Would You Swear to be An Ally? Could You?

What if there was a formal official allyship ceremony? Kind of like the ceremony people take when they become a citizen of the country. What if you had to publicly make a commitment? I mean, we talk about allies all the time. We talk about what constitutes an ally, where the line is, what they should and shouldn't be doing. But what if there was a formal ceremony that would help draw the lines? And I'm talking about for both sides of the feather. Let's talk about it. Hi, everybody. My name is Sandy Boucher. I'm Red Thunderbolt, woman of the Loon clan, a proud member of Seine River First Nation in Treaty 3 Territory in Northern Ontario. And yes, today I've been thinking about allyship and allies and how many want to claim allyship without even knowing what that entails, knowing the responsibility that comes with it, thinking it's some cute badge of honor that they can wear and brag about without realizing what the job description is. And I started, I ran with that. I definitely have an imagination that I enjoy using on a regular basis. Basis. I ran with that. And what I came up with is actually the allyship ceremony. And yes, you can get a copy of this just by email, emailing me like always. So I want you to consider this for a second. At the top, it describes the scenario. Indigenous and non indigenous form two rows on the opposite side of the room. So imagine there's 10 indigenous people in the room. 10 non indigenous. Yes, of course, I'm coming at from an indigenous lens. And yes, it would apply to other groups that want to have allies. So in this case we're talking about indigenous. So they form two rows on the opposite side of the room facing each other. When the ceremony begins, one person from each side steps to the middle. Once in the middle of the room, the two people turn so as to be able to press their back up against the other person. We are literally enacting the back to back teaching here. Don't know what that is. You got to go find it in my videos. Each person in turn then asks their partner the following questions. Each person would have a copy of this agreement. After each question, the future ally, the other person should answer in the affirmative. So imagine Indigenous standing back to back with non indigenous. The indigenous person starts, in this case, it could be either one. Do you promise to warn me of potential harm that I cannot see from my vantage point? The non indigenous person would say, yes. Do you promise to warn me when I use words that may offend your people? The non indigenous person says, yes. Do you promise to warn me when I take actions that may be seen as overstepping? The non indigenous person says yes. The indigenous person asks do you promise to ask me for information rather than assume what I need or why I do the things I do? The non indigenous person says yes. Do you promise to listen to me when I share that your words or actions are offensive? The non indigenous person says yes. The indigenous person says or asks do you promise to change your behavior or words once they have been identified as offensive? The non indigenous person says yes. The indigenous person asks do you promise to keep your shoulder blades pressed firmly against mine proving you have my back? The non indigenous person says yes. Then they switch. Now the non indigenous person asks do you promise to warn me of potential harm that I cannot see from my vantage point? And the indigenous person says yes, that is literally my career stopping non indigenous people from using phrases, words or stereotypes that are going to harm them. The indigenous non indigenous person asked do you promise to warn me when I use words that may offend your people? And the indigenous person says yes. The non indigenous person asks do you promise to warn me when I take actions that may be seen as overstepping? The indigenous person says yes. The non indigenous person asks do you promise to ask me for information rather than assume what I need or why I do the things I do? And the indigenous person says yes because we have stereotypes of non indigenous too. The non indigenous person asks do you promise to listen to me when I share that your words or actions are offensive? And the indigenous person says yes. The non indigenous person asks do you promise to change your words or behavior once they've been identified as offensive? And the indigenous person says yes. The non indigenous person asks do you promise to keep your shoulder blades pressed firmly against mine proving you have my back? And the indigenous person says yes because allies are allies on both sides of the feather. Now it goes back to the indigenous person for the second part and the indigenous person asks do you promise not to ridicule or gossip about my people? And the non indigenous person says yes. The indigenous person asks do you promise not to keep silent but you become aware that your people are taking steps that may harm me? And the non indigenous person says yes. The indigenous person asks do you promise not to stay silent when others express harmful stereotypes or misinformation? The non indigenous person says yes. The indigenous person asks do you promise not to take part in actions or initiatives that may cause me harm directly or indirectly? And the non indigenous person says yes. The indigenous person asks you promise not to share only partial information or half truths with me? And the non indigenous person says yes. The indigenous person asked, you promise not to exclude me from conversations or decisions that that affect me? And the non indigenous person says yes. The indigenous indigenous person asks, do you promise not to end this agreement without telling me? And the non indigenous person says yes. And then again, it's the non indigenous person's turn. So the non indigenous person asks, do you promise not to ridicule or gossip about my people? And the indigenous person says yes. The non indigenous person asks, do you promise not to keep silent when you become aware that your people are taking steps that may harm me? And the indigenous person says yes. The non indigenous person asked, you promise not to stay silent when others express harmful stereotypes or misinformation? And the indigenous person says yes. The non indigenous person asks, do you promise not to take part in actions or initiatives that may cause me harm directly or indirectly? And the indigenous person says yes. The non indigenous person asks, do you promise not to share only partial information or half truths with me? And the indigenous person says yes. The non indigenous person asks, do you promise not to exclude me from conversation or decisions that affect me? And the indigenous person says yes. The non indigenous person asked, you promise not to end this agreement without telling me? And the indigenous person says yes. Did you feel the feather balancing? Did you feel the power on both sides? The commitment to each other, the allyship? Then in unison, both people will then repeat the following out loud together. Seven things I promise to do. Seven things I promise not to do. All in honoring the seven generations that came before and the seven generations that come next. Let us walk together now and always. There is one thing that became really, really obvious to me as I wrote that and read and reread it. I don't know how many people could take part in that ceremony and be true allies. And yes, I'm talking about both sides of the feather. Food for thought. Until tomorrow. I love you. Take care. Bye bye.