"Rez Rules: My Indictment of Canada's and America's Systemic Racism Against Indigenous Peoples" by Chief Clarence Louie
August 7, 2024
The Osoyoos Indian Band gained much of its current reputation after Chief Clarence Louie's election in December 1984. The reserve in South-central British Columbia has shown increasing economic independence and development while maintaining its roots and culture as an Indigenous nation.
In his book, Chief Clarence Louie highlights the importance of driving economic progress to improve Indigenous quality of life and sovereignty. He approaches the topic from an anti-colonial lens while examining the Indigenous history of land displacements, forced starvations, broken treaties, residential schools, and the sixties scoop. While it has hundreds of years of reconciliation to remediate, Canada has only recently been decluttering the mass skeletons hidden in its closet. So, it's fair to say that the time to start listening to Indigenous leaders on Indigenous issues has been delayed and long overdue.
The author's no-nonsense writing is practical and sympathetic while using some "rez humour" to make the book more relatable and understandable for Indigenous and non-Indigenous readers. His years of experience offer us a well-rounded exploration of various topics such as sports teams, language revitalization, economic sovereignty, environmental awareness, and federal politics.
Most importantly, the book's lessons can apply to non-Indigenous politics and governance systems. While it highlights problems common across many reserves, it delves deeper into the essence of human character, leadership, and community to illustrate how these elements collectively shape a strong society. The development of these traits is not exclusive to a single cultural group but is relevant to people everywhere. It also demonstrates that solid community-building and practical leadership principles are universally applicable and surpass cultural boundaries.
One of the primary pathways necessary for this type of remediation is reconciliation.
Reconciliation requires telling the truth by showing, not telling. We hear the word far too often in today's politics in a misguided and shallow context. It's a nice word, but it's just a word without proactive action to back it up.
Finding reconciliation requires honest politics, economic independence, and effective leadership. One of the most important lessons I found from this book is the differentiation between a leader and a politician. Being a politician is frequently built upon dishonest principles; meanwhile, leaders must dedicate themselves as an example for others. Asserting leadership qualities begins early on in life through practice and experience.
Fairness is a crucial leadership quality. Using "rez lingo" in contracts and documentation is compelling because it promotes transparency and honest governance. In most Canadian municipalities, legal, financial, and political language and structures are often not transparent and, therefore, inaccessible to the general public. Many people are not well-versed in legal and business jargon and frequently sign documents they don't fully understand. Consider how often we agree to terms and conditions without knowing what they entail. This lack of clarity undermines honest politics.
Most importantly, leaders must nurture and develop their community ("No more broken windows!"). They hold the responsibility to address issues and foster positive change. Just in Toronto, social problems are evident, and we often see persisting issues of homelessness, unaddressed mental health concerns, and unaffordable living standards left neglected. If these problems are unresolved, why do we keep our leaders in positions of power? Leaders who don't show effective change thus don't serve their role fully.
Lastly, effective leadership is synonymous with economic development and structure. While reading this book, I got the chance to learn extensively about the Indigenous economy in the context of its relation to the Canadian federal government. In this case, the Osoyoos Indian Band sought to develop sustainable economic models to improve the community's social needs.
According to Chief Clarence Louie, an oath toward reconciliation means economic self-reliance. Indigenous communities must be able to create jobs, stimulate the economy, and focus on business-driven decisions that ultimately benefit the community. These independent revenue sources would not only feed the community's ability to survive but also give it the confidence and social necessities to thrive.
If we want to solve the so-called "Indian problem," we have to first look at the problems of broken treaties, financial mismanagement, corruption, and neglect. Intentional and misinformed decisions designed to deteriorate Indigenous communities created the real "Indian problem." Many Indigenous communities have navigated their circumstances by facing policies that cause poverty, economic and social dependence, and the loss of cultural identity. Instead, by listening to more Indigenous leadership and action, like through this book, we can obtain more positive outcomes and a real path toward reconciliation.