OBSERVING ORANGE SHIRT DAY AT UVE
By Abbey Kingdon
Each year, UVE observes September 30, Orange Shirt Day, as an organizational holiday. On this day, and throughout the year, we work to be allies to our Indigenous neighbors. Orange Shirt Day, formally known as Truth and Reconciliation Day (T&R Day), began as a Canadian memorial day of recognition of the atrocities inflicted on children at Indian Residential Schools across Canada.
The multi-generational trauma of children stolen, children never returning home, happened in the United States too, and we honor survivors of, and those impacted by, attempted erasure of a people through the most horrific and cruel means: the abuse and murder of children.
In this Relentless Indigenous Woman podcast T&R Day is discussed with disappointment. They said that the commitments made by the Canadian government to healing have become gestures, and performative at best.
As a non-Indigenous person with good intentions to support my Indigenous friends and neighbors, being an ally can be tricky. Trying can feel awkward; it can be done in an extractive way, even when we mean well.
While visiting her in Bellingham, Washington, I asked my close friend Elsie Tozier how she learned to be a good ally, because I admire the way she shows up completely as herself, completely present without an agenda, but with a deep desire to be of service.
When I asked her she said:
Listen. Be together for a while engaging in the normal rituals of life, cooking, cleaning, caring for children, doing chores, running errands, and let the conversation/sharing emerge. We always show up in our culture ready to tell, ready to do. Don't do that. Listen. Be in a relationship. Learn about Indigenous people wherever you are and serve that community.
As a licensed herbalist and acupuncturist, each year, Elsie uses her vacation time at her work to serve Tribal Canoe Journeys. Thank you, Elsie, for all you do for all of us.
Another family-fun way to show support is to attend Indigenous-led events and support Indigenous artists. I take my family to events in Fort Bidwell hosted by the Gidutikad Band of Northern Paiute, and events in Chiloquin hosted by the Klamath Tribes. I am still learning about other tribal communities in our region. For those people in the Surprise Valley area, October has two big events in Fort Bidwell: the Mt. Bidwell Celebration and the 4th Annual Sacred Mountain Powwow.
The art and lifestyle brand 8th Generation is a great way to find art created by Indigenous artists. In our home, my son is a big fan of the basketball shorts made by Native-owned sportswear company, Skyn Style, from Warm Springs Reservation in Oregon.
Abbey Kingdon
Savory Institute Accredited Professional
UVEhub.com | Restorative Practitioner | Circle Keeper