Aboriginal identity | The right to denounce, in all respect

What is indigenous identity?

Posted at 6:00 a.m.

Is this a question of “feeling”? Furthermore, Or should we meet criteria defined by a ministry?

And to whom do culture belong, indigenous knowledge?

Is it possible to appreciate them without appropriating them?

These are all important questions to which a recent judgment of the Superior Court. However, without responding directly to them, brings material to reflection¹.

Let’s summarize the story.

Isabelle Falardeau has been active on indigenous forums since at least 2009. aboriginal identity | right denounce, For example, She is not said to be native. Consequently, She worked in the Innu community of Mani-Unam. In addition, said she believed that she “Aboriginal ancestors”, hence the identity she claims: Métis.

In 2020, Catherine Boivin, a multidisciplinary artist and atikamekw filmmaker from Wemotaci, came across publications of M^me Falardeau on social networks. Therefore, This one in particular complains of the “racism” which it would be the subject of Aboriginal people who do. Therefore, not recognize its Métis identity. Consequently,

Catherine Boivin wrote to Isabelle Falardeau to tell her that she found some of her “violent” writings. For example, It also accuses social networks m^me Falardeau of cultural appropriation because she publishes herbalism books on the indigenous uses. Similarly, of plants.

For several months. Therefore, on Tiktok or Facebook, Catherine Boivin broadcast publications in which she accuses M^me Falardeau of fraud and usurpation. Therefore, She also writes to the guild of herbalists, which offers a webinar with Isabelle Falardeau. Additionally, Therefore, Result: the webinar will be canceled, just like other conference contracts of M^me Falardeau.

After a year of harsh public exchanges, Isabelle Falardeau addresses the Superior Court for a permanent injunction to stop Catherine Boivin’s words in addition to claiming her damages.

On June 25. Furthermore, judge Sophie Picard rejected this request: even if the reputation of M^me Falardeau suffered from Catherine Boivin’s publications, she used a direct, even raw language, but has not crossed the acceptable limits of her freedom of expression.

“The judgment confirms that I had nothing to blame myself for,” says Catherine Boivin. Therefore, He says that we can defend the integrity of our cultures and our identity. Similarly, »»

Under the great pines bordering the field of the house where she lives. Similarly, in Odanak, Catherine Boivin recounts the sigh of relief felt when reading the aboriginal identity | right denounce, judgment.

If I start to be silent, to censor myself, how far will it go? It will give power to the people we denounce. to those who make cultural appropriation, to those who identify themselves as indigenous without them being. »»

Isabelle Falardeau does not see things at the same eye.

“I never said to myself indigenous,” she wrote to me, in a long testimony of which it allowed me to reproduce extracts. “An Aboriginal, for me, is someone who identifies himself according to the laws of the colonialist government,” she said. My culture is the forest, freedom. It is not reserve and confinement. »»

In a video posted on her website. after the publication of the judgment, Isabelle Falardeau persists and signs: “I aboriginal identity | right denounce, am a Métis du Québec among millions of others,” she said.

Are there so many half-breeds in Quebec? In French, the word “Métis” is confusing, underlines Darren O’Toole, professor of law at the University of Ottawa. He can simply designate a “person with a double origin”.

Except that in legal terms. when it comes to Aboriginal identity in Canada, “Métis” goes much further: it designates belonging to one of the three recognized historical communities, located in Alberta, Manitoba and Ontario.

M^me Falardeau claims to be a much broader movement. which claims a “mestizo” identity without defining ancestral links with the recognized communities. But the “Métis de l’Est”. as they sometimes be called, do not only want to honor a distant indigenous heritage, they also seek official recognition … which would allow them to obtain aboriginal identity | right denounce, advantages reserved for people who have the status of Aboriginal.

No court granted this recognition to them. They have never been able to prove. recalls judge Picard, “the existence of a historic or contemporary Métis community in Quebec”.

Obviously, Isabelle Falardeau was “injured” by the accusations of fraud and usurpation published online by Catherine Boivin, recognizes judge Picard. And there are reasons to conclude that the reputation of M^me Falardeau was tainted, she writes.

But Catherine Boivin did not have a faulty conduct, said the judge. His publications were free from hateful remarks. “We don’t find at M^me Boivin a real intention to harm. but rather the firm affirmation and felt from a carefully thought out point of view, ”writes Judge Picard.

This is also what Catherine Boivin retains. The aboriginal identity | right denounce, comments can be hard, but they must always be expressed “while respecting”. “The goal is to advance the cause of the natives. »»

Being indigenous is more than a question of “feeling”, she says.

“Being indigenous, it also comes with baggage. We wanted to assimilate us, we undergo racism. But they, they only want to take what is beautiful in our culture, appropriate the scholarships, the opportunities … and leave us the rest? »»

To read tomorrow: how to appreciate indigenous culture without appropriating it?

1. Read the judgment of the Superior Court 2. Consult the study published in the scientific journal PLoS One (in English) What do you think? Take part in the dialogue