When you hear the word CFS, what's the first word that pops into your head? I'd be willing to bet that it wasn't "passionate" or "family" or "dedicated" ... But Metis CFS I am learning is very different than other CFS agencies...You can call me baised, and I'm sure that part of it is a bias! If I worked with Winnipeg CFS I'd be sure to say "they're not as bad as everyone thinks"...but as it stands, here I am at Metis, and So i am telling you that some of the words I think of with Metis CFS is passionate, dedicated, a family, a strong culture, an excellent people group who is succeeding!
I think anyone racist against Native people needs to spend at least 2 or 3 days at Metis CFS and those steriotypes will be broken. You want to see a Metis man doing "real" work? come meet my boss who has risen from EVERY steriotype you can think of, is attaining his Social Work and is In a WELL respected position within a government agency. Wow! He is incredible, and EVERYON respects him!
I guess it's been a bit of a journey for me this week, coming to terms with the fact that this was my second choice job, trying to decide how much culture I would like to delve into and decide whether I want to commit to these youth or not... Well i've decided to commit to all of the above and This is DEFINATELY the better job choice! God knew what He was doing! Vern (my boss) Was giving me the tour when we walked into the Culture room at the main office. It's a circular room that looks like you just walked into Pow Wow Central. It's about as close to a "chaple" as it gets for Metis. Well he said some wise words to me when he explained this.
He said (not word for word) "You are walking into OUR culture. With that comes certain cultural expectations (eg, only walk clock wise around the room, smudging etc...). Just like you wouldn't want me walking into your mennonite community and saying "fuck this! I don' do dis shit!" I don't want you walking into this room and saying " oh NO! I don't do that smudging stuff! I'm too good for that!""
Honestly, wow! Wise words indeed! I'd never thought of it that way. Anyone who'se been to a youth group can attest to the cultural expectations that christianity puts on people...Why should we expect to NOT play our own games? When in rome, do as the Romans...When In Metis CFS, do as the Metis do...Why should this be a compromization of my faith? Sure there is confusion in the spirituality. Sure there are demons involved...but I know I have prayers support (lol especially when my mom finds out i'm open to a smudge) but really? These people are from Shem, I'm from Ham and the jews are from Japheth (don't quote me on that, but you get the idea)... Really? you CAN'T tell me we aren't all serving the same creator.. "the creator" is THE creator! They may not have the Jesus part, but the God part, they've got....
Anyway, lots of thoughts to consider right now, but there's a bite for y'alls!
I met my first client today and I can see that I will have to keep my boundaries in check, or i'll just go crazy caring for these girls and getting attached to them! "high needs"...what a joke! I'm sure you've heard that Native people are a product of their history...you don't know it's true until you look someone in the face and hear their story.
One of my clients (on top of historical issues, and abusive family life and street living etc...) has had a police officer has called her a "fucking squaw" and "you're all the same" while incarcerating her...and that's the least of her concerns, let alone that this ISN'T recorded anywhere in her file because it's a police officer's word over hers... It breaks my heart what the system can get away with, and how it hurts these kids...someone needs to be held accountable for this...
Well anyway, that's my rant for now!
No comments:
Post a Comment