Addressing Microaggressions Towards Indigenous Peoples
Disclaimer: The summaries and interpretations provided on this page are unofficial and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by the Canada School of Public Service (CSPS).
Summary
- A workplace scenario shows Noah, a well-meaning employee, making an insensitive comment about Indigenous peoples needing to “get over it and move on” after news about Indigenous child welfare rights
- Noah’s comment creates immediate discomfort among his Indigenous colleagues Tania (Métis), Thierry (Inuk), and Kim (Ojibwe Saulteaux), who experience the remark as a microaggression
- Psychologist Judith Morency explains that Noah’s words demonstrate insensitivity and ignorance about ongoing colonial impacts, effectively silencing Indigenous voices and reopening trauma
- The video reveals the internal thoughts of the three Indigenous colleagues, showing how Noah’s comment dismisses their lived experiences and intergenerational trauma from residential schools and other colonial policies
- Thierry confronts Noah directly, explaining that telling Indigenous people to “move on” dismisses real harm and ongoing suffering while highlighting current disparities like Inuit youth suicide rates being ten times the national average
- Statistical context is provided showing that over half of foster children in Canada are Indigenous despite Indigenous children representing less than eight percent of the child population
- Noah realizes his mistake and apologizes, acknowledging that reconciliation is about addressing past wrongs and working together on equal footing rather than dismissing Indigenous experiences
- The video emphasizes that microaggressions damage relationships and undermine reconciliation efforts, even when the speaker doesn’t intend harm
- Reconciliation is presented as a shared responsibility requiring mutual respect between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples and active commitment to addressing historical and ongoing injustices
- The narrator stresses the importance of speaking up against inappropriate comments and taking action when witnessing microaggressions, even when it feels difficult to do so
Actionable Advice
- Educate yourself about the true history of colonization and its ongoing impacts on Indigenous peoples
- Learn about government commitments to reconciliation and Indigenous peoples' rights
- Speak up when you hear inappropriate or misinformed comments about Indigenous peoples
- Take action and stand up against microaggressions even when it feels difficult
- Acknowledge past harm done to Indigenous peoples and recognize its continuing negative consequences
- Work toward building relationships of mutual respect with Indigenous colleagues and community members
- Avoid telling Indigenous people to "get over" historical trauma or "move on" from colonial impacts
- Listen to Indigenous voices and experiences rather than dismissing their concerns
- Understand that reconciliation requires active participation from both Indigenous and non-Indigenous people
- Be aware of how seemingly harmless comments can reopen wounds and damage trust in relationships