Dr. linda manyguns, the Associate Vice-President of Indigenization
and Decolonization at Mt. Royal University in Alberta, Canada, recently issued
a statement indicating that she would cease using capitalization in order to
protest the “symbols of hierarchy wherever they are found.” (There is an associate
vice-president of indigenization and decolonization at mt. royal university?)
Dr. manyguns (should a trigger warning have been required before
her last name?) said, “we resist acknowledging the power
structures that oppress and join the
movement that does not capitalize.” Apparently the “lowercase movement” actually
exists.
Manyguns, a Blackfoot woman, added: “Indigenous people have been
actively engaged in a multidimensional struggle for equality, since time
immemorial. we strive for historical-cultural recognition and acknowledgment of
colonial oppression that persistently devalues the diversity of our unique
cultural heritages. the office of indigenization and decolonization supports
acts that focus on inclusion and support the right of all people to positive
inclusion and change.”
She is apparently a woman of many hats, as her biography notes
that she is also an elder for the Buffalo Women’s Society and a member of the
Beaver Bundle Society. (I’m not going to ask.)
Manyguns pointed out that she would henceforth only capitalize “Indigenous”
and the honorific “Doctor,” both of which, oddly enough, apply to her. She said:
“the goal of equity, diversity and inclusion of all people is synonymous with
the interests of Indigenous people. we support and expand the goal of equality
and inclusion to all forms of life and all people. we join leaders like e. e.
cummings, bell hooks, and peter kulchyski, who reject the symbols of hierarchy
wherever they are found and do not use capital letters except to acknowledge
the Indigenous struggle for recognition.”
She supports “equality and inclusion to all forms of life?”
Should we invite a rodent to dinner? Take a slug to a movie? Dance with a deer
tick? Give paramecium the vote?
And does this equality and inclusion apply to the unborn and the
unvaccinated?
Perhaps we should capitalize those two terms, as the Unborn and
Unvaccinated have consistently been the victims of systemic oppression that
devalues the diversity of their unique cultural heritages.
Imbeciles shouldn't get hired by universities...duh!
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