The termination of Algonquin rights and jurisdiction | Unpublished
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Unpublished Opinions

Lynn Gehl's picture
N/A, Ontario
About the author

Lynn is an Algonquin Anishinaabe-kwe from the Ottawa River Valley, Ontario, Canada.  She describes herself as a learner-researcher, thinker, writer, Black Face blogger, and she has been an Indigenous human rights advocate for 25 years.  Lynn works to eliminate the continued sex discrimination in the Indian Act, and she is also an outspoken critic of the contemporary land claims and self-government process.  She has a doctorate in Indigenous Studies, a Master of Arts in Canadian and Native Studies, and an undergraduate degree in Anthropology.  She also has a diploma in Chemical Technology and worked in the field of environmental science for 12 years in the area of toxic organic analysis of Ontario’s waterways.  While advocating for change is currently part of what she does, she is also interested in traditional knowledge systems that guide the Anishinaabeg forward to a good life.

Along with many journal and community publications, she has three books:

Anishinaabeg Stories: Featuring Petroglyphs, Petrographs, and Wampum Belts 

The Truth that Wampum Tells: My Debwewin on the Algonquin Land Claims Process 

Mkadengwe: Sharing Canada’s Colonial Process through Black Face Methodology

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The termination of Algonquin rights and jurisdiction

January 29, 2016

Here are a series of links to stories and articles I wrote on the Algonquin land claims process - please read and share...

The Indigenous knowledge paradigm is a sophisticated way of knowing and being, rather than what many settler and colonial people think it is: fluffs and feathers. My work always emerges from an Indigenous knowledge paradigm rather that an anti-colonial or critical theory framework, where as such the criteria of evaluating its worth must also come from the Indigenous knowledge paradigm which include valuing knowledge is experiential, personal, subjective, practiced, and wholistic.

If you are in doubt about the sophisticated nature of Indigenous knowledge and you think western knowledge is superior, I suggest you think about the quality of the water you drink, the quality of air you breathe, and the quality of land you reside on. Is western science and the western legal tradition working for you and your family? No, it is not. You may have a home and a car and other material possessions but the water you drink and air you breathe and the food you eat is contaminated.

It is indeed sophisticated to value that rocks, land, water, trees, fruit, winged, four legged, and all the other beings are your siblings. It is indeed sophisticated to sing and pray for these siblings. Loving the Earth and all HER gifts is indeed a smart way to practice and think.

Ask yourself, “How has learning O Canada protected the water I and my family drink?” and be silent and do some deep thinking as it is said that there are 4 layers to knowledge. I am convinced that once you get to the fourth layer you will come to understand that valuing Indigenous knowledge and Indigenous jurisdiction is the only way human beings will live better with the Earth and all HER gifts.

Stand behind Indigenous people and Follow the Turtle. It is the better way...

See more from me here on UnpublishedOttawa.com as well at: http://unpublishedottawa.com/users/lynn-gehl