AFTERLIFE

The purpose of this blog is to open discussions around the decolonization work  many are moving towards. How does that look in everyday life? Where do you start? How will we know when we have reached our goal? Does everything need to change? How do we engage people outside of our Nations? How do we decolonize if we live in the city? and many many more questions. If you have discussion suggestions please send them to me. 

So, a little about who I am: My Grandmother is Madelaine Calahoo and my Mother is Emily Nora. I’m a Mohawk and Cree Woman from the Michel First Nation, which used to be outside of edmonton, alberta, canada (I choose to not capitalized their names because they hold no significance to me.) My family was directly affected by the policies that the government instituted to “take the Indian out of the child.” and “solve our Indian problem” 

We (three brothers and their families) migrated to western canada from Kahnawà:ke to escape the jesuit priests and their helpers. We settled in an area between a few different nations and began to adapt for trading purposes. In the late 50′s the last of the enfranchisements occurred and we became a homeless nation. 

Shall we begin?

My name is Kîsikâwacâhos Iskwêw. 

I am a Mohawk and Cree woman and my maternal Grandmother is Madelaine Calahoo and my Mother is Emily Labonte.