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Educational Days Gone Wild
Entry 6 of 12 | show all | print this entry |
Hola! I'm going to give you the low down on our educational day topics. The way we learn is only non-formally. No textbooks, no lectures. I've never learned so much so fast!
#1)THE DUMP...Basically there is a landfill here (just outside Napanee) that started locally and was sold a few years back to the international, multi-million dollar Waste Management company. Now they want to expand the dump into a MegaDump (they call it something prettier though). WM has bought out properties already (about 10-20 farms) to expand the garbage onto. This is Toronto's garbage as of now; Napanee creates less than the average amount of garbage. Anyways, the locals here fight and fight and fight but there are so many loopholes in the governmental regualtions that favour only the giant companies. It's so interesting to experience the minute details of a small group of locals trying to debate with an enormous company. So many issues here! The main one according to me is that the leachate(toxic water basically) meets a river which supplies the water to the Tyendinaga territory. But there are so many more. And WM has all their plans to prevent leachate and blah blah blah but they refuse to discuss the issue with youth. We're stupid anyways. Sorry, I'm bitter because I was very conscious to not from my opiniom before hearing all of WM's side of the story- but they've given me a bad opinion by skipping out on highschool/ youth meetings. Anyways, WM pulled its environmental assessment (basically because it wouldn't pass) and as of a week ago, the Ministry of Environment denied another pallication. So parties here that it can't go through. However, WM still owns the land....what will they plan now?
#2) MOHAWK CULTURE...this day was a mere introduction for the people with no background in Aborignal Studies. Started the day with Kinnie Star (check out her music). Then met with the local language circle. To give you an idea, only 0.23% of the 2500 on the Territory can speak Mohawk. Basically, I am now at the average level! It is taught in the schools similar to French for us, but very inefficiently. I don't understand why this reserve is so financially rich but they are ranked as one of the lowest for indigenous language retention. The explanation from the language circle (who is trying very hard to revive Mohawk) is that it is not cool- so kids don't care. Also, my bus driver told me of his grandmother who spent her childhood is one of our residential schools and refuses to speak Mohawk still. She says she doesn't know how but if Brad (busdriver) intentionally uses the wrong words she will immediately correct him, proving her knowledge. Learned behaviour- makes me lose hope sometimes.
Later, we learned about the government implicated Band Council ("native friendly hierarchy recognizable to the Canadian Gov't) and the traditional gov't here. There is a large divide that I'm not going into right now.
Learned about youth in Tyendinaga. Basically, there is a lot of troubles for them. Drugs (marijuana commonly starts in gr.4, crystal meth by gr 8), alcohol, teen pregnancy (very common), lack of formal education (if you consider that an issue for them). Please don't pass judgement on this group though. There is much more behind thess issues and personally I feel that those stereotypes of Aboriginals is what has caused a lot of problems today. So please don't judge without the information.
We mentioned the Caledonia dispute and how SOME of the Mohawks of Tyendinaga supported by blocking the VIA rail for a few days. There is a similar dispute brewing right here, right now. 25 years ago Tyendinaga puts in land claim. 2 years ago gov't declares land as Tyendinagas. This year Deseronto (neighbouring city) somehow sells land to developer. Digging starts Nov 15th. It's a touchy topic around here and tons of perspecitives but a very famous activist, Shawn Brant, who worked with OCAP (Ontario Coalition Against Poverty) lives here and the Mohawks are expecting some radical action from him if the digging begins! CBC has also started coverage now. Anyways, just so interesting to learn like this and watch all the little steps fall into place. I get pretty emotionally involved on the Territory here because of my background knowledge and seeing the same thing happen over and over and over. I'll let you know what happens!
#3) Educational Days to come! Specifics of current land claim for Tyendinaga, commericialization of Napanee through Hwy 401 and WalMart, youth issues in Napanee, and my day is the cigarette sales in Tyendinaga and other Mohawk Territories.
Other Updates: Work rocks! Daycare centre is my favourite- the kids are adorable and I want them. Library is perfect for learning more about Mohawks! Lee is pretty unmotivated and that's hard because I always want to learn- he only wants to sleep! Lisseth and I have had some downs now. I can't explain how hard it is to work out arguments in both languages! She still isn't speaking english...and has decided against learning...Hm. I miss everyone a ton but am having such a good time. Better than good because it's not always good- it's always hard and I'm learning through it all!
signed, your learning nerd:)
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