Why is language so complicated in this space?

Keep in mind that language is always evolving and can hold different meanings for different people. As such, it is important to give people the space to express what forms of language they are comfortable with and to understand that perspectives can change. It is also important to be aware of the impact that language holds and that particular terms or generalizations may be harmful, triggering, and/or associated with colonial history. Colonization, colonial violence, and residential schools in Canada have threatened the existence of Indigenous languages. Given this legacy, there is an urgency for Indigenous language revitalization and there are several UBC projects underway to revitalize Indigenous languages (e.g. Power of a Name video series, hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ Alphabet, Indigenous Foundations).

The language used in academic discourses and Western science is inherently colonial as it is rooted in and influenced by Eurocentric ways of knowing and researching. For example, the English language is anthropocentric as it dismisses the agency of nature and non-human animals, which are often objectified and seen as less than the human species. This allows us to be comfortable with manipulating and mistreating animals and nature without consent in the name of scientific “discovery” and for our own personal benefit or curiosity. In contrast, in Indigenous cultures it is understood that we have an inherent responsibility to listen to nature and animals and to live reciprocally with the land and other beings that occupy Earth without exploiting them.

As you navigate this work, be open to how language may influence your own perspectives and views and to challenge your unconscious biases.