Gender and First Nations

Whenever I teach about gender issues, First Nations issues, colonial issues amongst the many other that we teach about I find it difficult at times. The reason for this is that I do not have the experiences of any of these groups that were oppressed or minimized with their dealings with the Anglo-Saxon male. Historically my group has not had to deal with any of the issues from a minority perspective. I am part of the majority. White, professional male who has reaped the benefits of my birth. I have gained a level of understanding and empathy for the different minorities that have been negatively effected by my nation of white men. But I can never truly understand what is like, what it is like to be female or of a visible minority trying to get by in the Eurocentric world. What it must be like to be First Nations and having had to survive in a world after Residential Schools did their damage to the family relationships within that culture. At best I can bring an awareness to the struggles and issues but my level of understanding is from the side of the dominant culture. Something as simple as being alone at night taking public transit does not concern me. I do not worry about the potential threats that a group of young white males may be. I am not female nor of ethnic diversity so I have never felt the potential fear of interactions with these groups. Being part of that group however has made me conscious and careful with my interactions with strangers that are not white male. Often however, I don’t even bother to try to engage people in friendly conversation for fear that I may be seen as a threat. I smile, I am polite, and I leave people alone. Is this a sad commentary on our world today?