookstore.
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