Laws of Matriarch

I'm really tired.  Today has been tough, filled with ignorance and racism.  It’s frustrating when people with privilege try to compare their lives to ours, making it even harder to keep going.  I’m drained from trying to teach those who are comfortable in their privilege and don’t really want to change.  It’s tiring to hear that we’re all equal when I’ve had the ministry involved in my life for 40 years, and our kids are being taken away at rates higher than when we were sent to residential schools.  I’m fed up fighting for our people to be able to pray outside of Indian Reserves in Vancouver.  I’m exhausted from seeing others with less education and experience get opportunities that we don’t have.  I worry about my kids going to school, dealing with the same systemic racism, and hearing that “savage Aboriginal people” were defeated long ago.  I’m scared for my girl’s safety, knowing that if something happens to her, people might not care because ...

Hi everyone, I just wanted to give you a quick update regarding my grandson's status card application with VACFSS. Since he was placed under Section 54.01, he hasn’t had any provincial medical or dental coverage. When children are removed, the ministry doesn’t prioritize making sure they have everything in place when they’re returned to their family and community, or when they age out. Families can't register a child for Indian Status without a court order, and the ministry neglects this important responsibility. Many families don’t realize there’s been no coverage until it’s time for a check-up. In Canada, Aboriginal people must present an Indian Status Card along with their Care Card to receive coverage, unlike everyone else in the country. Here’s my latest email to VACFSS to follow up on my grandson’s registration so I can order his Status Card: --- Hello, Has anyone heard from INAC regarding Angel’s registration?  I’m also wondering if Dax'gyet’s application has been ma...

Every so often, my arms ache with the weight of loss.  Twelve years ago, my son passed away from heart problems. I will never truly get over it, and I don’t want to let go of my boy. I’ve learned to navigate life without him, but it hasn’t been easy. I’ve gone through the grieving process and bouts of depression, and I continue to experience moments filled with beautiful memories mixed with deep sadness. In our Gitxsan tradition, we’ve had burnings since time immemorial. We light a fire and offer food for the spirits and our ancestors. When our loved ones gather—God, the living, those who have passed, and our ancestors—we hold a burning and pray together. I’ve tried to hold a burning here on the Indian Reserve in Vancouver, on Coast Salish Territory, but each time my fire has been put out by the Vancouver Police Department, and I’ve been threatened with charges. Each time this happens, it feels devastating. The food I offered for my boy was already in the fire, and it felt like I w...

My Gitxsan culture and spirituality have always been a part of my upbringing, even if I didn’t fully realize it until I was in my 20s. As a young child entering elementary school, I was punished for speaking my language, and I faced discipline for many things I didn’t understand. I can’t say I learned much during my time in elementary or high school. In fact, I found most subjects easy and often wondered why others struggled with math, even though I ended up failing everything. Both of my parents attended Indian Residential School, and because of that, I carry the intergenerational impacts of those experiences.  What does that mean?  It means there’s a lot of work to do in mending the relationship between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people living on the traditional territories of Indigenous peoples in Canada and North America. Until we start working on these relationships and take action to improve things for future generations, not much will change. My life has been about ...

Reflections on the Fight for Freedom: A Gitxsan Perspective Most of the time, I find myself debriefing about my thoughts when things get tough in my daily fight for freedom. The last few days have shown me some differences, and I’ve caught glimpses of humanity that give me hope. Throughout my life, I’ve taken on many projects, primarily focused on advocating for Aboriginal issues. My main goal, like many others, is to secure a better future for our children and grandchildren. We all want our grandchildren to have a good life, but more than that, we want them to be FREE. I often remind myself of my mantra: Free the Indians! Free the Indians! We are all going through a cleansing—whether we like it or not. It’s uncomfortable for those who hold white privilege and for those who are used to social and economic stratification. You might wonder who would want this change, and the truth is, it’s almost everyone making a living under the system. I’ve decided to get back into some volunteer work...

I want to organize a burning to feed the spirits right here in Vancouver. This is something I deeply feel called to do. As I reflect on the efforts we’ve made to change the systemic racism and lower barriers for Aboriginal people in BC, I can’t help but ask—has anything really changed? The hatred and racism that surround us present a significant challenge for me as an Aboriginal woman.  Most of the time, I manage to complete my Aboriginal projects, even if there’s a bit of anxiety and resistance that comes along with them. But sometimes, I feel overwhelmed by the socially accepted oppression in Canada, and I find myself stopping in my tracks. When I need to do something for our community, it’s not easy. Today, I’m struggling because every so often, I wonder if I’m next. Is it the full moon that brings these thoughts to the surface, urging me to confront my fears? All I want is a safe place to pray, free from the worry of police stomping out my fire and threatening to charge me. Wi...

Reflections on Culture, Spirituality, and the Role of Matriarchy Today, we had a significant discussion about culture, spirituality, and our pledge to uphold our traditions. It was a conversation filled with questions, and I left feeling concerned about some of the generalizations that were made. There are so many beautiful and diverse ways to practice our culture and to pray. The focus of our discussion with the women I spoke with centered around matriarchy and respect. One of the main concerns we talked about was, “Where are these beliefs coming from?” There seem to be so many new rules and ideas that I’ve never heard of before. For example, I’ve heard that women are not allowed to drum, that women serve but don’t lead, that women have never been chiefs, and that we are supposed to follow our fathers. I’ve also heard that only chiefs are allowed to wear blankets. I worry that many of these laws and practices are moving forward without consulting women. Most decisions are based heavil...