Teenage kids have a tendency to be a bit provocative, often wearing clothing with logos and slogans meant to push the buttons of adults. Sometimes parents say "you're not wearing that!" and schools have been known to send students home or ban them from showing up with controversial tees or sweats.
That's what happened to 13-year-old grade 8 student Tenelle Star. She is from the Star Blanket First Nation near Regina, Saskatchewan and her the sweatshirt says "Got Land" on the front, and "Thank an Indian" on the back. When I first saw it I laughed, and then I found out that she was prohibited from wearing it at her school. When I think of the stuff I have seen through the years, I find this extraordinary. Some people are calling it racist and one person is threatening a lawsuit. A lawsuit?
The school has since relented but Tenelle's family has shut down her Facebook page because of the angry and hateful nonsense directed her way. From time to time I wonder if the United Church needs to step back from its investment of time and energy in establishing right relations with First Nations groups. God knows we have a lot on our plate with basic issues of survival and revival. But situations such as this one remind me that there is an underlying racism about the aboriginal peoples of this country which continues to rear its very ugly head.
I hope this makes Tenelle stronger rather than cynical, but I'm ashamed that it is happening in this country where equality and freedom of expression are supposed to be important.
What are your opinions about this? I would order one of the sweatshirts but pink isn't my colour.
We forget how we acquired this land in the first place. We also forget why owninging the land was so important to those who came from post feudal societies that never owned land. Those who were here first never "owned" the land, they just shared it or occupied it. Not always in a peaceful manner.
ReplyDeleteThe tendency is to look at what our aboriginal community has become, andnot what even law has entitled them to be.
Our laws regarding property and development have obscured the relationship between the original peoples and their land.
As a paradox, our NYMBY society is also fighting back against pipelines, antennas, wind farms, and even rail tanker transport.
Why condem a teen for reminding us of our own fears?