This digital space is a timeless digital forum where text and visual information can be displayed and stored. The reason I have created this website to host this project is that I wanted to create a space where folks can access current social injustices taking place within the Indigenous community in Canada. My final project focuses on highlighting the work that is being done by the Indigenous community with key tactics, principles, and methods that are integrated into this work. The written work itself analyzes the tactics, principles, and methods from a rhetorical perspective. The intention is to discuss the ways in which specific principles and methods can aid in activist organizations and the ways in which they may detract from the movement. The issues which I have highlighted are the protests which surround the unmarked graves of Indigenous children from residential schools and the issues which surround Egerton Ryerson as an institutional figure. I acknowledge that these issues and occasions are not the only problems with which the Indigenous community continues to live with but, ones that I have chosen to analyze further. Hence, the events that are showcased on this website do not demonstrate the importance of certain injustices over others.

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For this project, I acknowledge my privilege and allyship with the Indigenous community, and in no manner try to speak on behalf of the community but to extend my research and knowledge further in a purposeful manner for others to share. I also acknowledge the artistic approach in which showcases Indigenous art, is a very singular and individual approach that cannot entirely represent the Indigenous community visually and textually. The project itself works as a sequential web forum that begins with the movements and work being done in the Indigenous community and moves into the principles and methods that must continue to dismantle oppressive systems. There is also an integrated discussion forum that showcases the discourse that was written by students in our ENGL 308-GSJ 307. This page is password protected to ensure that students' work is private to those it has already been previously shared with in-class discussion forums. The sections also include further discussion, comments, visuals, and questions in which I have integrated to continue the discourse of dissent. 

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I was also inspired to take on an artistic and multilayer approach from Until we are Free with their dialogue being a contribution to my research involving justice organization. I believe that their work allows for insight into direct actions and digital organization and a voice for allyship and Black and Indigenous solidarity. Their work inspired me to take an approach beyond expanding on my ideas, thoughts, and involvement through a written body of work because organizing as an ally is so much more than that. I also took a lot of inspiration from social media platforms, because there is so much information being shared by Indigenous community members for others to acknowledge, and speaks high volumes to the digital organization needed in order to continue to spread awareness and action. All tactics, principles, and methods stem from Beautiful Trouble, as well as the knowledge surrounding this information. All external images and thoughts have been referenced throughout the website that has viewable web pages for their content. Though this space is for academic purposes, I hope to share and showcase my knowledge beyond this class for others to continue to add to the discourse involving race and resistance. Overall, I have learned a lot from curating this project not only for this course time period but, to continue to do inner work and learning moving forward using the resources from this term.

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A note on the title 

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"Taking Back", stems from the phrase "Land Back", which is used by Indigenous folks that refers to the official and legal recognition that the area is Tribally-owned under Tribal Jurisdiction. Meaning that the space returns back to its original caretakers recognized as the oppressors as Sovereign (Feminist 2021). 

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The word Toronto originates from the Mohawk word "Tkaronto".This means the space in the water where the trees are standing. This refers to the wooden stakes that were used as fishing weirs in the narrows of local river systems by the Haudenosaunee and Huron-Wendat ( Selena Mills and Sara Roque).  

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The title and web forum itself now become a space for Indigenous folks to reclaim the space in which they are protesting, creating art, and expressing their identities. 

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