Michelle Chubb, also called Indigenous Baddie on social media, is a mannequin, activist, and public speaker who brings mainstream media’s consideration to the great thing about and challenges going through Indigenous communities. Chubb is a Swampy Cree member of Bunibonibee Cree Nation, and forward of Thanksgiving, she shared what number of Indigenous communities strategy the vacation.
“Loads of us do not respect it as an occasion to have fun due to the historical past,” she mentioned, referencing the truth that the narrative of the 1621 Thanksgiving feast has lengthy been dominated by white voices and leaves out the truth that cooperation between European colonists and Indigenous communities was short-lived, giving approach to violence and massacres of Indigenous tribes within the years that adopted.
Chubb additionally shared what it was prefer to develop up Indigenous, how we will all be extra respectful of Indigenous communities, and extra. Read all of it, in her personal phrases, under.
I grew up within the metropolis, and I’d go to the reservation in the summertime and winter. And once I had the chance, I’d see variations between the town life and the res life. There was a giant distinction between the care of the individuals. There have been extra sources within the metropolis versus what individuals have obtainable on the res — healthcare, as an illustration. Or the excessive meals costs on the res or in distant areas — it is actually, actually costly, so a variety of the individuals rely upon searching and fishing to outlive. I’ve seen that distinction.
I believe all the pieces portrayed within the media rising up was improper.
When I’d come again to the town after visiting, I’d really feel dangerous, having seen the individuals on the res wrestle to outlive, to truly reside. Seeing that, I needed to make a distinction, however I did not know the way I needed to specific that once I was youthful. When I had the chance with TikTok, I needed to make use of my platform to amplify the issues that now we have. And that obtained me talking about large corporations taking sources from Indigenous communities once they’re at their lowest already, or amplifying the issues now we have within the metropolis as properly, as a result of dwelling within the metropolis is not essentially higher for Indigenous individuals. I keep in mind rising up in Winnipeg, and there could be a variety of information reporters speaking a few lacking Indigenous lady, and I’d be like, “What, once more? This occurred final week.” Being an Indigenous lady rising up, I used to be scared. I did not wish to be a kind of lacking individuals. So I began amplifying that additionally, as a result of it is a wrestle for Indigenous individuals.
I believe all the pieces portrayed within the media rising up was improper. How historical past books portrayed us — they advised the white a part of the story, not the entire historical past. I used to be by no means taught about residential colleges or the buffalo bloodbath. I needed to take a separate course in highschool to study all about that stuff. Meanwhile, in social research class, you solely get a paragraph or two about Indigenous peoples.
And on a extra private stage, each Halloween, I’d be requested to be Pocahontas. Growing up, I revered her as a lady, as a result of she was principally one among our first lacking and murdered Indigenous girls. But additionally at school, there could be individuals touching my hair with out asking and saying, “Oh my god, your hair is so lengthy.” I believe that is totally different culturally, as a result of even throughout powwows, when I’d put on my regalia, individuals would ask earlier than touching my regalia or taking photos. I believe so many individuals do not respect boundaries.
I believe it is all about educating ourselves to change into extra knowledgeable, particularly with Indigenous tradition, as a result of once more, media can painting us in methods they wish to paint us. In actuality, there are a number of Indigenous individuals all over the world, and all of us have similarities — however all of us are totally different in ways in which make us distinctive in our personal tribes and cultures.