A Decolonization Recipe (Part 1): Time and Work

There is no simple or easy way to travel on this journey. It can hurt; it can feel like a homecoming; it will be uncomfortable. There are many parts or aspects to this journey. It will take time and work.

A beginning point for me was my introduction to the NAIITS: an indigenous learning community. I first began to connect with this group in 2016 and haven't been the same since. I will talk more about community in another post. It takes time and hard work.

When colonialism is the water you have swum in your entire life--and continue to swim in, it is difficult to exit. Throw out our Eurocentric idea(l)s of perfection and efficiency. The trail, the path, is not straight and that is Good. I don't think I will ever be finished here in this life... maybe that is the point.

Allow for time and lots of it. You will likely begin to understand time in a different way.

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Show 42

My wife and I are putting on our first art show. We have each produced 21 5x7 pieces for the show. We are excited. Check it: http://www.facebook.com/CalabreseDesigns

Rememories

My Public School career was from the early 80s to the early 90s. I am just now reckoning with the fact that I am neurodivergent--and have been since I was born. I have spent the past few years going back through my memories to unweave and review some of these times. I do not know where to begin or end. I was bullied every day of school until I hit my growth spurt. That is when I stopped bullying from happening when I could. I hate bullying. I am sure that due to this part of my story, my reaction to some things is not proportional to the actual action. I know I went to school with Mi'kmaq and Wolastokiyik kids but their identity was never acknowledged, certainly not celebrated, and perhaps ridiculed. The thing is, I didn't pay enough attention to really know. I am sorry. I know I didn't do a good job. I am sure I was never a good or safe friend.

The Colonial Gaze in Film: re-wathching Roland Joffé's "The Mission"

I thought I was so smart coming up with this idea after learning about the male gaze several years ago. Let us refresh our minds and re-examine the wiki defining "In feminist theory , the male gaze is the act of depicting women and the world , in the visual arts and in literature , from a masculine, heterosexual perspective that presents and represents women as sexual objects for the pleasure of the heterosexual male viewer." (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Male_gaze. Last accessed July 22, 2021). There is an abundance of quality explanations and explorations on this topic from a variety of points of academic rigour. I personally will be using Mollie Bowman as a guide and model and inspiration. I need direction. Of course I will not be the first one to apply this technique to the ideas of a colonial gaze. This will be the first time that I have re-watched a film while critically reflect...

The Heart Grows

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