Queen's death carries mixed emotions for Indigenous, Caribbean communities in Waterloo region

For some Indigenous and Caribbean communities in Waterloo region, the death of Queen Elizabeth II has generateda wave of mixed emotions.

Some remain conflicted over the Crown's colonial history of abuse against First Nations, Mtis and Inuit people andits connection to slavery and decades of colonial rule in the Caribbean.

Last week, Queen Elizabeth II diedat age 96 at Balmoral Castle in Scotland.Shewas Canada's head of state and the longest-reigning British monarch.Her funeral is scheduled for Sept. 19.

AnandiCarroll-Woolery, a board member with theCaribbean Canadian Association of Waterloo Region (CCAWR), originally from Trinidadand Tobago said, speaking personally,she can sympathize withmembers of theroyal family who lost a mother and grandmother.

"But the other emotion that comes up ... she represents the Crown and the British empire left its legacy of generational trauma as well," she said, pointing to thetransatlantic slave trade that sawmillions of Africanstrafficked overfourcenturies.

"While she would not have been alive, of course, around the time of the slave trade, in terms of reparations that were asked for or ways that inequitiescould have been amended ... this was something the Crown could have done and resistedand that was under her watch," she added.

'I choose my words carefully'

On Monday afternoon, Kitchener Centre MPP Laura Mae Lindosigned a book of condolencesat Kitchener's city hall. She said she understands the mixed reactions from people in the community.

"There is a person who has passed, and for that you grieve and you send love into the universe for the family," Lindo said.

"But there's also an opportunity for us to think differently about leadership, about what the monarchy has meant, tothink about that history and to figure out how we can use this opportunity to make some kind of a change with the way that the system is set up."

As a Jamaican-Canadian, Lindo's parents were born and raised in a British system in Jamaica,she said.During a recent conversation with her mom, Lindo said her mom said she grew up on a throne estate, which was a plantation under British rule.

"For me, coming and signing the book because that's part of my role as a member of provincial parliamentit's also that very clear reminder that I am also, as a Black woman, a player in a colonial system that has, in fact, harmed people," Lindo said.

"As much as I want to use my position of influence and privilege to make change, there's also these moments that become extremely complicated. And so I choose my words carefully as I write in that book."

Relationship with Indigenous community

Myeengun Henry, an Indigenous Knowledge Keeper at the University of Waterloo, said Indigenous people's relationship with the monarchy iscomplicated.

He said many saw her as a representative of the Crown, which hasn't had a good historywith Indigenous peoples. He said she was in power during the Sixties Scoops andresidential schools.

"When I look back, really what did she do during those times of residential schools? She's made words that said she was sorry to see it happen, but I think she had a little more ability to control some of that and she didn't and that's what really bothers a lot of Indigenous people today," he said.

However, he said, on the other hand shemet withFirst Nations communities in the past and one of her last statements was in regards to the attacks inJames Smith Cree Nation.

"She thought about First Nations people, I think," he said.

Reconciliation and an equitable future

With King Charles III now as head of state, Henry said the hope is to move forward with reconciliation and honour past treatiesthe Crown made with Indigenous peoples in Canada.

"I think he has a good idea of what Indigenous people have gone through in this country, but I think he ismore willing to listen and maybe we can come up with some ideas that'll help change," he said.

"Everybody has seen what happened with colonization here in Canada and I think this will spark an opportunity for people to understand that this country was built on partnerships with Indigenous people," he added.

As for Carroll-Woolery, shealso hopes this change brings a shift toward a more equitable future.

"This could be a watershed moment to take stock of what the British empire has done and what outstandingactions need to be taken," she said.

Carroll-Woolery'shusband Lannois, who is the president ofCCAWR, said, speaking from his personal experience,thiscouldspark stronger calls from his home country,Jamaica, to separate from the monarchy.

"I expect those movements to gain steam. I think a lot of people are going to have a hard time saying, 'This is the person we want to acknowledge as our head of state,'" he said.

"On the other hand, there is value in continuity. There is value in stability. As we chart a path forward, not to necessarily throw the baby out with the bath water, but to think about what works and what doesn't work, what we'd like to keep and have that reasoned discussion," he added.

For more stories about the experiences of Black Canadians from anti-Black racism to success stories within the Black community check out Being Black in Canada, a CBC project Black Canadians can be proud of. You can read more stories here