Meet reconciliation specialist KWAST-en-ayu, Founder of Indigenous Insight. His English name is L. Maynard Harry, and KWAST-en-ayu is his ancestral name, meaning one who is direct,  honest but balanced with compassion.

“I find myself growing into my ancestral name,” KWAST-en-ayu said. “When I was younger, I was more forceful and direct, and as I got older, the balance has come. Ancestral names are not just names for First Nation peoples. Our names define who we are in our communities,” he said.

KWAST-en-ayu began his business in 2018 and brings over 30 years of experience with Indigenous engagement, small business development, and relationship building. He has been an elected representative for his community (Tla’amin Nation), first as a Councillor and later as Chief Councillor. The Tla’amin people are located immediately north of the City of Powell River. For 12 years (1995 to 2007), Maynard managed Tla’amin’s Aboriginal Rights and Title department.

Indigenous Insight offers Indigenous cultural awareness training as well as Indigenous engagement advisory services to non-indigenous organizations, including corporations, mayors, city councils, and chambers of commerce. They advise clients on reconciliation, Indigenous relationship building, Aboriginal rights, title, treaty negotiations, and actual Truth and Reconciliation. Small Business BC sat down with KWAST-en-ayu to learn more about Indigenous Insight’s offerings.

Colonizer Rehab

KWAST-en-ayu’s Colonizer Rehab is a three-hour dialogue forum that clarifies misconceptions that non-Indigenous people may have about First Nation peoples. Participants shape the session by giving feedback on the content they want to discuss ahead of the forum. KWAST-en-ayu often invites other Indigenous speakers to attend to provide different experiences and perspectives.

In Colonizer Rehab, KWAST-en-ayu speaks to Canada’s colonization and assimilation history pertaining to Indigenous people, including the impacts of Canada’s Indian Reserve System, the Indian Act, and the Indian Residential School System. Participants gain a First Nation perspective on decolonization.

“Even though people seem to think that all these things happened in the past, it hasn’t become part of Canada’s history yet because the impacts are still very evident today,” said KWAST-en-ayu. “During my facilitated dialogue sessions and presentations, I speak my truth about what my family and my community have had to endure.”

“The implementation of Canada’s colonization and assimilation tools has been nothing short of horrific and grotesque for First Nation peoples. It is difficult but important to find the balance of getting a strong message across without alienating non-Indigenous cultures,” said KWAST-en-ayu. Non-Indigenous peoples must work harder to understand the realities of colonization, and that’s where Colonizer Rehab can help.

Reconciliation

It’s been nearly ten years since Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission issued its 94 Calls to Action. Since then, the term “reconciliation” has become a buzzword. It has been Maynard’s experience that too many non-Indigenous leaders use “reconciliation”  inappropriately.

“Reconciliation is simply learning, educating, communicating, listening, respecting, acknowledging,” said KWAST-en-ayu. “ Reconciliation generally must start from a negative situation, issue or concern. The parties, usually from different cultures, work together to develop  positive communication processes.”

Maynard recommends that non-Indigenous people not use the term “reconciliation” until they have a strong understanding of Canada’s colonial history. Maynard recommends using the word ‘reality’ instead. Maynard feels that non-Indigenous peoples must earn the privilege of using words such as reconciliation. To earn such privileges, non-Indigenous peoples must endure the “truth” side of truth and reconciliation.

To work towards such privileges, one must possess a strong understanding of the following Indigenous engagement topics:

• Canada’s Colonization History – Canada’s Indian Reserve System; Canada’s Indian Act; Canada’s Indian Residential School System. All three are specifically designed to erase Indigenous languages and cultures (i.e., cultural genocide).
• Dependency on Federal Funding: The funnelling of federal money through band offices has created dependency and administrative challenges, diverting focus from broader traditional territory Aboriginal rights and title down to small parcels of Indian reserve lands.
• Economic Disparities: Indigenous communities have been historically restricted from economic growth, whereas non-Indigenous municipalities have flourished, creating vast economic inequalities.

Decolonization

According to KWAST-en-ayu, to decolonize, Indigenous people need to move towards traditional customs, practices, and protocols and away from colonial institutions such as band offices, for example.

Most First Nation communities have administrative band offices. “Band offices are places of power in First Nation Indian Reserve communities.,” said KWAST-en-ayu. Band offices have become colonial instruments working for Canada more than their own communities. Band offices (and nation-owned development corporations) are usually the biggest employers in First Nation communities.

“Canada’s Indian Act and Indian Reserve System have contributed heavily to band office administrations being toxic environments mostly due to lack of transparency and accountability issues, always only leading to nepotism, favouritism, corruption,” he said.

Canada’s colonization policies have impacted the lives of every First Nation person.   KWAST-en-ayu’s approach to facilitation and dialogue addresses racial tensions across Canada, preparing non-Indigenous people to feel the animosity (i.e. resentment) that  Indigenous people may hold towards them.

“If you look at relationships between non-indigenous and Indian Act elected politicians, you will see fear, suspicion, mistrust and likely animosity, going both ways.”

Still, KWAST-en-ayu says it’s possible to reconcile these types of relationships. It must be.

The Future of Indigenous Insight

Many opportunities are on the horizon for KWAST-en-ayu, as his business model for Indigenous Insight continues to evolve. As a guest presenter at UBC’s Sauder School of Business and Curriculum Developer at CanScribe Career College, he is helping to guide the next generation of business leaders.

Maynard also works closely with his daughter, Thich’ala (or Ace Harry), on many individual projects in the area of facilitation. Ace is the Founder of MUMATLA KANEM: White People Words.

Indigenous Insight will release a new Indigenous cultural awareness training app on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. Maynard is a Partner with Mighty Raven Technology and a Partner of Advanced Business Match.

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