Aboriginals often interpreted using white standards

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A panel involving Native participants was almost over-looked at a recent Edmonton conference on racism.

The one-day Intercultural Education and Race Relations Resource fair held sessions on stereotypes, dealing with racism in the school yard, black oppression, and refugee experiences. Only at the last moment did an organizer realize a panel of First Nations representatives was absent.

"We are the forgotten people," panelist Edna Coffin told the audience with a grimace.

The importance of Native culture is often ignored by society, said Coffin, project manager at the University of Alberta Native Student Services.

"We are interdependent cultures and have to stand together. We need each other to survive," Coffin said.

And misinterpreting cultural differences is a common obstacle to breaking down Native stereotypes, added panelist Doug Dowaniuk.

Both speakers tackled the issue of racism. Can you see me with your ears, eyes, heart and spirit? challenged the audience to look beyond established attitudes by dealing with Native oral traditions, history and spirituality.

Too often perception of Aboriginals is based on non-Native values, said Dowaniuk, a student at the faculty of Native Studies.

"The Athabascan speaker speaks slowly with long pauses. This gives non-Natives the impression that Aboriginals are dumb. But to the Athabascan, the fast way of talking, leaving short spaces, is rude. It doesn't give time for people to answer back," he said.

Changing that perception is another challenge facing both Native and non-Native communities. And education is the answer, said the two panelists. Not only by changing curriculum to accurately reflect Native society but encouraging Native youths to continue their educations and maintain ties with their culture and spirituality.