I have two distinct memories of my first formal experience learning about indigenization at my workplace, even though they happened maybe 15 years ago. The first was the surprise that I felt when the speaker from Walpole Island First Nations informed the classroom that the “Canadian” side of the Detroit River was not covered by existing treaties and as such, is considered unceded territory of Walpole.

And the second thing I strongly remember from that day was the setting of this talk. This lunchtime speaking engagement was being held in a university classroom but as it was within a classroom of the Faculty of Education, the room was adorned as if it was a English classroom for high school students. The walls were covered with word charts, photos of inspirational figures, and colourful educational posters. But what arrested my attention was the large yellow letters that were cut out and put up on the wall that read, WHERE DO YOU STAND?

I remember thinking that this call — WHERE DO YOU STAND? was particularly appropriate given the topic of our guest speaker. But I also remember wondering, what did the instructor who set these words above the chalkboard mean by those words? I’ve come to believe that those three words were a reminder to the student for when they are writing. But I don’t think it is coincidental that WHERE DO YOU STAND also works as a call to notice where you are in place in the world.

I am telling you this for several reasons.

I am telling you this because February 4th is my blogging birthday. On February 4th, 1999, I was physically in the city of Peterborough Ontario and I had just uploaded my first blog post to the SoHo region of Geocities.

I have been blogging for 26 years.

Writing online can be rewarding. It can also be dangerous because when you write in public, you are taking a stand.

If you decide to take a stand in your writing, then you can decide that your words will never be replaced by large language models. Only you can decide to chose your own words, to own your own words. To be known for your words. To be as good as your word.

But you don’t have to write in public in order to take a stand in your writing and to find your place in the world.

It is a good a day as any to decide to ask yourself WHERE DO YOU STAND and to write down your answer.