Ashley Britz

ECUR 379-02
Gail MacKay
1/29/2017

Abstract
For this blog posting, I will be focusing on the persuasive genre of

writing, while continuing to have a focus on the theme of Identity. The source

that I have chosen to write about is the essay Indigenous Identity Isn't

Something You Can Try On For Size, written by Liam Massaubi. The essay

contains both visual and textual components, thus it fits into the Other

form of communication. This essay serves to persuade the reader the moral

issue behind claiming to be Indigenous when one has not had the experience

of being Indigenous, and references the case of Joseph Boyden, an

Indigenous writer who recently has been unveiled as not actually having

Indigenous roots (Massaubi). This essay could serve as a valuable teaching

tool for secondary English, particularly in the case of FNMI content.

Persuading Identity in the English Language Arts

I have decided to look at the text Indigenous Identity Isn't Something

You Can Try On For Size from a moralist critical perspective. This essay

critically explores the morals behind individuals who believe that they can

put on being Indigenous, as if it were an outfit or a mask. The author

expresses that anyone claiming to be indigenous when they do not have

lived experience that has shaped their lives is offensive (Massaubi). The

author recognizes that many people in Canada will have had indigenous

roots somewhere along their bloodline, but he recognizes that being

Indigenous - the identity behind being Indigenous has a lot to do with the

experience. From a moralist critical perspective, as the author argues, one

who has not actually experienced being an Indigenous person should not

attempt to parade themselves as being one. I find this perspective very

interesting. I do agree with the author that no one should culturally

appropriate or say they are Indigenous while they are not, as this shows a

blatant disrespect of not only the culture, but a belittlement of the

experiences and sufferings that Indigenous peoples have had to go through.

However, I do not entirely agree with this article. What about Indigenous

people who look white, and as a result may have gained privilege from being

perceived by others as being of European descent? Does that mean that they

must drop their culture because they have not had the lived experience

that their more Indigenous-looking peers have? I have personally known

many Indigenous people who do not look Indigenous at a first glance, but

who are deeply immersed in their culture and language. Also, I noticed that

the author did not address the Metis people, who often do not fit in either the

Indigenous or White spectrum of society. I believe that the author should

perhaps take a step back and examine their article from multiple viewpoints.

I agree with them that cultural appropriation is wrong, but I disagree that

lived experiences define who is and who is not Indigenous.

I believe that this article has many values for teaching, especially when

considering the ELA 20 curriculum, in which the unit Establishing and

Realizing is explored (Ministry of Education, 2013). I believe that this article

could help students to establish and realize their identity and heritage. It

would also help them to realize what cultures that they are a part of and

what cultures they are not. I would begin the lesson by reading the article to

the students. The students would then have a group discussion of the article,

in which they discuss in small groups the meaning of the article and how it

relates to identity. This group discussion will additionally help the students to

develop their skills in oral pragmatics and public speaking. An assignment

that I could implement in relation to the article would to get the students to

assess their own heritage, and to create a family tree. Through this family

tree, I would require the students to figure out and research their cultural

background and to write a short essay discussing the lived experiences of

their ancestors. For this assignment, students will have to research their

cultural background and the history of their cultural background in Canada

what would have been the lived experience of someone with Ukrainian

background? A German background? An Indigenous background? This

assignment would require the students to develop their writing and

researching skills, two crucial skills for the English Language Arts. It will also

allow them to explore their own identities and cultural backgrounds.

 Bibliography

Massaubi, L. (2017). Indigenous Identity Isn't Something You Can Try On For
Size. Huffington Post.

Ministry of Education. (2013). English Language Arts 20 Curriculum.