An Indigenous Journey to Leadership | Eddy Robinson | TEDxStMaryCSSchool

When we consider the Indigenous narrative of Canada most people tend to think Indigenous people are a people of the past. As an urban Indigenous person growing up in Toronto Eddy shares his narrative and process of self-actualization to becoming the person he is today, through the spaces created by unexpected allies.

From kindergarten to life as an adult we as human beings yearn and seek belonging. Whether it is within our personal, academic and or professional lives we need to have a sense of Kinship. Amongst marginalized urban Indigenous communities, people are searching for evidence and traces of their identity. There is an overwhelming sense of placelessness plaguing the identity of many urban Indigenous people across Canada due to the impacts of Imperialism, colonialism and methods of colonization.

Cultures around the world engage in rites of passage and methods of Introspection to the discovery of self. It has been through ceremonies like the Vision Quest and Traditional Fasting ceremonies that Indigenous people like the Anishinaabe can face their truth on the journey to finding identity.

Transformation is a natural progression to becoming who we were meant to be (leader, teacher, agent of change) after we have truthfully faced ourselves. Eddy now has the opportunity to fully embraces his clan (the Crane), his spirit name and the role he was intended to occupy since birth regardless of the methods put in place to separate him from his identity as an Indigenous person.

The Crane, one of the five original clans of the Anishinaabe (Ojibway) the external leaders are tasked with bringing forth the voice of the community. Cranes when migrating will carry the smaller birds on their backs when they get tired. This principle is the foundation for leadership amongst many Anishinaabe and it is through this value that we as human beings can become more mindful of our own role as leaders of change.

My Thoughts

It was through reflecting on my own journey of introspection that I discovered an idea worth spreading; a self-actualization KIT to becoming the leaders we were intended to be.

Eddy Robinson: Eventually ending up in the care of his grandparents, Eddy found himself caught in the same cycle of violence and addiction that dominated his childhood. He credits a Catholic priest at the Native Peoples Parish located in Toronto for first encouraging him to seek out his roots. He pointed Eddy to a traditional Anishinaabe Vision Quest/Fasting held at “Dreamers Rock” located on Manitoulin Island, ON; that would imminently begin his journey towards understanding his Indigenous identity and helping him leave behind the family legacy of abuse and violence.
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

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