The Elephant of Injustice: Reflecting on Truth and Reconciliation
Artwork by Luke Swinson
This series is on naming the "elephants in the room" or in other words, the uncomfortable and often unspoken patterns in our society that can keep us stuck. We will contemplate and discuss what these “elephants” are about and how they may impact our decisions and relationships.
Allow me to introduce you to the Elephant of Injustice.
The tragedy about “elephants” is that they are especially obvious to those who are oppressed by them. Imagine an elephant in the room stepping on your foot—the pain is unbearable for you, even if others are only vaguely aware of the looming problem. This places the burden of addressing the issue on those suffering from it, creating a double injustice.
Tomorrow is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, a day for Canadians to engage in dialogue about the history and harms of the residential school system, and to honour the healing journeys of residential school survivors. For some, this day feels as heavy as an elephant on their foot; for others, it might simply be a stat holiday. As we observe this day, and ongoing, we can ask ourselves — what could we do to alleviate some of the weight of this systemic injustice?
On this day, we grieve for the thousands of children who never came home. We grieve for the survivors who endured continued trauma through assaults on their minds, bodies, cultures, languages, and identities. We also grieve the ongoing, systemic impacts of Canada’s broader colonial history: “the over-representation of Indigenous children in the foster care system and adults in Canadian jails and prisons, the inferior education and healthcare in Indigenous communities, the lack of land and water rights, and the growing number of murdered and missing Indigenous women and girls” (Indigenous Peoples Atlas of Canada)
As allies to our Indigenous brothers and sisters, we acknowledge this Elephant of Injustice and commit to doing our part to ease the burden. While reforms in government, legislation, and larger systems is effective and needed, reconciliation can start within each one of us. Below there are a few prompts to help guide you through the complexity — by becoming more curious to yourself, the system, and actions you can take.
In the face of overwhelming systemic injustices, don't underestimate the power you have to make a difference within your sphere of influence. It’s through the collective efforts of individuals that systems begin to change.
Stay curious,
Jodi
Take a few short minutes to Go IN, Go UP, and Go OUT⬇️
Build Conflict Agility
Conflict Agility follows a three part framework: Go In, Go Up, Go Out. A practice that gives you perspective on your circumstances and identifies leverage for change.
Go In:
Gain emotional insight to our inner world, that’s influencing our outer world.
Thinking about the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, what comes up for me?
Where is my awareness? What feelings arise?
Where do I feel tension? What threats feel present for me?
What are you saying to yourself about this felt response?
As you process these emotions, where do you notice a gap between your honest feelings and the hopes you hold for yourself? (e.g., I feel a sense of responsibility to take action, but I’m unsure where to start)
The more honest you are with yourself, the more effective this reflection will be. This is a space for you to observe your internal response without judgment (e.g., feeling heavy, unaware, numb).
Go Up:
Engage complexity by identifying pain points and leverage points for effective change.
What are my options?
What events or resources can I seek out to deepen my understanding of the historical and ongoing harms caused by residential schools? (A quick search should give you options for events and resources in your area).
What can I do to address this systemic injustice? Think beyond just this day. What aspects of your daily life intersect with these ongoing impacts?
Before moving to action too quickly, brainstorm a list of elements in your life that intersect with this issue, or that you observe around you. Name both the neutral elements and the pain points (e.g. how can I challenge stereotypes when I encounter them, how could I initiate curious conversations about reconciliation with my sphere of influence, where might I have opportunity to advocate).
Go Out:
Act on the leverage point that would produce the best shift in the system.
Using the generated lists from above - What will I do tomorrow to recognize the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation?
Where do I have leverage to contribute to ongoing change? Where is there energy for change in your life to take action?
Take action!