The Exhaustion of Grief

When I first started First Nations Studies, I knew Elders would be in the classroom. I don’t know exactly what I expected, but I didn’t expect Uncle Ray. Instead of solemn, he was mirthful; he told jokes, and he laughed and smiled, and he lead us in joyful songs and prayer to start the day. …

What cannot be said will be wept

I feel as if I’ve spent an entire week crying; weeping out my anguish first for the betrayal of the mothers who once welcomed me, and today for the physical manifestation of that self-same hate. In the early hours of Sunday morning, a shooter tore up Pulse nightclub in Orlando, killing 50 and injuring at …

(PBP catch-up) The Ancestors are Thirsty

I started giving water to my ancestors/Mighty Dead this week. I don’t know; it just seemed time. I’ve been dealing with a lot of ancestor stuff in the past months, and there’s this sense of release. I had so much trouble connecting with dad’s side of the family, but since he cut me out of …