What I mean by this is that people who are actually involved in these issues out on the street talk very differently than people do on lemmy. Or reddit for that matter. I go to some Indigenous issues protests in British Columbia now and then, usually it's street blockades; "land back" is a very common rallying call. I've chatted with many protesters; what they mean by this is "the landlords should be indigenous" essentially. And also that much more territory should be transferred back to the reserves. Some people even put the goal at replacing the government entirely. But nobody is talking about ethnic cleansing.

By finders keepers, what I thought you meant was "it was done in the past, by different people, so it's not a problem that can be solved anymore." That's different from "we have to completely erase all people descended from settlers/colonists."

[–] Nakoichi@hexbear.net 8 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (4 children)

Hi there I am one of those people with over 20 years of direct action work on this topic and some of my best friends are Lakota, if they wanted me to leave with the rest of my settler kin I would honor that and keep fighting for revolution elsewhere God knows if I got sent back to Ireland or Wales I would have plenty work to do. You should think very hard about why you are so defensive about this.

That said chances are if you actually put in the work and shut the fuck up about impracticality or whatever else excuse you use, you'd probably be allowed to stay. Hell my friends family invited me to a wedding out at Pine Ridge but sadly I could not afford the travel expenses to attend because my last trip out there to help them with the sun dance cost me a couple grand.

In conclusion stop white-splaning land back it is not up to us what it means.

Also to the point of "go to a protest" I would ask you to go to a reservation if they want your help and do something more meaningful than some toothless march.

[–] jsomae@lemmy.ml 3 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (3 children)

I didn't give impracticality as an excuse. I just don't agree with ethnic cleansing. Everyone has a right to live where they were born. Furthermore, it just doesn't track with the indigenous people I actually know in real life. I can't imagine any of them wanting to expel most of their friends.

do something more meaningful

I help with language revitalization on occasion, there are places coders like myself can help there. I'll admit it's not exactly a full-time job, but it has its value. But in general I don't want to bother people who live on reserves. Regardless, I reject the notion that you need to actually be helping in order to have an opinion.

[–] Nakoichi@hexbear.net 7 points 2 days ago (1 children)

I reject the notion that you need to actually be helping in order to have an opinion.

Damn almost took you seriously for a second.

[–] jsomae@lemmy.ml 4 points 2 days ago (1 children)

imo if people are talking about kicking you out of the place you were born, you are warranted an opinion.

[–] Nakoichi@hexbear.net 4 points 2 days ago

Not in this case you really arent

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