How threats from the US highlight our history of colonization in Canada

When US President Donald Trump began threatening to make Canada the country’s 51st state, Canadians reacted with anger, outrage and a renewed sense of patriotism.

But as one Indigenous organization is pointing out in a blog post, Trump’s annexation rhetoric is drawing parallels to our own shared history of the colonization of Indigenous peoples, and the present-day impacts we are still experiencing in Canada. 

Lyson Rivest, a consultant, trainer and speaker with Indigenous Corporate Training Incorporated, encourages us to reflect with empathy on the similarities between how we may feel about Trump’s threats and the experiences of Indigenous peoples, whose lands and homes were taken away from them. 

She also provides advice on how lawyers can more effectively and respectfully work with Indigenous peoples and communities by looking at emerging challenges through a lens of empathy instead of fear.

Speaker biography

Lyson Rivest is a consultant, trainer and speaker with Indigenous Corporate Training Incorporated.  Prior to joining ICT, she spent over a decade working in the federal public service, specifically within Crown-Indigenous Relations.

During her public service career, Lyson represented Canada at negotiation tables for specific claims aiming to address past historical breaches of treaty promises or other obligations towards First Nations. She also participated in the negotiation of future-looking agreements, including modern treaties and self-government agreements.

In her most recent role in the public service, Lyson served as the Manager of a team responsible for educating public servants about modern treaties and self-government agreements across departments. During this time, her team designed a core training program in Indigenous awareness, which has been attended by over 10,000 federal employees in under two years.

Lyson holds a Bachelor in International Development and Globalization and is fluent in French and English.

Resources

• Use this interactive BC Treaty map to see First Nations that are participating in, or have completed treaties through, the BC treaty negotiations process.
• In British Columbia, the Nisga’a Final Agreement is the province's first modern treaty. 
• Visit the Indigenous Corporate Training Inc's website to see more resources
• Len Pierre Consulting also offers free resources for the public