Diversity and inclusion has (rightfully) been a hot topic in workplaces. Unfortunately, language habits can often get in the way of proper everyday inclusiveness. This is especially true for colonial expressions and manners of speaking, which are deeply embedded and often unconsciously (or perhaps unthinkingly) used. Decolonizing our language, however, requires thoughtfulness, deliberate engagement, and for many of us (particularly settlers like myself), a fair amount of wrestling with ingrained habits and ways of thinking. In the latest episode of Talk Shop Interviews, I sat down with Michif scholar and Indigenous relationality expert Tanya Ball to discuss the thorny issue of decolonizing our language.
This conversation focuses on how the way we speak perpetuates inequity and discrimination faced by Indigenous peoples in Canada, but it’s themes about thoughtful use of language holds true for all people facing racialization or discrimination. If you’re uncertain as to what decolonization is or how it may impact you (as either a user of colonial expressions or a person affected by them), watch on. If you’ve ever wondered how you can get people in your workplace to take meaningful individual action to improve relationships for racialized people, watch on.
Words matter. How we speak is a reflection of how we think. Language is mutable and what may seem like a small change can build to make an enormous difference. Word by word, we can change how we speak to make our workplaces better.
Please, share this one with your colleagues.
(Is the embedded video below being cranky? Click here to watch it over on YouTube.)
LINKS
- masinahikan iskwêwak – Book Women Podcast: https://bookwomenpodcast.ca/
- University of Alberta Faculty of Native Studies – https://www.ualberta.ca/native-studies/index.html
- U of A Indigenous Canada Online MOOC (Outstanding program you can take online for free): https://www.ualberta.ca/admissions-programs/online-courses/indigenous-canada/index.html
- University of Alberta School of Library and Information Studies: https://www.ualberta.ca/school-of-library-and-information-studies/index.html
RECOMMENDED BOOKS
- Aileen Moreton-Robinson – The White Possessive: Property, Power, and Indigenous Sovereignty (https://tinyurl.com/wdj43cfe)
- Gregory Younging, PhD – Elements of Indigenous Style: A Guide for Writing By and About Indigenous Peoples (https://tinyurl.com/n78tpm8t)
A bit disappointed that a University professor didn’t have more to say that could be applied practically in our day-to-day communication with indigenous peoples. Learning about the variety of cultures that make up the peoples of Canada along with the language that they feel comfortable using in speaking about their culture is valuable to business people, healthcare workers, and indeed, everyone who works with the public. Having said this, I am uncomfortable with the notion that people are “bad” or “wrong” when they use terms that are not acceptable to that culture. It is incumbent upon those of us who come from a specific culture to kindly, and respectfully “educate” them in the acceptable terminology without immediately assuming they should know or knew better. We need kindness and compassion on the part of all individuals if we are to live together peacefully. I am also unhappy with anything that divides people into groups or races or cultures exclusively. We all have more in common than in differences and we need to focus on commonality while respecting differences. I am also uncomfortable with putting shame or blame on people of today who may have said or done things in the past that would be considered unacceptable today. We cannot undo the past and can only choose to do differently in this day. I am sure there will be people in the future who will look back with disapproval on things done or said by our generation. We do what we do based on what we know at the time. We learn from the past and hopefully do better in the future. No one now or ever is perfect and we all need to be given a break if we screw up!