Today - February 9, 2022 - marks four years since the colonial court acquittal of Gerald Stanley for the killing of Colten Boushie. Still, few of my days pass without Colten and his family coming to my mind, and I know the same is true for many of our relatives on the prairies and beyond.… Continue reading In memory of Colten Boushie, toward Indigenous liberation in our lifetime
Category: stories
Red Dress Special: An Indigenous Love Poem for Valentine’s Day and Every Day
Bring me flowers whiles I’m livin’ /Then don’t bring them when I am dead - Peetie Wheatstraw, “Bring Me Flowers While I’m Living” (1941) "They didn't have one, but I wanted a red dress for tonight," Olivia added. "I wanted fire. I wanted blood." "You need a man," Elsie said. "Correct," Olivia said, tilting forward… Continue reading Red Dress Special: An Indigenous Love Poem for Valentine’s Day and Every Day
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!”
My Optimism Wears Moccasins and is Loud: On Paris, Heavy Metal, and Chasing Freedom
Content Warning: attempted sexual assault; Indigenous Feminist anger that cuts like the lead riff in “The Trooper” My optimism wears moccasins and is loud. My optimism sometimes wears moccasins and is always loud. As a Nehiyaw girl growing up in a small prairie city in Canada, I got into punk, hard rock, and metal music… Continue reading My Optimism Wears Moccasins and is Loud: On Paris, Heavy Metal, and Chasing Freedom
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
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
Erica Violet Lee 