Comments on: i would take the Northwest Passage http://cribchronicles.com/2009/06/12/i-would-take-the-northwest-passage/ i will NOT scribble on the children Fri, 10 Feb 2012 21:08:58 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: c http://cribchronicles.com/2009/06/12/i-would-take-the-northwest-passage/comment-page-1/#comment-244605 c Sat, 20 Jun 2009 08:16:02 +0000 http://cribchronicles.com/?p=527#comment-244605 Hmm. I have lurked for a year but must respond to this question, it's a good one.. I have been in a similar situation, an outsider, doing 'community based research', with Aboriginal participants. I think my attempt at honest reflexive inquiry, part of learning how to decolonize myself, has had a positive impact.. on myself and a few I can count as colleagues. But do be careful, taking a boatload of white guilt up there with you sets you up to be abused. (by saying that I by no means intend to downplay our culpability or responsibility as a nation..) Frantz Fanon said that the dream of the oppressed is to become the oppressor. Those in deep pain are looking for a willing subject for their rage. My experience was, some people recognized my effort to learn and find a bridge of understanding, and would look me in the eyes and trust my intentions. Others saw my inquiries as a threat to their position and attacked me with astonishing force. They understandably protected whatever capital they had gathered. It took me a long time to understand that most participants in any power system are interested in keeping it fixed. No matter if they appear to an outsider to be in a less powerful position. They have learned how to work within and benefit from the structure that exists, and don't want to jeopardize that. This kind of research can be a minefield -- and the biggest challenge is to not perpetuate the cycle by returning pain for pain. Still, I wouldn't trade this knowledge gained by fire, about myself and the so-called 'other', for anything. Have you seen Dale Turner's This is Not a Peace Pipe? He argues that Aboriginal and non-Ab researchers need to collaborate in order to create just relationships. It's worth a try, I think, despite the risks. Hmm. I have lurked for a year but must respond to this question, it’s a good one.. I have been in a similar situation, an outsider, doing ‘community based research’, with Aboriginal participants.
I think my attempt at honest reflexive inquiry, part of learning how to decolonize myself, has had a positive impact.. on myself and a few I can count as colleagues. But do be careful, taking a boatload of white guilt up there with you sets you up to be abused. (by saying that I by no means intend to downplay our culpability or responsibility as a nation..) Frantz Fanon said that the dream of the oppressed is to become the oppressor. Those in deep pain are looking for a willing subject for their rage.
My experience was, some people recognized my effort to learn and find a bridge of understanding, and would look me in the eyes and trust my intentions. Others saw my inquiries as a threat to their position and attacked me with astonishing force. They understandably protected whatever capital they had gathered. It took me a long time to understand that most participants in any power system are interested in keeping it fixed. No matter if they appear to an outsider to be in a less powerful position. They have learned how to work within and benefit from the structure that exists, and don’t want to jeopardize that.
This kind of research can be a minefield — and the biggest challenge is to not perpetuate the cycle by returning pain for pain.
Still, I wouldn’t trade this knowledge gained by fire, about myself and the so-called ‘other’, for anything.
Have you seen Dale Turner’s This is Not a Peace Pipe? He argues that Aboriginal and non-Ab researchers need to collaborate in order to create just relationships. It’s worth a try, I think, despite the risks.

]]> By: Emily R http://cribchronicles.com/2009/06/12/i-would-take-the-northwest-passage/comment-page-1/#comment-243493 Emily R Mon, 15 Jun 2009 14:14:17 +0000 http://cribchronicles.com/?p=527#comment-243493 there is going to be someone white sticking in a nose. best for it to be you because you will understand that you have no business... there is going to be someone white sticking in a nose. best for it to be you because you will understand that you have no business…

]]> By: mo-wo http://cribchronicles.com/2009/06/12/i-would-take-the-northwest-passage/comment-page-1/#comment-243447 mo-wo Mon, 15 Jun 2009 05:58:19 +0000 http://cribchronicles.com/?p=527#comment-243447 I'm glad you clarified this wasn't the job you called 'limited in scope'. But still I will disclose my hesitance to leap. A lot has happened in research and communities in the last 5 years, the last 10. And, it is hard to go 'back there'. I rode on the vapour trails of bright and giving BC anthropologists low back in the dark ages of '02. When looking to do that again this year... I walked. I couldn't go home again. A lot has changed. Needs to change. Is changing and I don't have the brain for it anymore. Can't do the cartwheels. But if anyone would and could.. sounds like you. Good luck. I’m glad you clarified this wasn’t the job you called ‘limited in scope’. But still I will disclose my hesitance to leap.

A lot has happened in research and communities in the last 5 years, the last 10. And, it is hard to go ‘back there’. I rode on the vapour trails of bright and giving BC anthropologists low back in the dark ages of ’02. When looking to do that again this year… I walked. I couldn’t go home again.

A lot has changed. Needs to change. Is changing and I don’t have the brain for it anymore. Can’t do the cartwheels. But if anyone would and could.. sounds like you.

Good luck.

]]> By: Jo http://cribchronicles.com/2009/06/12/i-would-take-the-northwest-passage/comment-page-1/#comment-243323 Jo Sun, 14 Jun 2009 02:59:46 +0000 http://cribchronicles.com/?p=527#comment-243323 Yes, I would. Life in hindsight is something else, isn't it? Your life now if fully of experience, a loving partner, and two awesome kiddos, not to mention everything else. At the end of the day, you have that all to come home to. You are lucky. But with the insight you gained while living and teaching there, you could provide some awesome insight into the info they seem to need. Seriously, that would be so cool. :). I love this story about your past. Yes, I would. Life in hindsight is something else, isn’t it? Your life now if fully of experience, a loving partner, and two awesome kiddos, not to mention everything else. At the end of the day, you have that all to come home to. You are lucky. But with the insight you gained while living and teaching there, you could provide some awesome insight into the info they seem to need. Seriously, that would be so cool. :). I love this story about your past.

]]> By: woman in a window http://cribchronicles.com/2009/06/12/i-would-take-the-northwest-passage/comment-page-1/#comment-243314 woman in a window Sun, 14 Jun 2009 00:46:35 +0000 http://cribchronicles.com/?p=527#comment-243314 Nothing esoteric here. I get it. I so get it. And I would argue with myself over it but in the end, I would leap, because if not me then someone else and I would at least have the faith that I would care. Holy hell, you've a wonderful past. Let it be as wonderful a future. Nothing esoteric here. I get it. I so get it. And I would argue with myself over it but in the end, I would leap, because if not me then someone else and I would at least have the faith that I would care.

Holy hell, you’ve a wonderful past. Let it be as wonderful a future.

]]> By: Margaret http://cribchronicles.com/2009/06/12/i-would-take-the-northwest-passage/comment-page-1/#comment-243291 Margaret Sat, 13 Jun 2009 21:06:49 +0000 http://cribchronicles.com/?p=527#comment-243291 yes, yes, YES! (apologies to James Joyce.) yes, yes, YES!

(apologies to James Joyce.)

]]> By: Kyla http://cribchronicles.com/2009/06/12/i-would-take-the-northwest-passage/comment-page-1/#comment-243275 Kyla Sat, 13 Jun 2009 19:30:54 +0000 http://cribchronicles.com/?p=527#comment-243275 Nope, I'm much too timid...but you? I can see you satisfied by jumping in. My dad worked on the North Slope for my entire childhood. 3 weeks on, 3 weeks off. There's a beach named for me up there, but I doubt it gets used much. LOL. That is wholly unrelated to this post, but everything way up north reminds me of him. Nope, I’m much too timid…but you? I can see you satisfied by jumping in.

My dad worked on the North Slope for my entire childhood. 3 weeks on, 3 weeks off. There’s a beach named for me up there, but I doubt it gets used much. LOL. That is wholly unrelated to this post, but everything way up north reminds me of him.

]]> By: Quadelle http://cribchronicles.com/2009/06/12/i-would-take-the-northwest-passage/comment-page-1/#comment-243219 Quadelle Sat, 13 Jun 2009 16:39:49 +0000 http://cribchronicles.com/?p=527#comment-243219 If I had your experience, knowledge and complete awareness of not knowing everything, then, yes, jump I would. If for no other reason than concern that another - without that awareness - would completely and truly stuff it up, with nary a care. If I had your experience, knowledge and complete awareness of not knowing everything, then, yes, jump I would. If for no other reason than concern that another – without that awareness – would completely and truly stuff it up, with nary a care.

]]> By: Cyn http://cribchronicles.com/2009/06/12/i-would-take-the-northwest-passage/comment-page-1/#comment-243197 Cyn Sat, 13 Jun 2009 10:59:44 +0000 http://cribchronicles.com/?p=527#comment-243197 Go. Go.

]]> By: Amanda http://cribchronicles.com/2009/06/12/i-would-take-the-northwest-passage/comment-page-1/#comment-243172 Amanda Sat, 13 Jun 2009 04:09:28 +0000 http://cribchronicles.com/?p=527#comment-243172 Just watching, wishing you the best. Just watching, wishing you the best.

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