Listen Beyond The Surface

If Monty Python taught us anything, it’s that sometimes a shift in form is exactly what’s needed. “And now for something completely different…” feels like the right way to open this week’s Teachings Tuesday, because today’s offering looks and feels a little different — and intentionally so.

This week, our teaching comes as an audio story shared by our friend to Culturally Committed, and Katy’s partner, Alex. We’ve never presented a TT in audio format before, but part of our commitment is making space for people to share teachings in the ways that feel most natural to them. For Alex, that meant setting aside the written word and speaking directly from the heart. We’ll include a transcript as well, for anyone who prefers or needs to read.

Alex brings us into a conversation tied to the recent Quw’utsun (Cowichan) Aboriginal Title ruling — a landmark decision that restored jurisdiction over a portion of their unceded lands. While this decision is a long-awaited affirmation of Indigenous rights, it has caused real fear and confusion in parts of the surrounding Richmond community, especially among homeowners who were told that, because the land is now recognized as Aboriginal Title, banks may refuse to issue or renew mortgages.

This is where Alex’s story begins: trying to find common ground with a woman who was deeply upset because someone she cared about was being told they could lose their home — not because of anything they did, but because a bank no longer wanted to lend on land that isn’t “simple fee title.”

When we step back from the swirl of emotion and politics and really look at the issue, the truth becomes clear. This is systemic racism. With more Nations pursuing the return of their lands, it’s neither reasonable nor realistic to imagine that banks can simply deny entire communities the ability to carry a mortgage. Just because something hasn’t been done before doesn’t mean it can’t be done. And we need to name that clearly, or it becomes one more place where blame is misdirected onto Indigenous people instead of the systems causing the harm.

I’m grateful Alex brought this forward, and I’m curious what you think about this shift to audio — whether it opens something new for you or changes the way you experience these weekly teachings.

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Listen Here

"Writing is not my strong suit. I don't think it ever will be and it certainly never has been. After a day of trying to write this and having nothing to show for it, I am going to embrace the spirit of bucking a trend just because I'm told it's how we do things and just speak to you... and leave space for how that's received. I was asked to share a story of something that happened to me recently. I've been getting involved in politics, to my chagrin. But, the reason I decided to do that is because at the end of the day, no matter who you are, I believe that under this Colonial, Imperial, Capitalist system, we are all under the heel of it. Almost all of us, and those of us under the heel have far more in common with each other than we do with the people at the top, regardless of our differences. But the only way we're ever going to throw this boot off of us is together. So this is where it starts. I met a woman who was pretty upset, and we were trying to find common ground. And the reason that she was upset was that someone that she cared about was about to lose their home, as a result of a local ruling that happened here in British Columbia, where the Cowichan Nation had some of their land restored to what is colonially known as 'Aboriginal Title', really it just means you got your land back, or at least some of it, which is great, it's amazing and I hope that this continues to happen. I hope we see more of this, but she was upset because this person was going to lose their home as a result. I gently pushed back and said that my understanding of this ruling, and even the initial filing, was not trying to go after private home ownership. It's almost like Indigenous people understand that people shouldn't be displaced from their homes, am I right? But the point that she was trying to make was, as a result of it, the person was no longer able to get a mortgage and if they couldn't get a mortgage, then they couldn't afford the home, and they were then going to have to leave the home, so at the end of the day it had the same net effect. I left space for how she was feeling and then asked her to... temporarily let's separate ourselves from 'how we got here', to 'what is the active issue now?', and just look at the latter for a moment. So, at the end of the day, regardless of how we got here, the problem is: Her friend is being denied a mortgage for reasons that have nothing to do with- their fault, and that previously they were qualified for. The only variable that's changed here is that the property now resists [SIC: 'resides'] on Aboriginal Title land and they won't issue a mortgage for again, something that is still private home ownership. So I would say that the problem in this scenario is the Banks, because they won't issue something that's not on 'Simple Fee Title'. Why will they not issue something that's not on 'Simple Fee Title'? I don't really know and to be honest, I don't care. It's discrimination and it's bullshit. Now, as a result of the ruling, do some administrators and people at the bank who are experts need to reorganize or restructure some things to accommodate for this and they need some time? Sure, fair enough. If we were protesting that, or if that was the root of an issue, sure. But as we get people on our side and try to decolonize this country, it's going to take time, and it's going to take those efforts, especially for people still locked into that colonial mindset. But that's not what's happening here. What's happening is discrimination, and it's bullshit. The reason that I think this story is important to share, and it's important to talk about, and most importantly to be loud about, is because if that's a conversation that happened when I was trying to reach out across the aisle to somebody, it's also happening in spaces that we are not privy to, where they're going to rile each other up and that's going to turn into more racism, stoking the flames of hatred. This woman was able to be disarmed through that conversation, I had some success through that. And I don't say that to toot my own horn, I say it to spotlight the problem. This needs to be addressed quickly. The spotlight of blame needs to be adjusted to where it belongs, so that it is no longer pointing toward the scapegoats."

As I sit with Alex’s words, I’m thinking about how we hold space in circle — how we listen beyond the surface, how we stay with one another even when the conversation is uncomfortable, and how we widen our lens to understand what’s really happening beneath people’s fears.

Alex’s story isn’t about one upset homeowner. It’s about the way misinformation and systemic racism can spread quietly, shaping beliefs and fueling resentment unless someone steps in with clarity, compassion, and courage. He reminds us that decolonization requires all of us to pay attention to where blame is being misplaced, and to gently but firmly turn the spotlight back to the structures causing the harm.

Trying something new — whether it’s an audio format or a new way of discussing a difficult issue — can open more room for honesty and connection. Thank you for receiving this week’s teaching with openness.

And truly, I’d love to know what you think about the shift to audio. Your reflections help shape where we go next, together.

🧡 Kim