The #Indigenization of higher education is part of reconciliation and a chance for a new relationship. However, it requires that settler educators, researchers, staff, and students of educational institutions “understand what Indigenization really means…[without being] bound by settler expectations of what it should mean”
It manifests in the unfortunate necessity of Indigenous peoples (most especially those deemed knowledge holders in the community) to mentor and educate non-Indigenous researchers. It is an intellectual, emotional, and spiritual labor that takes away from directing “their energies towards their own families and community healing and resurgence”
One of my favourite pieces in this book is by Eve Tuck titled “Losing Patience for the Task of Convincing Settlers to Pay Attention to Indigenous Ideas”. Tuck reminds us that #decolonization is not a metaphor that can be delinked from “the #rematriation of Indigenous #land and life”
"At the same time, I see the same sense of nervousness and fear of wanting to do this work right and not cause more harm throughout settler educators and students. I feel this same sentiment myself as I stumble my way down this path. "