Laws of Matriarch

As we approach the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation this Wednesday, September 30th, I find myself reflecting on the gap between performative gestures and the reality of my daily life. As a Gitxsan woman, I face barriers every single day.  Take this fall season: I should be preparing to hunt moose to feed my family for the winter—a tradition my people have practiced since time immemorial. Instead, I am met with a wall of colonial bureaucracy. While Indigenous people have inherent rights to harvest on our own territories, the federal government still imposes the Firearms Act, requiring licensing and training that are often inaccessible due to systemic poverty, geographic isolation, and language barriers. When I talk about the need for Truth and Reconciliation, I am often met with a wall of questions.  I am asked to "prove" why the system is failing, or to provide data on why current policies aren't working.  The problem is that we aren't even using the same def...

In my yard, there is a big cedar tree. It stands tall and keeps a little distance from people. This tree is special because it helps nature stay in balance. A few days ago, I had a problem with fruit flies in my home. I wanted to try to burn a small branch to help get rid of them. So, I asked the cedar tree, “Can I please have a small branch to burn? I want to pray and get rid of the flies.” At first, the tree did not move. It seemed to think about my request. Then, it lowered a small branch for me to take. I was very happy and thankful. I took the branch and offered some tobacco to the tree to show my gratitude. Today, I needed one more small branch, so I asked the tree again, “Can I have another small branch?” Once more, the cedar tree kindly lowered a branch for me. I felt grateful again and gave it more tobacco as a thank you. I really appreciate the cedar tree. It is kind and thoughtful.  ​

I dreamed about a huge flood. It looked like three students were dead. My granddaughter came home and was safe, but I didn't see her at first. I went to the underground parking of a house where the water was up to my feet or knees. I was trying to help children get out of the water. It looked like an ocean with little kids swimming around, trying to reach safety. It was shocking and at first I could not believe it. Then, I slowly started to move to see what was happening. There were three dead bodies floating in the water. I decided to leave them because I couldn't do anything to help. I went into another room to make space and see what was happening. Suddenly, the door closed very loudly and hard. Later, I realized I should keep the door open. There were kids in the other room with the bodies, and the water was coming in through a driveway. I pushed the door open. A young lady I had seen before came back into the room looking very shocked. I felt bad because I knew the dead ...

Section 35 song (c)  I wrote this with AI, i want to try find someone who sings to sing and interpret parts of the chorus to Gitxsan…    (Spoken/Whispered) Section 35... Section 35...   Indigenous cry (Verse 1)   Coffee steaming in a glass tower high   While the Red Dress hangs against a pale grey sky   They talk of "healing" in a press release   Then sunset the funds that could bring us peace   You see the turquoise, you see the bead   But you don’t see the roots or the soil we bleed   To you it’s a culture, a vintage aesthetic   To us it’s the breath in a lung that’s synthetic.   (Pre-Chorus)   Will you color me "warrior"? Will you color me "ghost"?   While you’re building your dreams on the unceded coast   The agenda is quiet, the ink is still wet   A hundred years later, and you still forget.   ( Chorus mixed with traditional Native Language) Yeah, we call this typical   Living in a crisi...

My dream prediction    Barney held a power that will put a large black snake to sleep, it is the last thing he will do in this life. The snake is eating everything in its path, people have been killed to feed the snake, but the killing has now stopped, so the snake is eating vehicles and houses, Barney is throwing them at the snake to keep it from harming anyone.  He will soon put the snake down. It will be the last thing he does here.