Tenille helped me become more comfortable in my own skin at a time when my self-esteem was fragile. I've had a lot of media photos and headshots where the photographers would lighten my skin, airbrush away the features that make me visibly Cree, or simply not understand how to photograph Indigenous women in a consensual, empowering way.
Author: Erica Violet Lee
nēhiyaw philosopher queen / writing in the wastelands
Indigenous women on the Prairies deserve reproductive freedom (CBC Indigenous)
"Indigenous women and girls — especially those on reserve and in rural communities — face barriers to accessing basic health care; and yes, access to abortions is a necessary part of the basic health care package that we deserve."
In Defense of the Wastelands (GUTS Magazine)
I wrote a feature for the fabulous GUTS Canadian Feminist Magazine's issue 7: Love, titled In Defense of the Wastelands: A Survival Guide: "...for those of us in the wastelands - for those of us who are the wastelands - caring for each other is refusing a definition of worthiness that will never include us." "To provide… Continue reading In Defense of the Wastelands (GUTS Magazine)
Red Rising Magazine: Land, Language and Decolonial Love
I wrote a feature for the November 2016 issue of Red Rising Magazine, a publication run by and for Indigenous people, based in Winnipeg. On land and language: "Our languages and lands were made for love. We have wide skies, northern lights, and thousands of chokecherry bushes to duck behind. I know it’s taboo, but… Continue reading Red Rising Magazine: Land, Language and Decolonial Love
For northern girls
If you knew how proud they are that you made it to the age of 16 21 twenty-five 30 thirty-six age 10. in this province built up on the devastation of universes and bodies like ours you might never feel lonely again. The next time you wonder if life is easier outside of all your dark-hair, dark-sky… Continue reading For northern girls
My ancestors survived colonization and all I got was this lousy eye twitch
As the doctor empties a third needle into my face to temporarily freeze the colonial eye twitch I’ll endure the rest of my life, she chirps, “It’s great that you started this procedure so young: you’ll never get wrinkles!”
I’m concerned for your academic career if you talk about this publicly
What truths would be written if academics weren't afraid of losing their jobs? What truths would be written if you followed through, in practice, the type of sovereignty and decolonization you theorize in journals? All the times I've heard some version of "I'm concerned about your academic career if you talk about this publicly": that's not concern for… Continue reading I’m concerned for your academic career if you talk about this publicly
An Open Letter to Mastodon regarding your Thanksgiving t-shirts [[Updated With Band Response]]
Dear Troy, Brent, Bill and Brann, A year ago, I finally had the chance to see Mastodon play with Ghost and Opeth in Saskatoon. I was front row center, pressed against the gates for the first two sets. It was easily one of the best lineups I’ve seen, and an amazing night – made even… Continue reading An Open Letter to Mastodon regarding your Thanksgiving t-shirts [[Updated With Band Response]]
For Cindy, For Ourselves: Healing in the context of colonial gender violence
Today is April 2nd, 2015 and across these lands, gatherings will be held for Cindy Gladue. Cindy Gladue was an Indigenous woman, mother, and sex worker. The man charged in her murder was recently acquitted after a dehumanizing trial involving the showcasing of Gladue’s intimate wounds as evidence. Just today, it was announced that the… Continue reading For Cindy, For Ourselves: Healing in the context of colonial gender violence
You Are Love(d)
does it make you feel superior to blame young people for being descendants of a system that violently stripped our ancestors of their lands of their languages claim that women are "colonized" if we try to write our thoughts on paper, in english, (but remember that another history we inherited is a history of being… Continue reading You Are Love(d)
