3 minute read
Traditional Teachings and Ceremony Used to Guide Litigation Team's Court Strategy
Back in 2017, when the 21 First Nations in the Robinson Huron Treaty decided to organize and bring their grievances in front of the courts about the government's failure to increase the annuities, the team also decided to bring in a spiritual advisor aboard to help guide their decision-making process.
Leroy BennettAnishinaabe's name is Hummingbird, and he is part of the Bear Clan. Bennett is a Cultural Consultant and ceremony facilitator who has done work at the local, national and international levels. Bennett accepted tobacco from the litigation team to do the work and initial ceremonies had begun the relationship building process.
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After the initial ceremonies had preceded and the first day in court, Bennett realized that the team must adopt a strategy to help influence the courts, governments and everyday Canadians perspective to bring a favourable and balanced view to the litigation court case.
Not an easy task, especially when Indigenous people in Canada face many challengesuch as colonialist government legislation, systematic paternal influences and mainstream media that perpetuate negative stereotypes about Indigenous people. Bennett stressed that sharing and understanding would be vital in moving forward in a good way.
"Key word is sharing," said Bennett, "Sharing a better understanding of who we are as Anishinaabe people to counter those negative stereotypes. We share our teachings with the courts and the governments. Our legal counsel also participated in ceremonies to help bring a balanced Anishinaabe view to the table."
"Being able to understand clearly and coherently, we must remove the colonial labels that have diminished us with prejudice. This process involved Anishnawbek ceremonies and teachings and balanced a proper perspective of who the Anishnabek are," stated Bennet.
He also said the paternal influences among the court process and systems are apparent in the proceedings and hierarchal structures of the law. This structure counters what Anishinaabe teachings are, where the Anihsnabek women used to have a crucial voice in the vital decision-making process that affects the community.
"The voice of our women was silenced, but the women of our nation used to have an equal role in what needed to happen," said Bennett.
He also says we need to have a balanced approach against the colonial structures as the court case moves forward. Bennett feels that things are changing, albeit slowly.
Bennett said that we must give our ceremony the dignity it deserves as a responsible treaty partner. It takes years of understanding and sacrifice to earn the right to do ceremonies, sweats and fasting, and no one is exempt from those spiritual laws.
He emphasized that now, more than ever, we all need to understand better our sacred teachings behind the drums, pipes, songs and ceremonies, so they are not used for inappropriate reasons.
Bennett recognizes that it has been the people's prayers that helped the litigation team move forward. It is going to be through their continued prayers and faith that will lead the litigation team heading into the 3rd phase of the court proceedings.
