Sharing Circles and Dibenimiisowin

Questions and Answers:

Sharing Circles:

Using examples from the text, explain the importance of the circle in Indigenous culture.

In Indigenous culture, the circle is the outline of the world. One example is that the text
mentioned that life is a circle, it begins from the innocence of children to the wisdom of elderly.
Additionally, Indigenous people call energy the “Great Spirit” and they believe it moves in an
invisible circle around everyone. They believe that the circle is the standpoint of all things.

Throughout the text, Sharing Circle and Medicine Wheel are capitalized. Suggest why.

Sharing Circle and Medicine Wheel may be capitalized because they are the name of an
Indigenous tradition.

Explain the metaphor, “we all carry the small baggage in life”.

The metaphor, “we all carry the small baggage in life” means that every individual holds some
emotional/negative experiences that need to be heard by someone. In context of the Sharing
Circle, the author says that everyone has some emotional/negative experiences that can be eased
in the Sharing circle.

Explore the statement, “Everyone has a story.” How does this connect to the larger ideas of the
circle?

“Everyone has a story” means that everyone has not perfect experience that needs to be shared.
The circle is a place where others can help one and another by just hearing each other.

Think about your own experiences. How have you experienced life unfolding in a circular way?
Use at least one specific example to connect to the story.

When I started school, I used to have a few best friends to hang out with all throughout
elementary school. Then beginning of high school, I hung out with several people and in large
groups. Now, I keep my circle of friends small just like I did when I started elementary school.

Dibenimiisowin:

In a well-crafted paragraph, consider the purpose of this essay. Explain, in your

own words, why you think the author chose to share this part of his life with us and
why it is important.
The author wants to communicate the idea that indigenous people can't wait around
for others to help them heal from the trauma of the residential school system.
Although an apology from the Canadian government might give some hope for a
chance at a new future, it will not relieve indigenous people of the psychological
trauma from the racism and abuse they faced in residential schools. The man
passed out in the middle of the intersection received help from three people though
dozens of people were driving past them. He shares this event to show not to rely
on or assume that other people will help you, and waiting may make the issue
worse. In this case, indigenous people themselves must act to truly achieve healing
and reconciliation because others can't do it for them.

Highlight the lead sentence(s) and explain why it is effective.

“Two events defined my June 11, 2008.” This is effective because the sentence
explains what the essay is about in a concise manner. It makes the reader question
and wonder what two events the author is talking about which makes them want to
read further. Right after this sentence, the author explains the first event and his
thoughts about it which keeps the audience engaged since he jumps straight into
his point without being wordy or excessive.

In your own words explain the THESIS of the essay.

Each person is responsible for their own healing as other people won’t do it for
them. Waiting on other people to help is like just ignoring your issues, essentially
worsening them. I think this applies to not only FNMI people but to everyone.
Other people can help, support, or give advice but one is the key to their own
healing.

Explain the purpose of including historical detail in the personal essay.

I think he added historical detail because it was ironic how Stephen Harper
apologized for the residential school system in the House of Commons, a place
where the rights of indigenous people were unacknowledged. It gives the audience
context into why indigenous people might view the apology a certain way. As
explained in the essay, some may feel consoled after the apology, but some may
not accept it at all.

Find an example of REPETITION and explain how it contributes to the meaning

of the essay.
The author continuously used “I thought” at the beginning of multiple sentences
while he was processing Stephen Harper’s apology. It shows how his thoughts
were racing back to residential schools, the lasting effects of forced assimilation on
the indigenous community, and everything else that led up to this event. He
mentions that he “shed more than a few tears during the apology”. The author had
mixed feelings of hope and anger once the prime minister apologized after a long
fight for accountability.

Highlight the most powerful line of the text and explain your choice below.

“The past will be both beautiful and ugly, and sometimes both as the same time -
that’s all I know it will be.” I think this is one of the more powerful lines in the
essay because it encompasses the idea that although the past may be difficult to
look back on, it’s essential to reflect on the past to finally move on. It’s important
since we often want to forget about the past but doing this generally causes more
pain and suffering.

Explain how the use of juxtaposition forces us to consider the value of the apology.

Although some people view the apology as a source of healing, an apology will not
give healing. An apology is just talk of reconciliation. Healing is dependent on
indigenous people. During their healing, others can support and aid them, but a
mere apology will not solve their issues.

Connect! Sinclair asserts that “healing is on all of us”. Think about a difficult time
in your own life. How did you start the healing process? Who helped you? What
has the outcome been?

A small-scale example in my life was when I was struggling to get up and having
the motivation to work during quarantine. Like many other students, I was always
feeling unmotivated and unenthusiastic about doing schoolwork and going about
my day. Constantly having to adapt to the changing learning environment was
extremely draining. Eventually, I got used to learning online and picked up a
schedule that made it easier to stay focused and organized. During this time my
friends and I tried to stay in touch to help and support each other, but I mostly just
helped myself. Finding different ways to cope to improve my mental health and
finding ways to make the best out of online learning were some things I did myself
that helped me make the situation easier to manage. The outcome is better than it
was when quarantine first started. Back then I didn’t know what was happening
and was learning as time moved on just like everyone else. Recently I’ve been
more encouraged and determined to get up every day to try my best.