Tips in connecting people to these issues in conversation:

 

Educate: Educate yourself, and share your education with others. Many people are simply not aware of historical and present day Euro-Canadian/Native relations. If ignorance breeds racism and discrimination, then you have the power to reduce ignorance through educating yourself and others through choosing to do something positive with that power.

 

Share, don’t tell:  Remember that the goal is not to tell other people what to think, but to share what you know so they can create informed opinions.

 

 

Relate:  Talk about an area of the topic that the person you are conversing with can relate to.

 For example, you are talking to a conservative minded individual about the negative impact an oil spill from a pipeline could have on a First Nation community. Try starting the conversation by talking about how an oil spill would harm economic health of First Nation communities, as it would degrade their natural recourses such as fish, wildlife, and land. In this, you have lead the conversation into an area that is not only important to First Nation well being, but also where a conservative person values and can relate too.  Also, the person may now be more open to other areas regarding this topic, such as the threat an oil spill would pose on First Nation culture through deterioration of land, as land is the soul of the culture.

 

Remain Calm:  It is easy to blow a fuse in heated conversations. Remember to keep a level head!

 

If all else fails:  Often people just don’t want to hear it from you. Encourage the individuals to do their own research and come up with informed opinions. They could to take a First Nations study’s course, attend a First Nations cultural center, or read academic literature on the subject. Be sure to let them know that media sources are not a valid way to gather information, as they are often biased and inaccurate.