“Finishing high school last year, I knew I wanted to do something to keep the community thriving.”

Kate is the organizer of Your Downtown Guelph Friends and a community leader in the Guelph area.
Published on September 9th, 2020.

I think we all knew 2020 was going to be a different year. In many ways, it has been a horrible year. But, I also think it’s a year of revolution.

I come from a long line of people who helped out when and where they could. Finishing high school last year, I knew I wanted to do something to keep the community thriving. I’ve been focusing on grassroots work surrounding anti-poverty, anti-colonial violence, anti-hate, and anti-racism.

We have been witnessing the ongoing land theft and colonization that Indigenous people here are facing. Indigenous folks are fighting a battle that is important for their survival, well-being, and the well-being of the planet. It has been a privilege to come to know land defenders and support my friends who are fighting the good fight. What is happening in Six Nations right now with 1492 Landback Lane is inspiring. I highly encourage everyone to support these folks.

Before 2020, when we spoke about issues like giving land back, people would say, "oh, that’s so radical". Historically, we’ve avoided these conversations and we’ve built communities that only benefit a certain demographic of people.

Now, we’re having discussions with our politicians and policy makers about how we build communities that are inclusive and safe for everyone. We’re acknowledging issues that we are facing at a policy level. I hope we keep having these conversations and that they become accessible to everybody so that we can build this community together.

It’s been a long year. I’m tired all the time, but it's a good tired. I see and hear tough things in the grassroots work I do. I can either choose to do something about it, or I can be sad about it.

To the best of my ability, I choose to do something.

2020: In Kate’s Words.

For those interested in learning more about Land Back, @4rs_youth_movement does a great job summarizing the concept: “we as Indigenous nations have an urge to reconnect with our land in meaningful ways.”

Reconnecting may mean more access to land, stopping the development on unceded territory, and restoring freedom.

If you want to learn about what's happening at 1492 Land Back Lane in Caledonia, check out @climatestrikecanada's post on Instagram.

2020: In your Words is a mini-series that shares genuine and candid conversations about 2020 has impacted our community members. From the pandemic, to social isolation, to the Black Lives Matter protests, 2020 has challenged us to grow in so many different ways.

Storytelling by Meris Kieller and The Community Company.

Click here to return to the project page, or keep scrolling for the arrows to jump to the next story.