NeighbourHOOD or NeighbourGOOD?

Personally, I want a GAYbourhood.

I walk by this 6 times a day

www.livemosaic.ca

This is gentrification or “transition” as they say, at its finest. Therefore, I feel conflicted about wanting to buy one. I would be more on board with the developer framing the neighbourhood for his benefit if his tactics appealed to me more, but simply put, I am not. This website doesn’t reference the reality of Riversdale. Living in this neighbourhood and walking to and from work multiple times a day has given me a nice perspective on the scene. Beyond the “neighbourhood” of the website the Riversdale makeup consists of many other older, staple restaurants, shops, community organizations and our fair share of street folk.

My main issue with this project is that it doesn’t seem inclusive. It seems exclusive with no social conscious for the plight of the citizens currently residing in and around this apparently new idea of living. A MOSAIC, except in our mosaic we would only like the rich yuppy, creative type that are sick of Saskatoon’s carbon copy suburban planning. They are 8 units away from selling out, I am nervous and excited to see who are the citizens scooping these living spaces up are.

Don’t believe me? Google search: “Gentrification”

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riversdale,_Saskatoon

I’m harping on the project when I should really focus on more community connections rather than divisions. There are so many things I love about this neighbourhood and oh so notorious 20th street. Yes, okay, once a guy came to my door at 11pm and asked for crack…but I’m not too concerned about that. We need to battle addictions and the social situations of the vulnerable members of our society. Chastising them for their way of being is one way, although I would prefer to understand, educate myself and then help holding a person’s feet to the fire to affect change within themselves and our community at large.

I love how many people walk the street daily.

I love the farmers market two blocks away.

I love the chinese, afro-carribean and other kick ass cultural grocery stores.

I love my eclectic house with my 5 interesting house mates. We are teachers, social workers, artists, musicians, program managers, activists …….

I love the historic integrity of the neighbourhood.

I love the population of URBAN ABORIGINALS (cree, metis, dene, dakota, nakota, lakota, etc.).

I hate that many of Saskatoon’s street worker and intravenous drug users frequent this neighborhood.

I hate that “out of sight – out of mind” seems to be a simpler solution than one that will take more work, engagement and investment.

FARMER’S MARKET & FUCKING FARMERS.

I awoke at the crack of dawn. Not really…it’s Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada and the seasonal affective disorder is in full force. SUN COME BACK NOW!

I am currently seeing a man close to twice my age. He is formally straight, formerly married, farmer of 25 or so years, current father, current amazing man. Have you ever watched the Lang & O’leary report on CBC? Guess which one’s his cousin!! We are learning so much from each other and just like other, older white men I’ve dated…he already wants to take me on a “weekend getaway” baha! What a dork – although I will probably go.

I needed a brunch date today. Luckily, I found a Greyeyes of one of my favourite places in Saskatchewan to join me. A great conversationalist and a STRONG INDIGENOUS WOMAN. She works for her home community , teaches an “Aboriginal Politics in Canada” class at the local uni and in general is kick ass.

The two of us headed to the farmer’s market afterwards to meet a friend from university and her clan. The part of my day still making me laugh is what happened after I got my eggs, some locally made currant wine (after much discussion with the farmer) to gift a friend and after my brunch date left to do her thing. I sat and waited at a table for my friend and her family to show up. I was twiddling my thumbs and going “hmmm” a lot (like that michael?). I was doing that because I was eavesdropping on the conversation of the two next to me. They were an 50ish couple, non-Aboriginal discussing IDLE NO MORE. My ears perked up, my heart started beating in my head and my throat. I listened with genuine intrigue and was literally waiting for the ignorant, racist comment. It’s easier to go “black out” on people when you’re not drunk. I wouldn’t have freaked out, but I would have spent time sharing my ideas and perception of the whole movement in a soft, understandable way. I was calculating and examining what my starter and subsequent retorts would be. Shockingly….I didn’t have to. I feel so fucking stupid for expecting it. I suppose I am conditioned, but that French Canadian Farmer/Social Worker turned out to be my friend’s dad and his date. After my friend’s arrival we all ended up drinking a coffee, eating a muffin and having a lovely discussion together. Funny how that happens and once again my faith in humanity is restored.

I think this photo highlights the Canada I want to be a part of: Indigenous Canadians, French Canadians and New Canadians (Moroccan Canadian – not sure what he would use for labels to identify himself) all loving and spending our days in harmony and friendship, with our cultural differences respected and celebrated. Their lil’ one will most likely be trilingual, there is muslim faith in this photo, there is queer identity in this photo, there is a sour faced Safia in this photo. I think if we worked together the right way there doesn’t have to any issue with any of it or so my brain is tells me I look at this photo. Between the four of us there was not, but that is not the case for the lay and attitudes of the land.

CANADA & CANADIANS YOU CAN AND SHOULD BE BETTER. I’LL WORK ON MYSELF AND THESE SORT OF IDEAS TOO.

Farmer's market

I met a woman today doing Cree language resurgence camps and I offered my hand to help her in any way I can (I still need to learn). I also watched as a number extremely powerful women(and a few men) make Canadian Member of Parliament Rob Clarke look like an idiot. I will never have the voice they do as I can never properly articulate my arguments. I will however, always use my male privilege to help them rise up. I will stand behind or beside them, whatever they require. I really don’t know if I can ever stand in front. Rob is attempting a private members bill to repeal and replace the Indian Act. It’s an entirely different post and I don’t have the energy or the words to write right now. Getting rid of that racist, homophobic, sexist, outdated and terrible act is what a lot, if not most of us want, but Rob is going about it in the wrong way.

And on another tangent (holy fuck do I ever need to work on my ADD)…

Some of the interesting aspects of Idle No More are how many smart, interesting, diverse and lovely Indigenous people across Canada I am meeting in person and online. And the other part is how much strength it has given me is asserting myself as a gay man/two spirit/queer/fag – whatever. If I’m not going to take anymore shit for being an Indian, I certainly won’t accept it for loving who I want to love.

LET US BUILD BRIDGES INSTEAD OF BLOCKING THEM.

Finally, man friend say’s “you’re political” …I don’t think so, but as my older brother said he thinks of me as a guy who wants to see justice and fairness and share with me this quote: “As all great truths begin with blasphemies.” Basically in reference to how much I yell “Are you fucking kidding me?!?!?”

/end rant

THE DENE BOYZZZZ

Dated one once upon a time. He was from black lake. See the map here:

saskatchewan-map

We met at the bar and fell in love for a month. After we were done I went again to the bar with my cousins and in his inebriated stupor he was asking them if they had seen “my boyfriend.” Hold up bro, remember when we stopped dating?

I learned a lot from him though. He worked at Cameco during our time together and I made sure him and my sister became buddies at head office.

They were some of the few Aboriginal faces working at the corporate office of one of the largest multinational uranium mining corporations in the world (re: rapers of the land). The human resource people often treated him differently as that was his department, he spoke with a Dene accent and they assumed he was a diversity hire. It made him so mad, considering he graduated from the same program they did, provided they studied at the college of commerce at the University of Saskatchewan.

He now lives in Toronto. He wanted to live in a more multicultural community so he wouldn’t feel the sordid effects of racism and ignorance in his daily life. Originally, he was going to start an MBA at McGill,  he checked the Aboriginal box in applying and they wanted him to prove his “aboriginal identity.” I told him to write his essay in Dene and prove they’re being dicks. He did, they had no Dene scholars on staff and after getting in,  they must have felt like idiots considering the prestige and quality of the institution within Canada and internationally. When I think of McGill (not going is my only regret in life) I also think of it as equivalent to say Harvard in the United States or Oxford in England or Witwatersrand in South Africa.  He ended up moving to Montreal, taking another program and then moving to Toronto for work. I’m so proud him, considering the majority of folks from his home community are battling addictions. I got a “thank you” from him for reminding him to write in his language, not theirs…I told him he owed me dinner sometime.

Today, on an errand just outside my office I was standing on the sidewalk waiting for a traffic light. A man says “hello,” being the man I am, I can’t just smile and say ”hello” back. We got to talking – his name’s Mike. He was going to the mall to walk around and then back to the local Friendship Centre to hang out. He is from Dillon, Saskatchewan aka Buffalo River Dene Nation. He made a cute joke about my name and the name of the town he’s from. We talked about what I did for a living, we talked about the weather (-28 degrees Celsius), we talked about Idle No More and how he’s not participating in Saskatoon’s march today as it’s too cold for him. We also talked about my community. I am band member of Red Pheasant First Nation, he had actually been there once for a round dance. I thought that was kind of neat. It might be very cold in Saskatoon right now, but I did my best to show him warmth. I left him with a smile and a handshake and letting him know I quite enjoyed meeting him. I hope he has a decent day whatever he gets up to.

I don’t know why Mike left his home community, but I do know people leave for a variety of reasons, some of them are : poverty, addictions, education attainment and the pursuit of employment.

It reminded me of when I was in Ottawa last month for work. Other than the cab driver who took me to my hotel, the first person I met was a Inuit man from Labrador, Canada. I can’t remember his name, but he’s a staple on Eglin street. He was  proud of his street status. He wanted money for booze. I refused but I said I’d buy him a sandwich or something…so I did.

I don’t know why I wrote this, I just had Dene boys and Inuit men in my mind I suppose.

TODAY IS INTENSE ALL I CAN DO IS LISTEN TO CBC WHILE I TRY TO WORK ON AMENDMENTS AND MARCH OVER MY LUNCH HOUR.

Idle No More and for those that don’t get it…Idle? Know more!

I would say my birth chart is about 87% accurate (astrology seems like pseudo-science).

Name: Dylan Rose
May 27 1987
11:57 PM Time Zone is MDT
Nipawin, CAN 

Rising Sign is in 15 Degrees Capricorn
You are practical and reserved but very ambitious. An achiever and a hard worker, you respect success. Older looking and very serious as a youth, things lighten up and you relax more as you mature. You have a serious view of the world as being a difficult place to be in. Very envious of those who seem to have an easier life than you have, relaxation and play do not come easily. It is important that you had abundant parental support as a child so that you do not feel lonely and isolated as an adult. Generally, you have a good, earthy sense of humor that can carry you through when times really do get tough. You are purposeful, self-willed, industrious, realistic and responsible.

Sun is in 06 Degrees Gemini.
You have a quick, bright and agile mind, but an extremely short attention span. You love the external, kaleidoscopic aspects of life, but you tend to avoid (and even fear) deep, close emotional involvements. As such, you seem to enjoy travel and sightseeing and generally being “on-the-go.” You get quite listless when things around you become static and dull, but your excitement returns whenever you are stimulated by a new idea. Chatty, inquisitive and quite playful, you enjoy practical jokes and games in general. Your moods change quickly and often — you are very restless and constantly in motion. You are known for your versatility and adaptability. Your vivaciousness enlivens any social gathering.

Moon is in 13 Degrees Gemini.
Restless in the extreme, you are easily bored because of your short attention span. Your emotions change rapidly and you love to talk about your feelings. Generally, you have good judgment — your intellect controls your emotions and you do not overreact emotionally to things. A good jack-of-all-trades, you have many- sided interests and enjoy reasoning things through. With your mental agility and need for physical mobility, you are attracted to traveling and learning about other peoples and cultures. You have vivid powers of emotional self-expression – - you can be a nonstop talker. You love to share your ideas with anyone who will listen.

Mercury is in 27 Degrees Gemini.
Your mind is active, quick and agile. You are very restless and you get bored easily. Unless you receive constant mental stimulation, you become extremely nervous and begin to act in an unstable manner. You are probably a good student because of your natural inquisitiveness. You also love to travel. Your learning tends to be superficial, though, because you have a relatively short attention span. Try to develop the mental discipline to finish what you start. Also, you tend to talk on at times seemingly just to fill space — make sure that your conversation has some substance to it or others will start avoiding you.

Venus is in 13 Degrees Taurus.
You are known to be a warm and affectionate person, and you tend to form long- lasting attachments. The reverse of this is that you can also be quite possessive once you have made a commitment. The beauty, luxury and comfort of your surroundings are important to you and you will devote much time and energy to making your home just right. Beware of your tendency toward self-indulgence, especially with respect to eating incorrectly. You also need outside stimuli to get you in gear When things come too easily for you, you can be lazy and indolent.

Mars is in 04 Degrees Cancer.
Your moods are very important to your overall well-being. You are confident and self-assertive when you are feeling upbeat, and you are retiring, irritable and grumpy when you get depressed about anything. Very sensitive, you wear your heart on your sleeve. You are easily angered whenever you think someone has slighted you. It is best for you to show your anger immediately and let it all out, rather than to try to hold it in or to hold grudges for a long time. You’re extremely loyal and defensive of your family, neighborhood, community and culture.

Jupiter is in 20 Degrees Aries.
The way that you grow and develop is by being an uncompromising individualist. You have a great need to be yourself and to explore your latent talents and abilities. Do not be afraid to let yourself go and develop self-confidence and pride in your accomplishments. But try not to become so self-centered that you ignore the needs of others. Also, you may have to build up your self-discipline in order to focus your energies properly.

Saturn is in 18 Degrees Sagittarius.
Basically quite conservative, you respect traditional authority figures and are very thankful and supportive of the laws and institutions which govern your life. You learn and accept new ideas only after having very thoroughly examined them. Ideals and abstract concepts are important to you only if they can be used in some practical fashion. You are so practical and so orderly that you have natural skills in planning, administrating and organizing.

Uranus is in 25 Degrees Sagittarius.
You, and most of your peers, have the tendency to think that all ideas, customs and traditions from the past are outmoded and irrelevant. You are attracted to radically new ideas, philosophies and religions that will, hopefully, cause sweeping changes throughout the world.

Neptune is in 07 Degrees Capricorn.
You, and your entire generation, will idealize work, practicality and the ability to attain reasonable goals. But, because you will also stress the need to be selfless and giving, you may find it difficult to attain your goals unless you have lowered your expectations on all fronts.

Pluto is in 07 Degrees Scorpio.
For your entire generation, this is a period of intense research and discovery in areas that were heretofore considered mysterious, remote or taboo. The root causes for many complex occurrences will be unearthed due to the intensity and thoroughness of the search.

N. Node is in 10 Degrees Aries.
You’re at your most comfortable when involved in group activities outside of your immediate family circle. You delight in getting involved with others in neighborhood civic or political activities, especially if you can be a part of the leadership of the group. Your zeal and overabundant energy bring out your real creativity when you can work toward tangible results — things that will immediately benefit those around you. You have a real gift for getting the most out of charity drives and community benefits. Take time out between projects though, because you tire out easily and your effectiveness becomes greatly diminished when your energy is depleted. Also, don’t even think of trying to get involved at a peripheral level — you need a total commitment to feel personally fulfilled. Let others bake the cookies and set up the chairs — you should be the one to tell everyone what to do and when to do it!

NHL (not associated, but relevant) + “leaked documents” from AANDC = perfect timing to silence Idle No More.

_you_are_not_careful_the_newspapers_will_have_you_hating_the_people_who_are_being_oppressed_and_loving_the_people_who_are_doing_the_oppressing_by_malcolm_x[1]

The first news article I read from CBC this morning had me buggin’. So perfectly timed. Okay, we have Canadians amped the NHL is back on, let’s “leak” this document and cause more racial tension, fighting, misunderstanding and lateral arguments between First Nations and non-First Nations people.

A few choice tweets:

What Indian Affairs did today is the same thing as the FBI did when they leaked information on [Martin Luther King's] extra-marital affairs. – Taiaiake Alfred

Harper wants everyone to be arguing about the audit rather than the root of the problem. Classic red herring. #CdnPoli #IdleNoMore - Settler Colonial

FOR ALL THOSE USING THE TERM: FAGGOT

FOR ALL THOSE USING THE TERM: FAGGOT

Not-so-fun Fact of the day: Columbus, colonialism, genocide and homophobia. Bartolome de las Casas traveled with Columbus and documented many atrocities in his journals. Columbus routinely would gather Indigenous people and burn 13 (to signify Jesus and the 12 apostles) as a message to convert to Christianity or die as heathens. Many times he would gather ‘effeminate’ men or those that did not fit a Western notion of binary gender. These “faggots” or bundles of human tinder were used to start the fires. The journals have been translated into English and I recommend that anyone interested in North American history read them.
-taken straight from the words of my pal Dr. Alex Wilson