Learning to understand Indigenous cultures, histories and languages can open the door to enriching partnerships and relationships—and respectful engagement.
Indigenous cultures and the protocols that arise from them can vary widely and take some persistence to fully grasp. But as Jenna McQueen discovered, the payoff is well worth the effort.
Jenna McQueen is the Program Coordinator for the Tumbler Ridge UNESCO Global Geopark and a member of the Lutsel K’e Dene First Nation. Jenna and her colleagues have produced a guide to Best Practices for Indigenous Engagement in UNESCO Global Geoparks.
Jenna was raised by her Dene father and non-Indigenous mother in Tumbler Ridge, BC, away from her family’s traditional lands. Still, over the years, she became acquainted with her cultural roots by listening to stories from her grandmother, Doris McQueen and her father, Don McQueen. Over the last few years, she has been on a more determined journey to learn and understand the hardships faced by Indigenous peoples and how they have worked to protect their languages, history, lands and cultures.
Developing this understanding, says Jenna, has allowed her to be more responsible in her relationships with all Indigenous communities and cultures and build better working relationships with them to contribute to their growth and success.
Culture is key to our being. We learn Indigenous languages, history and traditions through stories and songs that come from our families, Elders and teachers. Indigenous culture is a way of life, so to engage with surrounding Indigenous communities, we have to start with understanding and researching their culture. - Jenna McQueen
Recognizing each community’s unique history, culture and traditions is an important first step to showing respect, she adds. “As our parents always said: ‘You have to give respect to gain respect.’”
Like Jenna, by showing a willingness to learn and respect Indigenous cultures, histories and languages, you can begin to learn the importance of cultural protocols—and in doing so, take the next step toward respectful engagement. Protocols are not just rules—they represent a culture’s deeply held traditions, and can differ significantly from one Indigenous culture or community to another. Navigating and understanding them appropriately can take a lifetime of learning and patience.
“It’s important to feel comfortable enough to ask about protocols and how to pronounce certain words,” says Jenna. “But here’s a little tip: I have yet to meet an elder who wasn’t willing to share their stories, so never feel afraid to ask for help or ask to learn.”
Once you’ve gained the knowledge and respect of your Indigenous neighbours, you can truly start to work in partnership and ensure that everyone involved is able to participate meaningfully. The effort you put into building and maintaining that relationship is just as important as your initial engagement. Reaching out is the first step, but continuously improving that relationship will lay the groundwork for true collaboration.
Jenna notes that due to her Indigenous background, people often assume that engaging with nearby Indigenous communities comes easily to her—but it’s not so.
“I wasn’t raised on my ancestors’ traditional lands,” she says. “I grew up hundreds of miles from my grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. The stories I was fortunate to be told were those from my culture, so they were different from those of the Indigenous cultures that surrounded my home town.”
Today, Jenna is on a path of discovering her Indigenous identity, which hasn’t always been a straightforward process. She says learning about and understanding other cultures, traditions and history can be just as hard for her as it would be for any non-Indigenous person. But the rewards make it all worthwhile.
“Ultimately, the journey I’ve embarked on to engage and work side by side with Indigenous communities has enriched my life. I am humbled by and grateful for any and all opportunities to engage and learn with the Indigenous communities that have traditional ties to the land that I now call home.”
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Indigenous cultures
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Indigenous languages
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Reconciliation