Exploring the Concept of the "Urban Indigenous" by Guest Blogger, Author Kamilah Haywood
BY GUEST BLOGGER, AUTHOR KAMILAH HAYWOOD In 2017 there I was, a third generation African-Jamaican-Canadian woman in the ice cold of winter, downtown Winnipeg at Tim Horton's, standing in the busy morning rush line up waiting to order breakfast. Our team had taken a trip from Toronto to do some research on bridging the literary gap, while comparing the commonalities between Urban Indigenous communities across Canada and the Urban Toronto communities we were familiar with. An older white woman at the cash register was kicking out a disheveled (possibly homeless) Indigenous woman. “You are not allowed in here. I already told you that this morning! I don’t care how much money you have! Miss, how can I help YOU?” Me. I was surprised at her disdain for the lady, and warmth toward me. “It’s OK to serve the woman," I said to her. "I can wait.” Her response. “We don’t serve her kind in here.” Just like that. That was just one of MANY particularly eye-opening, and d