Allyship in action for Turtle Island

Beyond Lip Service: Allyship in Action for Turtle Island

The concept of allyship has gained significant traction in recent years, often discussed in hushed tones of empathy or emblazoned on social media profiles. Yet, for Indigenous peoples across Turtle Island – a name many First Nations, Métis, and Inuit people use for the continent of North America – true allyship demands far more than performative solidarity. It requires a profound, sustained commitment to action, a willingness to dismantle systems of oppression, and an unwavering dedication to supporting Indigenous self-determination, sovereignty, and resurgence. This article delves into what allyship in action truly means for Turtle Island, exploring tangible ways individuals and institutions can move beyond rhetoric to enact meaningful, impactful change.

For centuries, Indigenous nations have endured the devastating impacts of colonization: land dispossession, cultural annihilation, forced assimilation, and systemic violence. The legacy of residential schools, the ongoing crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit People (MMIWG2S), and the relentless assault on traditional lands and waters are not relics of a distant past but realities that continue to shape the present. Against this backdrop, allyship is not a benevolent gesture but a moral imperative, a step towards reconciliation and justice rooted in shared humanity.

Understanding the Historical Context: Why Action is Imperative

To understand allyship for Turtle Island, one must first grasp the depth of historical and ongoing injustice. European colonization, driven by doctrines like terra nullius (empty land), systematically dispossessed Indigenous peoples of their territories, resources, and governance structures. Treaties, often violated or misinterpreted, became tools of further subjugation. The Indian Act in Canada and similar policies in the United States institutionalized discrimination, stripping Indigenous peoples of their rights, languages, and cultural practices.

The residential school system, operational for over a century in Canada and the United States, represents one of the darkest chapters. Over 150,000 Indigenous children in Canada alone were forcibly removed from their families, enduring horrific abuse and cultural suppression in institutions designed to "kill the Indian in the child." The last residential school closed in Canada in 1996, meaning its intergenerational trauma is a living wound. Similarly, the crisis of MMIWG2S highlights a deeply entrenched pattern of gender-based violence, racism, and systemic neglect. In Canada, Indigenous women are 12 times more likely to be murdered or go missing than non-Indigenous women. These are not statistics but lived realities that underscore the urgent need for allies to act, not just acknowledge.

Defining True Allyship: Beyond the Performative

True allyship is not about "saving" Indigenous peoples; it is about recognizing and supporting their inherent sovereignty, leadership, and resilience. It is an active, lifelong process of learning, unlearning, and advocating, characterized by:

1. Centering Indigenous Voices: Allies must amplify, not appropriate. This means stepping back, listening intently, and ensuring that Indigenous perspectives, priorities, and solutions lead the way. It’s about understanding that Indigenous communities are diverse, with unique needs and aspirations, and that there is no monolithic "Indigenous voice."

2. Education and Unlearning: Allyship demands continuous education about Indigenous histories, cultures, treaties, and contemporary issues. It involves actively challenging one’s own biases and unlearning colonial narratives perpetuated by dominant education systems and media.



3. Humility and Accountability: Allies will make mistakes. The journey requires humility, a willingness to be corrected, to apologize sincerely, and to learn from missteps without becoming defensive or disengaging.

4. Resource Sharing and Redistribution: This can manifest in various forms, from financial support for Indigenous-led organizations to sharing skills, networks, and platforms. It also extends to advocating for the redistribution of land and resources back to Indigenous control.

Allyship in Action: Concrete Pathways

Moving from theoretical understanding to tangible action requires engagement across multiple fronts.

1. Land Back and Environmental Justice:
The Land Back movement is a critical pillar of Indigenous resurgence, advocating for the return of ancestral lands to Indigenous nations. For allies, this translates into concrete actions:

• Support Indigenous-led land stewardship initiatives: Many Indigenous nations are at the forefront of conservation and climate action, drawing on Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) developed over millennia. Allies can support these efforts through funding, advocacy, and direct participation when invited.
• Advocate for treaty rights and land claims: Understand the treaties in your area and advocate for their full implementation and honor. Support contemporary land claims and self-governance agreements.
• Challenge extractive industries: Stand in solidarity with Indigenous communities fighting pipelines, mines, and other projects that threaten their lands, waters, and cultural sites. The struggle at Standing Rock against the Dakota Access Pipeline, or the ongoing fight against the Trans Mountain Expansion pipeline in Canada, exemplify the critical need for allied support in protecting sacred sites and the environment.
• Explore land trusts and rematriation: Support organizations working to return land to Indigenous control through innovative legal and financial mechanisms. This might involve purchasing land and transferring title, or establishing conservation easements managed by Indigenous communities.

2. Amplifying Voices and Supporting Self-Determination:
Indigenous self-determination is the right of Indigenous peoples to govern themselves, control their own lands and resources, and maintain their unique cultures and identities. Allies play a crucial role in supporting this right:

• Advocate for policy changes: Push elected officials to adopt and implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) as a framework for all interactions with Indigenous nations. Support legislation that upholds Indigenous rights and sovereignty.
• Demand accurate representation in media: Challenge stereotypical portrayals of Indigenous peoples and support Indigenous journalists, filmmakers, and storytellers. Amplify their narratives, which often remain marginalized in mainstream media.
• Support Indigenous-led organizations and businesses: Direct resources to grassroots Indigenous organizations working on issues from language revitalization to youth mentorship. Prioritize purchasing from Indigenous-owned businesses, contributing to economic self-sufficiency.
• Political engagement: Vote for candidates who champion Indigenous rights and hold them accountable. Engage in direct advocacy with policymakers.

3. Addressing Systemic Violence: MMIWG2S and Beyond:
The crisis of MMIWG2S is a stark reminder of the systemic racism and sexism embedded within colonial structures. Allyship here means active solidarity and demanding justice:

• Advocate for the Calls for Justice: In Canada, the 2019 National Inquiry into MMIWG2S released 231 Calls for Justice. Allies must actively push all levels of government to implement these calls, which address issues from policing and justice to health and culture.
• Support grassroots initiatives: Many Indigenous-led organizations provide direct support to families of MMIWG2S, conduct searches, and advocate for policy change. Financial contributions, volunteer time, and amplification of their work are vital.
• Challenge systemic biases: Recognize and challenge racist and misogynistic attitudes that devalue Indigenous lives within your own communities and institutions. This includes scrutinizing police practices, media reporting, and judicial outcomes.
• Educate others: Share information about the MMIWG2S crisis and its root causes with friends, family, and colleagues, dispelling myths and fostering understanding.

4. Cultural Revitalization and Decolonizing Education:
The deliberate suppression of Indigenous cultures and languages has caused immense harm. Allies can contribute to revitalization efforts:

• Support language immersion programs: Indigenous languages are facing extinction due to colonial policies. Supporting programs that teach and preserve these languages is crucial.
• Challenge colonial narratives in education: Advocate for curriculum changes in schools that accurately reflect Indigenous histories, perspectives, and contributions. Support Indigenous educators and traditional knowledge keepers.
• Learn and share local Indigenous history: Understand the Indigenous history of the land you occupy, including the names of the nations, their traditions, and their contemporary presence. Go beyond a simple land acknowledgment; let it be a starting point for deeper engagement.
• Respect cultural protocols: When engaging with Indigenous communities or cultural events, learn and adhere to appropriate protocols, demonstrating respect for their traditions and elders.

The Ongoing Journey of Allyship

Allyship in action for Turtle Island is not a destination but an ongoing journey. It requires patience, persistence, and a willingness to be uncomfortable. It means understanding that reconciliation is not a singular event but a continuous process of repairing relationships, restoring justice, and rebuilding trust.

The challenges are immense, but so is the resilience and wisdom of Indigenous peoples. Allies are called to stand alongside them, not in front, behind, or above. By actively listening, learning, and leveraging their privilege to dismantle oppressive systems, allies can contribute to a future where Indigenous nations thrive, where their sovereignty is respected, and where the rich tapestry of Turtle Island’s diverse cultures is celebrated and protected for generations to come. The time for performative gestures is over; the time for genuine, impactful allyship in action is now.