Learning for more just relationships : Narratives of transformation in white settlers
In Canada, progress towards reconciliation with Aboriginal Peoples has been slow, in part because of a lack of emphasis on interpersonal reconciliation—changes in the beliefs, attitudes, and behaviours of non-Aboriginal Canadians. Physical distance, prejudicial public discourses, and insufficient, i...
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ftusaskatchewan:oai:harvest.usask.ca:10388/ETD-2015-03-1992 2023-05-15T17:12:56+02:00 Learning for more just relationships : Narratives of transformation in white settlers Peters, Nancy Kovach, Margaret Carr-Stewart, Sheila Wilson, Alex McKenzie, Marcia Reynolds, Cecilia March 2015 http://hdl.handle.net/10388/ETD-2015-03-1992 eng eng University of Saskatchewan http://hdl.handle.net/10388/ETD-2015-03-1992 TC-SSU-2015031992 Aboriginal Peoples – Nova Scotia interpersonal reconciliation settler allies Mi’kmaq / setter relations pedagogy for the privileged transformative learning text Thesis 2015 ftusaskatchewan 2022-01-17T11:54:14Z In Canada, progress towards reconciliation with Aboriginal Peoples has been slow, in part because of a lack of emphasis on interpersonal reconciliation—changes in the beliefs, attitudes, and behaviours of non-Aboriginal Canadians. Physical distance, prejudicial public discourses, and insufficient, ineffective education for the public pose barriers to renewed relationships between settlers and Aboriginal Peoples. Drawing from transformative learning theory and pedagogy for the privileged, this narrative inquiry examines critical events in the lives of eight white settlers living in Mi’kmaw territory in Nova Scotia. The study uncovers factors which have prompted some Euro-Canadians to take up their responsibility for reconciliation and enabled them to stand as allies with the Mi’kmaq. The transformation process in settler allies was catalyzed by a combination of personal, intrinsic, and extrinsic events. New relationships between settlers and the Mi’kmaq were founded around shared interests or goals, and friendships provided an important foundation for learning. Hearing the personal stories of Mi’kmaw people challenged stereotypes and misinformation about Aboriginal Peoples. Settlers’ learning was further supported by immersion in Mi’kmaw communities or contexts, time spent on the land, and mentoring by Mi’kmaw people. Allies reported that the satisfaction they derived from relationships with Mi’kmaw people as well as a desire to do good and see justice done sustained these relationships over the longer term. The study suggests that a lengthy period of awareness raising and confidence building followed by opportunities for informal, experiential learning and face-to-face interactions are key elements in settler decolonization. Thesis Mi’kmaq Mi’kmaw University of Saskatchewan: eCommons@USASK Canada |
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Open Polar |
collection |
University of Saskatchewan: eCommons@USASK |
op_collection_id |
ftusaskatchewan |
language |
English |
topic |
Aboriginal Peoples – Nova Scotia interpersonal reconciliation settler allies Mi’kmaq / setter relations pedagogy for the privileged transformative learning |
spellingShingle |
Aboriginal Peoples – Nova Scotia interpersonal reconciliation settler allies Mi’kmaq / setter relations pedagogy for the privileged transformative learning Peters, Nancy Learning for more just relationships : Narratives of transformation in white settlers |
topic_facet |
Aboriginal Peoples – Nova Scotia interpersonal reconciliation settler allies Mi’kmaq / setter relations pedagogy for the privileged transformative learning |
description |
In Canada, progress towards reconciliation with Aboriginal Peoples has been slow, in part because of a lack of emphasis on interpersonal reconciliation—changes in the beliefs, attitudes, and behaviours of non-Aboriginal Canadians. Physical distance, prejudicial public discourses, and insufficient, ineffective education for the public pose barriers to renewed relationships between settlers and Aboriginal Peoples. Drawing from transformative learning theory and pedagogy for the privileged, this narrative inquiry examines critical events in the lives of eight white settlers living in Mi’kmaw territory in Nova Scotia. The study uncovers factors which have prompted some Euro-Canadians to take up their responsibility for reconciliation and enabled them to stand as allies with the Mi’kmaq. The transformation process in settler allies was catalyzed by a combination of personal, intrinsic, and extrinsic events. New relationships between settlers and the Mi’kmaq were founded around shared interests or goals, and friendships provided an important foundation for learning. Hearing the personal stories of Mi’kmaw people challenged stereotypes and misinformation about Aboriginal Peoples. Settlers’ learning was further supported by immersion in Mi’kmaw communities or contexts, time spent on the land, and mentoring by Mi’kmaw people. Allies reported that the satisfaction they derived from relationships with Mi’kmaw people as well as a desire to do good and see justice done sustained these relationships over the longer term. The study suggests that a lengthy period of awareness raising and confidence building followed by opportunities for informal, experiential learning and face-to-face interactions are key elements in settler decolonization. |
author2 |
Kovach, Margaret Carr-Stewart, Sheila Wilson, Alex McKenzie, Marcia Reynolds, Cecilia |
format |
Thesis |
author |
Peters, Nancy |
author_facet |
Peters, Nancy |
author_sort |
Peters, Nancy |
title |
Learning for more just relationships : Narratives of transformation in white settlers |
title_short |
Learning for more just relationships : Narratives of transformation in white settlers |
title_full |
Learning for more just relationships : Narratives of transformation in white settlers |
title_fullStr |
Learning for more just relationships : Narratives of transformation in white settlers |
title_full_unstemmed |
Learning for more just relationships : Narratives of transformation in white settlers |
title_sort |
learning for more just relationships : narratives of transformation in white settlers |
publisher |
University of Saskatchewan |
publishDate |
2015 |
url |
http://hdl.handle.net/10388/ETD-2015-03-1992 |
geographic |
Canada |
geographic_facet |
Canada |
genre |
Mi’kmaq Mi’kmaw |
genre_facet |
Mi’kmaq Mi’kmaw |
op_relation |
http://hdl.handle.net/10388/ETD-2015-03-1992 TC-SSU-2015031992 |
_version_ |
1766069813114830848 |