PEGI EYERS
So the privileged creatures of civilization, the white sybarites of the comfortable boomer generation, have decided to “get back to the land.” They already tried that in the hippie era, but never mind (!) this recycled idea has merit what with property values these days. Retirement is looming on the horizon, so why not re-land yourself in the neo-romantic crucible of beach, fen and forest? After all, the Canadian wilderness goes on forever, and everyone is entitled to those magnificent vistas of sunrise and sunset. What are wide open spaces for - except to “be yourself,” let loose, and express that inner “lord and lady of the manor” that has been caged up for so long?
Now, taking into account your boredom with the mainstream and your disdain for the hillbillies in the back of beyond, why not purchase property right next to First Nations as a way to exotify yourself? Then, you can brag about being so urbane, sophisticated, multicultural, and “spiritual” that you had the foresight to position yourself right next to the “tribal~!”
And be sure to benefit from your romanticization of the “other” by making your business more interesting and palatable to other culturally-starved and spiritually-deprived white people. Of course, your “gentrification” of the colonizer/colonized relationship allows you to claim there is “cultural diversity” in your neck of the woods, which makes everything just so much more inclusive, colorblind, “one tribe” and kumbaya~!
Smooth move, neo-liberal.
And be sure to benefit from your romanticization of the “other” by making your business more interesting and palatable to other culturally-starved and spiritually-deprived white people. Of course, your “gentrification” of the colonizer/colonized relationship allows you to claim there is “cultural diversity” in your neck of the woods, which makes everything just so much more inclusive, colorblind, “one tribe” and kumbaya~!
Smooth move, neo-liberal.
Now, in the interest of wage slavery and your "zoomer-boomer" business plan, don't forget about the folks right next to you on the "Rez." Desperate to put food on the table (or make some sort of progress in the white world) you will find willing people (“tokens”) from the native community to support you in your scheme. You might also need personal assistants, wait staff, dishwashers and groundskeepers ~ no problem! There is no place for cognitive dissonance in capitalism, so feel free to draw on the interchangeable pool of Indigenous labour right next door. And then, by all means let everyone know that your First Nations neighbours are on board with your project, so that makes it 100% alright!
Of course, (and in keeping with your fantasy) you and your clientele of cultural tourists would not dream of helping the First Nations community as a whole, or conducting Allyship in solidarity with First Nations struggles, or fighting in the trenches, as that is too far beneath you. Rallies, marches, mobilizing and political actions are NO place for fashion statements, artistic expressions, great music or food! And for sure, getting your “hands dirty” with social justice or activism, would only tarnish the exotic representation of Native People you have so carefully constructed to bring in the business.
So my dear Zoomers - never mind that the First Nations community right next door are still in the throes of recovery from 500 years of cultural genocide, oppression, displacement, racist microaggressions and land theft - that’s "all just in the past!” Let's just keep quiet about all that, for when it comes to obnoxious white-privileged Settler interloper-opportunists and snake-oil sellers, it truly is about “me-me-me.”
 | Pegi Eyers is the author of "Ancient Spirit Rising: Reclaiming Your Roots & Restoring Earth Community," an award winning book that explores strategies for uncolonization, rejecting Empire, social justice, ethnocultural identity, apocalypse studies, building land-emergent community and resilience in times of massive change. PURCHASE LINKS Stone Circle Press or Amazon |
