With knowledge, we can work toward a better world

My view on Indigenous communities changed incredibly last year when I was enrolled in an Indigenous class provided by my school. Ever since then, my passion to learn more, to expand my knowledge about anything Indigenous, has grown wonderfully. 

It was never like this when I was younger, considering how my family and I used to regard Indigenous Peoples. I had always wondered why Indigenous Peoples were called hideous names and treated very poorly. I would hear people around me calling Indigenous Peoples slobs and uneducated, and saying “they get free money” … all sorts of things. 

Deep down, I knew there was more to it because there’s always more to a person than their appearance or background. In essence, after learning about the Indigenous Peoples and their culture in the fourth grade, I literally fell in love with their ­culture. I was so intrigued by the uniqueness of throat singing and their traditional clothes. I appreciated how colourful and bright their clothes were and how their songs often tell ­stories of courage, hope and strength. Though all these things are significant, one thing that really took my heart is how powerful Indigenous Peoples have been to this very day. 

Residential Schools aren’t a secret anymore. Hundreds of gravesites are being found all over Canada, the graves of innocent young souls. Their graves are evidence of the ignorance and lack of acknowledgment that is still shown today toward ­Indigenous Peoples. It’s horrific discovering the truth, what really went down in those schools. No one, no child, deserves to endure what the Indigenous children went through. 

I used to be uneducated on topics such as these. I still am, considering how much more there is to learn and understand. 

There are many Indigenous reserves that are lacking clean, fresh water. Where is the promise for all to have clean drinking water as a basic necessity? Do Indigenous reserves not lie on Canadian lands where this is a promise made to all Canadians? Is simple humanitarian need no longer a thing? Other concerns include unkept treaties, residential schools, and missing and murdered Indigenous girls and women, just to name a few. 

These are heavy topics that unfortunately go unseen or are pushed aside, though the inclusion of mandatory Indigenous classes in the school curriculum has helped greatly. Even if it made a slight difference, it’s better than no change at all. This allows the rising generation to be better and do better. We can move forward with the knowledge we have already accumulated, acknowledge what our ancestors have done, and hopefully work our way to a better world.