Why Did the Chicken Cross the Road?

Decolonization 101 Workshop in 5 Minutes

Sometimes using phrases like “Exercising Sovereignty”, ” Our Jurisdiction”, “Illegally Occupied Territories”, “Decolonization”, “Indigenous Nationalist”, “Nationhood”, “Warrior Society” “Resurgence of Traditional Governance”, “Autonomy”  may seem too militant of terms to use as we gather together and discuss our Peoples  History and mobilize within our communities, heck I hear recently the Leadership of a Cree Community in Quebec by use of a Band Council Resolution banned a person from organizing Powwow’s and Sweat lodges http://www.mediaindigena.com   so keeping in mind of our people who are not ready for such things here is a passive watered down version of ACTION’s Decolonization 101 Workshops, titled Why did the Chicken Cross the Road?

SOVEREIGN INDIAN: This is the Chickens inherent right as he is Indigenous to this land!!!

MILITANT INDIAN: That chicken should block the road to protect whats on the other side

GRASSROOT INDIAN: If the darn chickens need to get across the road, let ’em cross the darn road!

COLONIZED INDIAN: Chiggens should never cross the roads that white men built before the great white father crosses it first. If the white father crosses it, it is good. We must then follow.

AMERICANIZED INDIAN: We must have roads. We must cross the roads that the white man built for us. We have to be thankful to the white man for this. I don’t know why you Indians are always complaining. You embarrass us. Chickens are good for us.

REPUBLICAN INDIAN: It’s true that that white man built those roads for us. We are merely chickens. We will always be chickens until we learn to build those roads ourselves – for profit.

DEMOCRATIC INDIAN: The chicken crossed the road because he didn’t have enough funding.

TRADITIONAL INDIAN: Those chiggens weren’t traditional because they were supposed to be on it – not crossing it!

INDIAN GRANDPA: I think he was runnin’ away from rezidential school.

URBAN INDIAN: That chicken crossed the road ’cause it was a city, man. You know what I mean?

NEW AGE INDIAN: It was basically because of Jungian dream therapy, drumming, sweatlodges, my shaman, and long walks on the beach, near my beach house.

POW WOW INDIAN That chicken must have been heading to a 49!

EDUCATED INDIAN: I think it has to do with Einstein’s theory which basically posits: “Did the chicken really cross the road or did the road move beneath the chicken?”

REZ INDIAN: What Road?

IHS INDIAN: I really don’t care why he crossed that road. We still aren’t paying for no stinkin hospital bills. BIA INDIAN: They crossed it because of CFR 49, Section 11299, gives them the authority to do so, under Department of Interior regulations, in the Executive Branch. They wrote a grant and we funded them. We are very proud of them.

KFC INDIAN: I’ll take a leg, a thigh, with corn and potatoes. Extra Crispy, please.

TRIBAL INDIAN COUNCIL: The chicken crossed the road before we did? Fire his family!!!

“Let’s not be Chickens afraid to Cross the Road, Too chicken to speak up and take action worrying about what the butcher will think of us or worrying about what the other chickens waiting to get butchered will think.

We need to cross this road because you never know what’s coming down the road 1000 miles per hour ready to smack dab hit us as we inactively debate and trying to make up our minds on how we should, when we should, if we should and what words are acceptable to use as we try to get motivated to cross this damn Road.”  – Johnny Hawke not Johnny Chicken

Decolonization 101 Workshops coming to a community near you. If interested in organizing one in your community contact jonnhawk151@hotmail.com

Do non-Aboriginal people have the right to lead Aboriginal struggles?

By Rick Harp, on January 15, 2011 Taken from  Media Indegena

http://www.mediaindigena.com

This week, developments in the disparate fields of arts and law had something in common according to critics: the undue appropriation of Aboriginal voices by non-Aboriginal people.

In the first case, we find Tony Merchant, a controversial lawyer attempting to sue Canada on behalf of thousands of people who feel they’ve been unfairly denied the recognition and rights that go with Indian Status, a move some would likely argue is just another case of Merchant “exploit[ing] vulnerable clients in his quest for the big cheque.”

In the second case, we have artist Pamela Masik, whose exhibition of 69 paintings entitled ‘the Forgotten’ has been indefinitely cancelled by the UBC Museum of Anthropology after criticisms that her depictions of missing and murdered women (many of them Aboriginal) “exoticizes” and commodifies their subjects to the professional and material benefit of their creator.

Basically, Merchant and Masik both stand accused of ‘stealing’ or misappropriating an unfair share of the benefits that go with advocating on behalf of others. To me, these situations offer a useful opportunity to discuss a larger question: when — if ever — it’s okay for non-Indigenous people to act and/or speak on behalf of Aboriginal people.

In principle, the quick and easy answer is ‘never.’ In practice, it may be more complicated. Typically, when I first come across a story of yet another non-Aboriginal person taking credit or cash for ‘helping’ Aboriginal people, my initial impulse is to presuppose their motivations are less than altruistic. On the face of it, this is patently unfair and journalistically unprofessional.

That said, one only has to examine the socio-economic status of the long-suffering majority of Aboriginal people in Canada to appreciate the source and basis of this presupposition. And, hey, there’s no shortage of examples where Canadian governments and business go back on their word or otherwise ignore/manipulate Indigenous interests (recent half-hearted, heavily qualified ‘support‘ of “free, prior and informed consent” notwithstanding).

Any exception tends to prove the rule. Ideally, however, we must try to approach every situation as unique and with fresh eyes. And while my history-honed instincts tell me to give these two the doubt of the benefit, I would briefly ask your indulgence as I explore the “grey zones” of this issue.

That Merchant is in this at least partially for the money is hardly a newsflash. He’s a lawyer in a litigious society. And what artist doesn’t appreciate notoriety? The first question to ask here is whether a non-Aboriginal lawyer or artist could and/or would do the same things.

Are people saying either of these acts are innately unethical (that is, in and of themselves) — or is it only because a Native lawyer or artist didn’t do them first? Another question: absent these legal and artistic actions, would Aboriginal interests be better or worse off? Are there what might be deemed some “net” positive outcomes to their actions? If so, does that in any way justify the process that produced them? (In the cases of Merchant and Masik, could one perhaps argue that more Canadians now know about the issues involved — the inequities in denying Status and the tragedy of murdered/missing women — because of the greater awareness generated by their respective actions?)

Yet another question: when is it critical that we as Aboriginal people take the lead on our issues, and when can we simply tolerate the ‘trade-off’ that comes with accepting help (from wherever and whomever it comes)? What cost-benefit criteria should we use to assess such trade-offs? I think the debate is important because, like it or not, non-Aboriginal involvement and support in Aboriginal struggles is unavoidable. And, frankly, inter-ethnic solidarity can and does make a difference. The bigger question I suppose is where and when to draw the line. I invite you to pull out your markers.

REPLY

I am an active young Anishinabe Sovereign and Indigenous Nationalist. I have worked with Non-“Aboriginal” Solidarity Groups and Individuals who sincerely want to help our struggle and advise our people in using caution when working with our “white” allies as history as shown us. In my experiences even the ones who are sincere tend to speak for us. They steal our thunder and profit of off us and take credit.

I respect Freedom of Speech and am not dictating what others can and cannot say and do but this rant reply is just trying to acknowledge the difference between Birds of a feather flock together from the Vultures exploiting our struggles.

The Aboriginal Industry be it the arts, entertainment, legal, social, political or in activist circles seems to be where all the ACTION and Funding is and they realize this.

“I’ve never seen a sincere white man, not when it comes to helping black people. Usually things like this are done by white people to benefit themselves. The white man’s primary interest is not to elevate the thinking of black people, or to waken black people, or white people either. The white man is interested in the black man only to the extent that the black man is of use to him. The white man’s interest is to make money, to exploit.” – Malcolm X

Brother Malcolm suggests that “White” People can be a benefit to our struggle if they organize within their own communities fixing their society which causes our problems. Recently I was approached by a non-native who is teaching aboriginal education in an alternate learning program at a Native Friendship Centre. The teacher knows nothing of our culture and asked me and other resource people to “volunteer” in sharing some knowledge. This Centre is also managed by a Non-Native. If we are to become Sovereign People once again, how long are we going to” share” with non-natives our resources and let them profit from them?

I was involved in a protest in Toronto in regards to the Olympics being held on Stolen Native Lands. There were an estimated 500 solidarity activists but only 20 Indigenous Activists visible. While I support them supporting us, I tend to see a lot of egotistic attitudes within these groups and get a feeling of our struggles are just a “phase” or the “in” thing to do. However I am great full to these peoples more then the lawyers that are out there and the “allies” infiltrating our “Native” Organizations stealing our employment opportunities. (How can you help a starving Aboriginal when you steal his job?)

I worked in Unity with “White” people to stop a Dump that was going to contaminate our Waters. It was a common struggle so We all had equal leadership and voice in struggling against the Common Enemy, The Government and Capitalism.

There is a huge difference of our “White” allies showing solidarity to exploiting our causes for their benefit.

INAC Chiefs and Chief Organizations are co-opting and assimilating into the mainstream society ideology of Capitalism which is the cause of our Colonization and Oppression. While doing this they are preaching and exploiting our Cultural Teachings, Lands, Resources, Culture only to seek funding and to make profit which only contradicts the Cultural Rhetoric that they preach.

Even our own are profiting of our Misery while Missing and Murdered Aboriginal Women are still not found, Warriors defending our resources and land are being set to jail, Our people in third world conditions are dying and our people continue to suffer while cheques are cashed to fund Talk, while the “Do it Ourselves Mentality” (Sovereignty) is polluted by the idea that we have to be tolerant when others want to Speak and Profit off of us.

“There can be no black-white unity until there is first some black unity…. We cannot think of uniting with others, until after we have first united among ourselves. We cannot think of being acceptable to others until we have first proven acceptable to ourselves.” -El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz

Unity Shall Prevail,

N’gah Auttissokae

“I call on the muses to be with me, inspire me and guide me”

By: Johnny Hawke ACTION

N’ gah Auttissokae was to only to be said in the winter moons for our Anishinabe Peoples. Winter is a time when we gathered around our lodge fires and passed on sacred stories and the history of our people. By saying N’gah Auttissokae one was participating in an action that involving calling upon the spirit of the stories the muses, the inspiration.

So allow me to share some things that are sacred and invoke the muses, the inspiration. Ahow N’gah Auttissokae. Like in the good old days recently I have been inside spending my time, learning the language with my dad, researching, developing proposals and blogging and sharing my points of view which a minimal few have taken too personally.

I have been working on the organizing part of our “Warrior Movement” work which involves a lot or writing, decolonizing, healing and getting inspired for when the snow melts.

“Baybeemahsahsii” The Spirit of Whirlwind

In one of our sacred stories we talk of the spirit of the whirlwind, “Baybemahsawsee” who teaches us the balance of life and not to take ourselves too seriously. In this time of reviving our Culture, Spirituality and Decolonizing it seems some of us take ourselves too seriously in which I like to poke fun at and help remind myself and others who may need it, through my talents of song, voice and writing. Sometimes truth hurts but it can heal as well if we remind ourselves about the balance of things and humble ourselves to laugh at our shortcomings and take it as a learning opportunity.

“True power is natural. A blizzard is true natural power, a tornado and a hurricane and an earthquake. These things of natural power that come from earth are powers that man cannot control. The federal government does not want us to recognize that as people we carry this natural power within us.” – Anna Mae Pictou Aquash, Mic Mac Women Warrior

As the snow falls from the sky along with many dead birds in this January month of this New Year of 2011 I watch things fall into place which comes back to our peoples Prophecies. Many people are wondering why many various species are turning up dead and many our beginning their paranoia of the end of times.

They should be scared and start preparing for this change that is about to occur. Like this season of snow it is like the people who are in charge of the world right now. The snow we think as pure and clean but if we think of the other side it brings a period of sacrifice, death to all things. Us Indigenous Peoples of the World have been in this season of death for many centuries, we have been sacrificed.

Now it is time for the Nation of People in charge and their lifestyle of capitalism to sacrifice, this is the change that is occurring. Our Seven Fire prophecies tell us of all the things that has happen up to now and as we enter the Eight and final fire of an everlasting fire we have the choice to where we want to go, a Fire of Destruction continuing on this current path or a time to reawakening and rebirth and picking up the things we left in the past to enter an eternal fire of peace and everlasting spiritual grace.

We are coming to a time when the Indigenous People of the Globe rise up and teach our younger brothers who have destroyed the Earth how to live once again. This is also in the teachings of the Mayan Calendar. The Birds and other species is just an acknowledgment of what is to come. The question is what road are you going to walk down? Are you willing to stand up and fight for the Earth or allow our younger brothers to take us down the path of destruction?

Are you going to continue to consume, live in your cities? And let the destruction continue? As I sit here learning moderation and endurance for what I need for what is coming and for what I need to be doing to get ready for the fight I am learning the spirit of the whirlwind, Balance.

So there are two sides to what is going on that the spirit of whirlwind “tornado” teaches us. These prophecies, dead birds, oil spills, earthquakes, environmental disasters, man made and natural along with the economic recession has two sides and we have the key to decide where we should go.

We can be fearful of what is to come or embrace in happiness to the end of Capitalism and our suffering from its effects. Can you live without your Technology, MacDonalds, Cars, Cities, Take Out and Money?

Are your ready to Fight for the Earth or are you ready to fall from the Sky?

Chi Miigwetch to the Muses and the Spirit of Whirlwind in helping me find my balance.

All My Relations, Johnny Hawk Kai Kai Kons

This Hawk, This Bird has not fallen from the Sky.