A story for my children: Reflecting Upon 10 years of an Unregulated Drug Poisoning Crisis

To situate oneself through connections, community, lineage as well as knowing who you are and where you are from is a cornerstone of Indigenous relationality. It is important for you to know that what is written here is not mine but built through experiences, interactions, and

stories by connecting with all my relations.

Introducing myself and how I approach the work will be weaved throughout the writing combined with stories of raising my current and future children. I am a Metis Man who did not know about his Indigenous roots growing up. I am on a learning journey exploring who I

am and where I am from - one of the best decisions I have ever made. I am especially grateful to my Indigenous maternal grandmother Lorna Ethel Pocha who did everything she could to protect us given the historical (and current) violence experienced by Indigenous peoples worldwide.

Jordan with his family - Emily, Eddie, Charlie & grandmother Lorna Ethel Pocha

My reflections below on the 10-year anniversary of the toxic drug crisis

will be informed by the writing style of Dr. Shawn Wilson's Book - Research is Ceremony. Wilson asserts that writing to an anonymous reader did not live up to the standards of relational accountability inherent within Indigenous ways of knowing, doing, and being.

As such, I am beginning with writing to my two boys; Eight year old Eddison (Eddie), and five-year old Charlie. I am also envisioning what I might say to them as we both age together and walk alongside folx within the toxic drug crisis, death, violence, health disparities and related inequities. My story will be followed by ‘putting my academic hat on’

that will bridge the story with academia, science, and research to perhaps address some areas we are all thinking as the April 14th date approaches.

You'll see the directional emphasis (East, South. West, North) and stages

of life in the headings below. This is to represent the cyclical nature of

life, our connection to all my relations, as well as individual and collective responsibility rather than simply looking at chronological age.

East: Come join me on the couch

My boys -- Daddy will cry as he shares this with you. Many people cry about sad and hard things. Yes, I also cry during happy times like when I think of our life we have. We have a lot of something called privilege. Want to know what this is? Go look in the fridge. Go walk to Puppydog Fern’s house without me or mom - I know you’ll be safe.

Remember when you came with me to those ceremonies? It was for something called International Overdose Awareness Day. This ceremony was for many things. I think most importantly it is to remember people who died.

Charlie: The fish was so yummy!

Yes, food is important and tasty. I also want you to think about the drumming, the songs, and the people who shared. So many people die because of something called drugs. They can also be medicine. Mommy needed some medicine to help her with her pain when you were born too! Drugs aren’t all bad. There’s a lot of big things that contribute to why so

many people are dying. I will share more as you get older.

Eddie: Is that why you bought that man a coffee and an everything bagel?

Yes, we need to care for everyone and let them know they are not alone. Small things like that can change people's life.

South: When you’re a youth

So you’re in highschool now and Mommy and I have something to say. Please go get some snacks, grab a drink. Put your phones away.

Emily (My wife / their mom): I made banana bread. It’s on the counter.

Thanks Em, perhaps they need to be bringing clothing to the shelter or helping out at the foodbank as well. I think this will be good volunteer hours for them.

Eddie and Charlie: Ok, what do you want?

Remember how that community member died at your school? That was an overdose to opioids. Colonization, prohibition, bad drug policy, and decades of oppression, marginalization, and hate kills people. People use drugs to numb pain. People use because of intergenerational trauma. People use to cope. People are doing the best they can.

West: When you are ‘old’ like dad

So you’re married now and I have grandchildren. I’m an Elder and I am still learning. Never forget that we are all still learning.

Emily: Never forget how powerful love is.

Eddison and Charlie, What I need to say to you and everyone else out there is to never forget about relationship. Yes, Western science, medicine, and technological advances help with people suffering in the throes of addiction, however, we must never forget that western science is starting to catch up what Indigenous peoples have known since time

immemorial.

Things like: Teachings from plants, teachings from the animals, Indigenous harm reduction practices, our connectedness to each other and the land, spirituality, community and cultural practices.

Eddie: I will share this with my children.

Charlie: I am going for a hike to reflect on this more.

North: When you’re grandma and grandpa's age

I am about to sunset into the spirit world. You’re an elder now. I have nothing more to teach you other than to know who you are and where you are from. Don’t forget about your great grandma - Lorna Ethel Pocha. If it wasn’t for her we would not be here.

Putting my academic hat on

Writing the above story to my boys I shed more tears than I was expecting. This is not only hard work, it is heart work. I believe we need to take care of our hearts and spirit as we approach this 10th anniversary. Much of what I shared in above story we need to take a good hard look at in how it contributing to the 50,000+ deaths in Canada over the last 10

years. Of course we know it is disproportionately affecting marginalized and oppressed groups such as Indigenous peoples.

Some of the teachings in this story to highlight include:

• Go look in the fridge / Go walk to Puppydog Ferns house = To reflect upon intersectionality / power & privilege in your own lives

• “Drugs can be medicine too” = Many ‘toxic drugs’ have been used for ceremonial and cultural purposes for many groups throughout this world

• Coffee and an everything bagel =Importance of small things we can do everyday for others

• Volunteer hours = Putting in the extra effort when you’re able

• Eddie and Charlie: Ok, what do you want? = Your children are listening. We need to educate them about all the things that contribute to why we are in a 10th year of this toxic drug poisoning crisis -- Colonization, prohibition, and bad drug policy to name a few.

• We are all still learning = This importance of humility

• Western science is just catching up to Indigenous knowledge = Greater emphasis to de-center white, eurocentric ways and to re-center Indigenous ways

• Eddie: I will share this with my children = Don’t be stingy with your teachings

• Charlie: I am going for a hike to reflect on this more = Don’t forget to slow down, make time for calm, taking care of yourself and to never forget about what your ancestors and Elders have told you.

You may wonder why a section titled ‘putting my academic hat on’ has no references. This is intentional. Indigenous knowledge is academic, is rooted in science, is evidence-based, and as one Metis Elder, Tom Mccallum, tells me, "the closest thing to understanding Indigenous ways of knowing, doing, and being is quantum physics".

Elder Tom Mccallum

One of the things quantum physics tell us is we can send prayers today to our loved ones, our ancestors who have passed on to help them transition into the spirit world. We can send our love to the unborn, our future generations to help them when it is their time to enter this world.

We are all connected through the generations past, present, and future. What we do today, individually and collectively, can help heal the past and prepare us for the future.

Conclusion: Closing circle

I am hopeful that something here has touched your heart and spirit in some way. We must do this work in partnership with our friends and allies. We need you. We need each other. Like the underground rhizomatic connections among the trees and plants, we are all connected and impacted by this ongoing colonialism fueled crisis.