Please continue to check updates on www.mocreebec.com if you want to know details of Randy Kapashesit's funeral.
As many of you know, Randy passed away in Minneapolis while traveling with his partner Donna. Randy is being escorted back by his children and sister tomorrow by charter plane. The community funeral services will be on Thursday at the Ecolodge in Moose Factory Island.
Donna asks for friends, family and well-wishers to put down tobacco, and to bring prayers and medicine when you are remembering Randy as we bring him home, and say farewell.
Peace.
Monday, 30 April 2012
Wednesday, 25 April 2012
Update - April 26, 2012 5:50 pm : For information about Randy's funeral, please check out the Mocreebec Council website at: http://www.mocreebec.com/.
The funeral will be in Moose Factory. Details are still being finalized.
In Memory of My Friend Randy Kapashesit
Father, Spouse, Brother, Son, Uncle, Cousin, Leader, Chief, Visionary, Doer, Creator, Pan-Indigenous Community Activist/Advocate
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| Donna Ashamock and Randy Kapashesit - June 21, 2009 (photo by Paul Lantz) |
Randy passed away last night at around 2 a.m. in the morning. I miss him.
Randy was an incredible person and a rare individual. He was true. He spoke truth in a gentle and humourous way. He cared alot about many things and people. And he acted in line with what he cared about. He loved his partner Donna deeply. He loved his children deeply. He loved and cared for his family and his friends. He cared and was committed to his community, the Mocreebec people, and dedicated his life to leadership and projects in line with the values of his people. Here is an article that highlights one of his many initiatives, the Cree Ecolodge: ABC Leaders - Randy Kapashesit
Randy knew who he was. He knew that Indigenous communities like his that work for self-determination through the assertion of their own values are important. Randy made hugely positive contributions at the local and international level.
Randy was also hilarious and silly, and had a fine sense of the absurd. He loved great music and meeting new people. He was generous and hospitable, and built many cross-cultural bridges. To me, he was a great friend to play pranks on, someone who cared enough to make efforts as a matchmaker (not successful, but thoughtful nonetheless...), and a guiding light. Randy is someone whose opinions I truly valued and respected. I always wanted to introduce him to new people in my life, because he was such a unique and wonderful person and good people should know each other. He is often in my head when I think of what path to take, especially in my work.
Randy, we will miss you so much. You left us as a young man of 50 with so much more life to live, people to meet, things to do. You left too early.
To Donna, Aj and Wasey, our thoughts are with you.
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| Randy Kapashesit, Paul Lantz and Donna Ashamock sharing a laugh - fish eye view (photo by David Hunter) |
Monday, 23 April 2012
Breivik's Chilling Testimony: Should it be known or suppressed?
Last week the trial of Anders Behring Breivik commenced. Breivik was
the man who murdered 77 people, including 69 teenagers at a Labour
Party Camp in Norway. He claimed that he was on a mission to cleanse Norway of
immigrants so that it could be solely inhabited by ethnic Norwegians.
During the trial he has provided chilling testimony about his beliefs,
and details about exactly what he did on the day he perpetrated the
killings. He never denies the killings, and espouses a particularly
virulent form of hatred.
Despite, or perhaps particularly in order to maintain national values, the Norwegian government and prosecutors have taken a firm stance that Breivik's horrific act should not disrupt the policy of transparency, nor a national commitment to fairness and civility. At one point, prosecutors did censor the indictment, but due to complaints, reversed the decision. Breivik has the ability to correspond with people from jail and he has been given a chance to give the reason for his actions.
I commend the Norwegian commitment to values of democracy and peace, even in the face of such a single-minded attempt to attack the social fabric of Norway. However I wonder whether the articulation of hatred - whether through media or through the details surrounding a trial - perpetrates hatred, and therefore should be prohibited.
My dilemma over this issue comes from my strong personal feeling that violence and evil have a contagious quality. I don't watch movies like The Exorcist or other movies that deal with Christian themes of evil. To me, it is outrageous and grotesque to glorify or communicate such vile ideas as hell, demons, the devil and their like, even if ostensibly for the purpose of encouraging goodness. To me, the use of fear to motivate goodness is an evil idea. Further, having been exposed for many years to stories of abuses, I understand that once one hears a horrible thing, you integrate that horrible idea in some way.
However, I distinguish between fantasies of evil that exist in horror movies and the reality of acts of terror, abuses, crimes against humanity and other gross violations of human rights. Many have the tendency to 'demonize' the perpetrators of these acts. And by 'demonize' I mean that people want to put these people so far outside the personal frame of reference that their acts are non-human. But I think this is dangerous.
I think that perhaps I prefer the Norwegian approach which seems to recognize that Breivik is indeed a dangerous man, but they do not make the jump to assuming insanity (despite a distinct possibility of such and some controversy of the findings of psychiatrists: "Norway split on Breiviks likely fate in mental ward as mass killer himself insulted by ruling"). I think that this approach, of allowing people to see the reality of the perpetrator and the acts, means a less fantastical and distant view of the nature of humanity. Because these acts are human, unfortunately, and we must know of them.
But what of my concern about the contagion of evil? People have been horribly affected by what is coming out of the trial. People are traumatized by hearing of how hatred drove him to perpetrate absolutely heinous murders, simply to propagate his belief system. And there is always the worry that Breivik will become a martyr and symbol for like-minded violent hate-mongers. One thing that I have learned from the Norwegian approach is that people need to be trusted to come to their own conclusions. With respect to trauma, when I read a recent article "Anders Breivik's islamophobic testimony painful" Oslo Muslims say I was interested to see that there was a range of views regarding whether or not Breivik's worldview should be aired. Some feel that it is important for people to see his thought system because it is healthy to see how dangerous it is, and to discuss it. Ignoring it may cause a dangerous suppression.
In terms of copycats, I am not sure that Breivik will embolden like-minded hate-mongers. But I am not sure that he will not.....I suppose that is a risk that exists. I think perhaps it is a risk that can be mitigated by severe sanctions against violence, and it is one that is balanced by the countervailing benefits of transparency and open discourse, Discourse that is needed on the nature of humanity, evil acts, and what is required to maintain principles of peace in the face of radical violence and hatred.
Despite, or perhaps particularly in order to maintain national values, the Norwegian government and prosecutors have taken a firm stance that Breivik's horrific act should not disrupt the policy of transparency, nor a national commitment to fairness and civility. At one point, prosecutors did censor the indictment, but due to complaints, reversed the decision. Breivik has the ability to correspond with people from jail and he has been given a chance to give the reason for his actions.
I commend the Norwegian commitment to values of democracy and peace, even in the face of such a single-minded attempt to attack the social fabric of Norway. However I wonder whether the articulation of hatred - whether through media or through the details surrounding a trial - perpetrates hatred, and therefore should be prohibited.
My dilemma over this issue comes from my strong personal feeling that violence and evil have a contagious quality. I don't watch movies like The Exorcist or other movies that deal with Christian themes of evil. To me, it is outrageous and grotesque to glorify or communicate such vile ideas as hell, demons, the devil and their like, even if ostensibly for the purpose of encouraging goodness. To me, the use of fear to motivate goodness is an evil idea. Further, having been exposed for many years to stories of abuses, I understand that once one hears a horrible thing, you integrate that horrible idea in some way.
However, I distinguish between fantasies of evil that exist in horror movies and the reality of acts of terror, abuses, crimes against humanity and other gross violations of human rights. Many have the tendency to 'demonize' the perpetrators of these acts. And by 'demonize' I mean that people want to put these people so far outside the personal frame of reference that their acts are non-human. But I think this is dangerous.
I think that perhaps I prefer the Norwegian approach which seems to recognize that Breivik is indeed a dangerous man, but they do not make the jump to assuming insanity (despite a distinct possibility of such and some controversy of the findings of psychiatrists: "Norway split on Breiviks likely fate in mental ward as mass killer himself insulted by ruling"). I think that this approach, of allowing people to see the reality of the perpetrator and the acts, means a less fantastical and distant view of the nature of humanity. Because these acts are human, unfortunately, and we must know of them.
But what of my concern about the contagion of evil? People have been horribly affected by what is coming out of the trial. People are traumatized by hearing of how hatred drove him to perpetrate absolutely heinous murders, simply to propagate his belief system. And there is always the worry that Breivik will become a martyr and symbol for like-minded violent hate-mongers. One thing that I have learned from the Norwegian approach is that people need to be trusted to come to their own conclusions. With respect to trauma, when I read a recent article "Anders Breivik's islamophobic testimony painful" Oslo Muslims say I was interested to see that there was a range of views regarding whether or not Breivik's worldview should be aired. Some feel that it is important for people to see his thought system because it is healthy to see how dangerous it is, and to discuss it. Ignoring it may cause a dangerous suppression.
In terms of copycats, I am not sure that Breivik will embolden like-minded hate-mongers. But I am not sure that he will not.....I suppose that is a risk that exists. I think perhaps it is a risk that can be mitigated by severe sanctions against violence, and it is one that is balanced by the countervailing benefits of transparency and open discourse, Discourse that is needed on the nature of humanity, evil acts, and what is required to maintain principles of peace in the face of radical violence and hatred.
Wednesday, 11 April 2012
Resource for communities and individuals who are working toward peace
I have to admit that I have struggled with this week's post (or actually last week's post, since I am very late...). I have been thinking about all the different aspects of process design that are important to talk about, but really my mind has been elsewhere. This blog is in part an evolutionary process for me, and in the past few weeks there has been a significant leap forward in my thinking. I decided that instead of only talking about process design, I am going to start a project myself.
Throughout the past 25 or so years of my career and personal life, I have heard many stories of people's challenges resulting from different types of oppression. In particular, I have heard of the challenges faced by Indigenous people and communities who are living with the legacy of colonialism. I have, however, also heard many experiences of triumph from those who have taken action to overcome the negative impacts of colonialism.
From what I can see, there does not seem to exist an online resource which chronicles specific positive actions that can be shared across the Indigenous world to inspire other Indigenous community members who might be facing similar challenges. Specific situations may differ, but community members in one region or country may find that there is something to be gained from hearing about the experiences of people in other Indigenous communities. People who have initiated some positive change in their own life, their family or their communities may have something to show or teach other people in other communities who are coming up against a similar challenge. At the very least, developing a resource of positive action will be a sort of library or chronicle for the future.
When I started to seriously think of setting up an online space for sharing positive action taken by Indigenous people, I realized that I have also witnessed the actions of many non-Indigenous people who have worked to overcome the negative impacts of colonization on Indigenous people in respectful and effective ways. These people have looked at their own roles, the political implications of what they were doing, and their responsibilities as members of non-Indigenous communities who have been historically implicated in acts of oppression. The actions of these people should also be chronicled as a means of demonstrating how non-Indigenous people can take responsible and respectful action.
With this in mind, I decided that the blog may be a starting point for an online resource with two separate parts.
Upcoming in this blog space, sometime over the next month, will be posts highlighting the positive and non-violent actions of Indigenous and non-Indigenous people in different regions who have focused on ameliorating the negative effects of colonization. The posts will eventually contribute to a two-part resource. In the first part, Indigenous people can see what other Indigenous community members have done in very specific and personal scenarios, and how it was done. In the second part, there will be chronicles of the positive actions of non-Indigenous people to address the legacy of colonialism. Each experience will stand on its own, and will not be merged or generalized with other experiences.
Watch this space!
Throughout the past 25 or so years of my career and personal life, I have heard many stories of people's challenges resulting from different types of oppression. In particular, I have heard of the challenges faced by Indigenous people and communities who are living with the legacy of colonialism. I have, however, also heard many experiences of triumph from those who have taken action to overcome the negative impacts of colonialism.
From what I can see, there does not seem to exist an online resource which chronicles specific positive actions that can be shared across the Indigenous world to inspire other Indigenous community members who might be facing similar challenges. Specific situations may differ, but community members in one region or country may find that there is something to be gained from hearing about the experiences of people in other Indigenous communities. People who have initiated some positive change in their own life, their family or their communities may have something to show or teach other people in other communities who are coming up against a similar challenge. At the very least, developing a resource of positive action will be a sort of library or chronicle for the future.
When I started to seriously think of setting up an online space for sharing positive action taken by Indigenous people, I realized that I have also witnessed the actions of many non-Indigenous people who have worked to overcome the negative impacts of colonization on Indigenous people in respectful and effective ways. These people have looked at their own roles, the political implications of what they were doing, and their responsibilities as members of non-Indigenous communities who have been historically implicated in acts of oppression. The actions of these people should also be chronicled as a means of demonstrating how non-Indigenous people can take responsible and respectful action.
With this in mind, I decided that the blog may be a starting point for an online resource with two separate parts.
Upcoming in this blog space, sometime over the next month, will be posts highlighting the positive and non-violent actions of Indigenous and non-Indigenous people in different regions who have focused on ameliorating the negative effects of colonization. The posts will eventually contribute to a two-part resource. In the first part, Indigenous people can see what other Indigenous community members have done in very specific and personal scenarios, and how it was done. In the second part, there will be chronicles of the positive actions of non-Indigenous people to address the legacy of colonialism. Each experience will stand on its own, and will not be merged or generalized with other experiences.
Watch this space!
Tuesday, 10 April 2012
Update on Pablo de Greiff appointment
!NEWS FLASH UPDATE! - On March 22, 2012 I spoke about the nomination of Pablo de Greiff as the UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion of truth, justice, reparation and the guarantee of non-recurrence. In fact, on March 23 the UN Human Rights Council actually appointed Dr. de Greiff. To see the press release, go to United Nations Human Rights Council press release for March 23, 2012.
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