This Is What I Was Taught – Breaking Free from Lateral Violence
One of the most empowering things I was taught about when I was on my healing journey was something that professionals call Lateral Violence. This…
Columns
Decolonizing activism and organizing
There are so many genres of activism my head spins at the amount of rallies and protests that I have either been apart of, or…
The Creator doesn’t make garbage
Previously I’ve shared stories of the extreme bullying I endured in childhood while growing up down the bush. Sadly, my story is familiar to many…
‘Hook’ing in public – History of ‘the Hook’
Perhaps it is because of the power of social media connecting Haudenosaune people beyond territorial gaps, but it seems to me that ‘the hook’ has…
Late summer down the bush
I had a memory earlier this week of my Gramma Rovina. It was just a short little snippet of her sitting at the table chopping…
Taking time to truly grieve; letting her go
This week my computer died. It was a total accident, courtesy of a cup of misplaced Gatorade. Nonetheless all of my stories, files, and photos…
A few cards short of a full deck
In an attempt to rule the world this weekend I somehow managed to get everything on my to-do list done. I even tackled the laundry and got it hung up on the line outside. In celebration of my mighty victory over life, I took the kids to the splash pad at the park.
“Indians” in Russia – It’s not a fairy tale!
One day as I was creeping people on Facebook I saw a breathtaking, top-notch, museum quality war shirt. It was carefully beaded in sky blue…
I’m so not cool…the story of the spider bite.
I was sitting at the park a few nights ago watching my kids play, when out of nowhere a little girl came racing toward the jungle gym squealing with excitement and shouting, “My play! My play! I’m so HAPPYYY!” Her enthusiasm was contagious and I thought to myself – that is exactly how I feel at pow-wow time.
The Meeting of a Nation
Earlier this year I wrote a story asking the question, ‘how does one decolonize’? Well just a few weeks ago the Oneida Nation did something fantastic in efforts to do just that. They held a nation wide meeting to discuss Oneida Nationhood, and welcomed all Oneida people to attend. Former candidate for Six Nations Elected Chief Yukiyatakenhas was there and shared the experience with me.
An attitude of gratitude
This morning I woke up in one of those beautifully peaceful moments that the Creator orchestrates to demonstrate His Love for us. The sounds of a gentle, far off thunder called me up and the steady pulse of falling rain enveloped everything to make for a blessed awakening.
Multi-Cultural Food for Thought: An Ode to Canada Day.
My “Canadian Friends” were taught to value their Canadian culture and to de-value the things “Six Nay Me” values! On the flip side I was taught to value my “Six Nay Me” culture and to despise my “Canadian Friends” values. “Multi-Cultural” school my foot! No one ever instructed us on how to practically empathize with one another’s stories or to respect each other’s sufferings. We were never taught how to effectively engage with “the other culture” using tact and real understanding. Sadly, while learning to survive in our society, we became the pillars of our cultures that fortify the chasm between us and keep it gaping wide open.
Innocent until proven non-status
Last week Six Nations Elected Council made a choice – after being presented with an official complaint – to send a letter ordering a young non-status man off the territory. There are many facets to this dispute; including details about what happened between the evicted and the family who lodged the complaint. My condolences to both parties. Your pain is evident and I’m very sorry you have had to walk through this.
The best strawberries I ever had…
As I listened to the water pouring into the bath, a million emotions began pouring out of me as well. I expected that the first time I saw my chest I would have some sort of emotional breakdown. Oddly enough it was the exact opposite. Seeing my own reflection and facing my truth, perhaps for the first time in my entire life there in my messy bathroom – I felt triumphant.