As time goes by, there is more and more talk about the possibility of a united Ireland and demands for a poll to be conducted on this. One question that this raises is what it would take to unite the people, as opposed to creating a united political or structural entity. What work would people need to do to build unity across their diverse heritages?
If we think about people on this island, some of us have a significant or predominantly indigenous heritage and others have a significant or predominantly settler colonial heritage (among many other heritages). This is not terminology that we hear used very much in this country but I think it could be helpful. These two heritages are particularly important because of our history. So, what is the work we have to do to build unity across these particular identities?
There is a formula that is sometimes used for working on any social identity that suggests we claim it, clean it up (in the sense of healing any hurts or any oppressive characteristics attached to it), and then discard it if we so wish, with a view to uniting with all other humans. We can apply this to the work on indigenous and settler identities.
For those of us with a significant indigenous Irish heritage, much of the work is going to involve:
- claiming that identity
- learning the history of our oppression as indigenous people
- undoing the effects of that oppression and any ways it has been internalised
- taking pride in the inherent humanity and richness of our people and culture
- reclaiming those aspects of our culture and language from which we have been cut off by colonisation, and
- building respect and solidarity with settler allies.
For those of us with a significant settler heritage, much of the work is going to involve:
- claiming that identity
- acknowledging fully the damage and dispossession caused by our colonising ancestors
- acknowledging and discarding any patterns of domination and ways these have been internalised
- working to end the present-time continuation of aspects of that colonialism (for example, in relation to language and culture)
- taking pride in the inherent humanity and richness of our own people and culture
- and becoming firm allies to indigenous Irish people.
Having done this work, both groups are free to hold on to their identity as an interesting or factual description of their background but without any emotive charge attached to it. It is no longer seen as an essential element of who they are. Those with a settler heritage may choose to identify as British or Irish or both as simple descriptions of their current identity free of any emotive charge. Or, they can simply discard these identities as no longer of great relevance.
For both groups, the challenge is to forge a new vision of what it means to live in harmony and solidarity on this island. That vision would recognise all that is human and progressive in the contributions of the many diverse peoples that make up this nation.