Honouring true apprenticeship in the heart of the woodland school @ Jacobson native art

Good afternoon to each and everyone and thank you for all the positive energy and love these days as we transition into another season heading into the wonders of the great snowfall. Sitting up here deep in the Kootenay mountains I recently had the honour of one of my apprentices of 3 years now come up from Vancouver to pay a visit.

We got to hang out and paint, paint and paint. We shared life stories, teachings and the spiritual connection and powers inherent in the woodland school of art. That there is an order of actions and protocols that one should learn in practicing the art form. For those that do not know this or in whom do not practice the spirituality of the art? You are completely missing the point. You are lost at sea...most likely lost in the abyss of colonialism. 

It is important to have understanding of the spirits of these animal clan totems in which we are blessed to work with. A working knowledge of feasting the spirits and ancestors as there is spirit memory attached to these energies involving the clarity of the art form and its spirit. We must be humble in this regard because one can hurt themselves as in the case of Morrisseau himself. Guys like Roy Thomas, Gelineau Fisher, Moses Amik Beaver, Blake Debassige, Saul Williams, my uncle Jimi Oskineegish along with a few others understood this. 

The ability to practice a good sense of living your life in a good way. I would say that sobriety from alcohol is also key as the temple of the artist should be well balanced with that as well. Things like peyote, mushrooms or even pot should be regarded as medicine. For it grows from our earth mother to help us in these regards. I’m a peyote boy and have been involved with sponsoring meetings etc for 20 years now. That medicine is very very powerful for us here on turtle island. The only real way to use it is in ceremony and to pray with it, throughout the night with a fire by your side. 

These things I have found to benefit my spiritual health and practice. I pray every day and do something ceremonially each day as well. My life is a living spiritual experience. This is the light that can be found in our art. This is the love found in who we are. The great Anishanabe. An honour to carry this life force into my very being, a greater honour to pass on this awareness and knowledge. From one brother to another....

All my relations...MAJ 

Enjoy this Peyote prayer song titled: A new dawn by Louie Gonnie. A respected brother...

Our heart and soul is beginning to heal now around the trauma of recovering our residential school children...

 

It sure has been a very challenging and difficult journey over these last 14 months going through this deep and dark trauma of discovering all these murdered children across our stolen lands...known as colonial Canada. Many of these children are still yet to be discovered. This has been a challenging time processing all of this. I feel as though I am beginning to come to terms with this horrific reality. The emotional scaring has been so difficult to examine and feel. In honour of these beautiful children I had to go through it to truly understand my relationship to this. What it means to me as an Anishanabe, a 60’s scoop survivor, a direct descendent of the horror of residential schools.  

In the second photo above is a ceremonial letting go and turning my back on anything and everything, Christian. I took all of these items and references out of my home 5 years ago, said a prayer to the CREATOR and dropped down a tobacco offering. It was done as part of my spiritual journey to decolonize. This act symbolizes my cutting these ties permanently and completely surrendering to my Indianess, my sovereignty as an Anishanabe soul here on our land, my land. I’ve also made the commitment 5 years ago as well to never step inside a church ever again. Never. I’m absolutely and 100% done. The roots must be completely severed from the abuser in order to completely surrender to the healing and move on. That is my experience. 

And so it is and so it will be, focusing on the new path forward. Believing in the future of my people, our healing and wellness being the seat of the soul so to speak. Trying to be an example of the power rather than a power of example. Creator spirit is this light I am speaking to. Although this year has been a really challenging one for so many effected by these tragedies we will continue to heal and find new and meaningful ways to come together and work as a family should, the human family. We all can benefit from learning how to be more loving towards one another. In honour of the souls of these children I will continue to try and be a better me each and every day. Sending love and healing to everyone who needs it...all my relations, MAJ

Maintaining some peace and serenity in this crazy and fucked up world we all live in

Truth be told, we have been very blessed for the most part since we left Vancouver in 2017 and moved out here to the Kootenay mountains. The timing of the birth of our son in Sagein which happened in Nelson BC on December the first, and making our rounds throughout the Kootenays has been a deeply fulfilling experience so far. Most people that we have met have been courteous, friendly, understanding and respectful. 

We have experienced some racism, discrimination and ugly bullies who have tried to flex their shit on us but we beat that vibe inside and out by praying and petitioning the great powers of the Universe on their behalf and on behalf of their entire family bloodlines. I call these types of prayers and requests “unfuckable”. Because they bring you immediate spiritual armour from their madness and other associated ‘spiritual sicknesses” that they don’t even know they carry and have.

It’s why I wear medicine and crystals and precious stones etc. Because these things protect me from getting hit. It’s an old Indian trick passed down from those super smart grandma’s and grandfathers in the spirit world. The ancestors. Look, I’m already a pretty fuckin wild cat as they say. Being out here in nature spirit like this each and every day for more than 5 years now has truly answered so many questions. I live in a very small community of 300 souls out here on the east shore of Kootenay lake. 

We are tucked away deep in these mountains. Quietly hidden from the rest of humanity while the entire world tries to recover from the Covid pandemic. We are super fortunate in this regard as well. We have become masters of self isolation and social distancing by Mother Nature’s very existence out here each and every day. All those who live here are pretty much on the same beam of light in this regard as well. It’s the one thing we all have in common living out here. That somewhere within us all out here, we can connect, learn and grow in the knowledge that we are all children of Mother Earth. 

All my relations, MAJ 

Dear Canada, I’m ashamed of you for murdering our Residential school children...it’s so disgusting!

 

These are indeed very dark and challenging times. The very fact that the international criminal court will not follow through with an investigation into these Active crime scenes is perhaps some of the greatest injustice I have ever seen in my lifetime. It’s beyond appalling and should be recognized for the abortion of the rule of law that it is. 

That is exactly what the rule of law is on our holy and sacred lands. A grotesque perversion of colonial white settler racism in its ugliest and shittiest of forms. Oh Canada, your home on stolen lands. Killing little innocent children in the name of progress, in pride of being a so called Canadian. Super fuckin gross and super fuckin disturbing if you ask me. 

Everything I have said has come true up to this point. The absurd apology of the pope of the Catholic Church is meaningless. It has zero depth and weight. Apologizing for murder wouldn’t cut it in any courtroom across Canada as a solution that would suffice. How the fuck could it? Any normal person knows that getting away with crimes against humanity is much like nazi Germany getting away with war crimes against the Jews.

It is skin crawling disgusting. I think of anyone being proud to be a Canadian and it gives me the major shivers and hee bee gee bees. Holy fuck is right. Giving your life in honour of this country and it’s real history of murdering tens of thousands of innocent children and building your settler dreams on the very backs of these dead children makes you really think about values. I know this:

I’m absolutely grateful to be awake and to have the veil lifted so that I can truly see things as they are. I am a sovereign Anishanabe. I will continue to speak for those whose voice was robbed of them by Canada and their agents of death, the Catholic and Christian churches along with the RCMP. All twisted fucks. I’m in a place of deep healing and reflection and I will need some time to rest for a while...my soul is tired. My heart is heavy and I need time to heal from these continual acts of genocide...MAJ

The centre of my Universe @ Jacobson native art

 Good afternoon to each and everyone. Wishing you all blessings in the highest good. I wanted to share some of the profound magic and spiritual energies between my son Sagein Wisdom and I. He has a deep fascination with our cultural ways and practices. My little chief as I call him. He is such an inspiration to me. Such a strong character and curiosity at 3 and a half years old. 

This is a photo of him running the smudging ceremony at the studio and with the eagle feather he is blessing me with the sacred medicines. He has a natural way about himself with these regards. He instinctively knows how to use these tools in a gentle and loving way. He makes me so super proud. He really is the most profound and life changing soul I have ever met in my entire life. Nobody even comes close. 

My journeys in life have been plenty. I’ve been to hundreds of sweatlodge ceremonies. I’ve sponsored several peyote meetings as well. I have learned many different prayer songs and ways to communicate with the spirit. My culture has been the foundation for me to heal from these active crime scenes of genocide upon my people across these stolen lands being occupied by the abuser in Canada. The deadly cause and effects of colonialism have been a major unwanted thorn in our sides. The time for real change is upon us. 

We are survivors of genocide, but we are also some of the most beautiful souls on this planet. We live in 2 worlds at the same time. Our new found heritage and the cultural strength and power that that represents, and the evil and wicked regime of this sick and twisted colonial occupation. So it is here, in this reality that I aim to father my son with the very best of who I am, each and every day. He deserves it and so do I. After all the shit Ive had to live through and overcome I am so much better prepared than my parents ever were. I have slain many dragons and have broken multi generational cycles. I am a change agent and have created my whole life out of defeating the odds. Those who really know me know this to be fact.

And that is where this all matters. It’s for him, my boy. To have a much deeper and better experience moving forward one day at a time. He will reap the benefits of my experience. He will know what I know in these regards. He is willing to learn and to bring more light to the human being experience. And for that, my heart sings...for him, my little chief, my warrior’s prayer living the most beautiful and enlightened life that I can give him. My dream come true...my Sagein Wisdom...

All my relations, MAJ

Enjoy this prayer song by Louie Gonnie. A master in ceremonies of the peyote way...

We appreciate the love and support @ Jacobson native art

 Good evening to each and everyone and I appreciate all the great energy of love and support these days as we continue to trudge this road of life and destiny. Recently I made some new shifts and changes to my social media vibes and it seems to be paying off in more ways than one. I am mentoring quite a few artists these days both indigenous and non native alike. 

I am born of both these worlds so it is wise for me to share my experience strength and hope in regards to turning the game around. Everyone can benefit from my truth and experience. The reality is I am a whole being. One with all things. Never separate from the whole. There is indeed all kinds of shit I don’t agree with etc in how we have been conditioned to believe and treat one another but underneath that static, is the power.

I am grateful that my reach is expanding and growing. It has always been about the healing and coming together of each and everyone of us. Time and space affords all kinds of shifts and changes. I see the underlying current of this force, this unified energy. It doesn’t matter what the mind thinks in this regard. It is the soul that should be in full control of who you are. That is where the true power is. 

With that, I just wanted to express my gratitude that there are millions of souls around the world who are resonating with this new found energy and power. It is newly found for many because one must peel away the layers of bullshit that hide us from this divine knowledge and power. The colonial playbook is just that.

All my relations and chi-meegwetch, MAJ

The reality of truth and reconciliation @ Jacobson native art

 

Good afternoon to each and everyone who continues to find me here @ Jacobson native art. Well as many of us know today is the first annual national truth and reconciliation day. Definitely another move in the right direction but a very small move it is. There is such a list of grievances against this nation called Canada. 

There are many agents who are guilty of genocide and crimes against humanity including the Catholic Church, many other Christian churches as well including many of the police forces as well as the RCMP. It’s absolutely disgusting on so many levels. How, (their rule of law was invented on stolen Indian land) when the white man says to follow the rule of law but they cannot follow it themselves. They choose to find ways to hide from their crimes, to bend the law, the rules and everything else they get their fuckin hands on, to their own advantage. It’s a real dr. Jeckel and mr. Hyde scenario. 

Canada and most Canadians simply cannot be fully trusted. Most Canadians are complete airheads when it comes to the history of how Canada came to be. (Even the white man in me knows this) How they got what they got....(stolen goods from stolen lands resources etc). Most Canadians dont even know how bad they got it. They are so colonized and assimilated that they literally can’t even think for themselves so they vote for white colonial so-called leaders to do the thinking for them.

And that is exactly the reason why Canada continues to fail miserably with us First Nations. Obviously there are tens of thousands of more reasons on top of that but the reality is Canada is a genocidal program built on the murder of us First Nations and the continual raping and exploitation of our resources. Our wealth. The colonial doctrine of discovery is a racist and discriminatory action against First Nations and other indigenous tribes throughout the world. 

Canadians whether they know it or not, their so called country is built on this foundation. Land theft, resource theft, murder, rape, stealing our children, racism, discrimination, hate, violence, force and control. Building your dreams as Canadians on the backs of oppression, on the very backs of us First Nations. That is what Canada is. That is what it means to identify as a Canadian. It’s gross I know. But this is the truth. And we cannot have true reconciliation until we deal with these matters of truth. 

I’ve always said since my awakening into my own process of decolonization and for the last few years now being in the pursuit of my sovereignty as Anishanabe that reconciliation will take time. In fact, the way I see it is that the cultural fabric of this country is still in the discovery of the truth phase. We have not even truly begun to deal with what real reconciliation will look like. 

Still even in the thickness of all of this, I must continue to remain hopeful. The fog of assimilation is beginning to lift albeit very slowly across our lands. I have friends who wouldn't be able to grasp any of this 5 years ago. They now can talk more openly with me about it. I see organizations and people beginning to stand up more and more with regard to how this must shift and change for all First Nations and Canadians alike. 

For now we will continue to move forward each and every day. I’m willing to seek this change and I’m willing to open up my heart to others who want to walk this path with us. I truly believe that it will remain a difficult challenge for Canada to learn how to shift and change with us. The government knows that they are in the wrong. Most of them know it. But greed, selfishness and exploitation still lead the way in the Canadian mind set. And let’s be honest, until our white settler brothers and sisters learn how to decolonize themselves, we are still a long long way from real and meaningful change. These types of Canadian settler sickness must be dealt with. It is the very poison that keeps the genocidal colonial machine still alive in this, the 21st century. 

Check out this 6 minute Video by one of the great First Nations teachers of our time: Arthur Manuel on aboriginal title:

All my relations, MAJ

Healing the souls of our children @ Jacobson native art

 Painting in progress...

Title of tripdych: Healing the souls of our children, Size of each canvas: 30 x 48 inches (total of 90 x 48 inches) 2021

Good evening to each and everyone and I wanted to send a big shout out to all of you who continue to share in the healing and support of the discoveries of our residential school children. This energy has been a heavy one for many across this country and around the world. The challenges are difficult and the emotional terrain not so easy to navigate. 

 The spiritual reality of this has had and continues to have a very deep and profound effect on me. I am a direct product of the genocide and abuses of residential schools and what Canada has tried to do in wiping out my family bloodlines as Anishanabe. I am a 60’s scoop survivor. I truly represent the seeds they couldn’t destroy. 

I am alive and I have a son who is also a seed they cannot destroy. We are the true spirit and life of the Anishanabe. We are stronger than ever and we will overcome. It is our destiny. We are masters at living in 2 worlds at the same time. It makes us very powerful. We will continue to thrive and move forward with a steadfast spirit honouring our ancestors, our children and ourselves.

I’m currently working on several paintings here in the studio. I am working on the above mentioned tripdych set titled: Healing the souls of our children. It has been very challenging to find the light of inspiration in such a dark energy with regard to the murder of our children. But this painting needs to happen. I must find their love, light and power and share this with the world. 

Their spirits are guiding me in this piece. It has been one of the hardest paintings I’ve ever had to make. To find this painting in a sea of darkness...that’s exactly how it has been. I will continue to find a way within to accomplish this feat...to honour them, the souls of our children for all generations...past, present and future. All my relations, MAJ

Proud to announce: Worldwide campaign “Honouring the residential school children” with Northcott fabrics & Jacobson native art

 

Good day to each and everyone. It is with great pride and love that I am truly honoured to announce my new Official worldwide campaign with Northcott fabrics and Jacobson native art. This new partnership and collaboration with regard to “Honouring the residential school children“ will be an initiative formed in the spirit of truth and reconciliation. We are releasing the collection: HEALING WATERS from 2022 to 2024.

This initiative is centred in love and healing for all the families and children effected by the residential schools tragedy. The whole reason for this release is to help find a way for First Nations, Canadians, Americans and those around the world to contribute to the solution of healing and well being for all involved. 

This campaign with the release of this collection “Healing waters” is specifically designed for quilters around the world. This is an opportunity for all of us to collaborate and work together. My goal is to see these chosen quilts to be offered to the families directly effected by these on going tragedies. 

We all have a role to share in the healing of the cultural fabric of this country. This campaign is designed to help bring us together. There was a time not so long ago during first contact between us First Nations and settlers where the “gifting of blankets” came from a place of love, care, warmth and comfort. 

Let us come together through the actions of these principles and share our gifts with those in need. Each selected quilt will be offered to a First Nations family directly effected. These quilts will obviously be donated to this cause. Your family name and created quilt will have an opportunity to be a part of this legacy. 

You will be remembered with respect and honour for sharing your love with such a deep and transformative cause. We can find the answers. We can work together and heal. It is our birthright to appreciate one another and to find meaningful ways of widening the circle between us. All of us. We all have something to bring to the table of brotherhood, sisterhood. We are the human family. 

More information will be presented over the next coming weeks. Please stay tuned to us here at: Jacobson native art. We’ll be working with Northcott on where to send the completed quilts for distribution in the next few weeks. We thank you with all of our hearts for wanting to participate and be a part of the solution. 

We each have a unique and special part to play in each others lives. Let’s see how far we can reach into one another and share the transformation and power of “HEALING WATERS”. Here is a link to my profile at Northcott fabrics. It will also be a source of staying current with this campaign. 

https://www.northcott.com/designers-detail.aspx?di=538

We are the solution we each have been searching for. The time for healing is now. We honour the past by learning from it, by making it better today. I truly and sincerely want to thank you all for sharing and participating in this opportunity. Together we can make the change we wanna see in our world. All my relations, MAJ

What decolonization looks like @ Jacobson native art

 Well, ever since the unfoldment of these discoveries regarding our children being murdered by Canada, the church and residential schools and other genocidal policies and actions towards us First Nations, it hasn’t been an easy process to navigate. My prayers of love and healing go out for the Ktunaxa nation with the recent discovery of those precious 182 souls. 

I’ve been feeling so betrayed by the lies of Canada. These are active crimes scenes we are all witnessing. Evidence of genocide and of crimes against humanity. As a First Nations soul I have to say that these are definitely the ugliest truths I’ve seen to date about how Canada and their agents of death, the Catholic Church etc have been trying to cover up their crimes for decades, for generations now.

An apology will not cut it. Sorry is not enough. Thoughts and prayers are not enough. Memorials are not enough. These criminals need to be held accountable. They talk about how they are a nation of laws? Well how about trying to follow them your own god damn selves. Disgusting is an understatement. Embarrassing a distant and far off wish. 

The hollow words of a nation unwilling to mourn and truly adjust their crimes of the past by surrendering your violence and control of us indigenous to our lands is a continuous unforgivable sin. How can anyone in their right minds expect truth and reconciliation in that? That has been the whole problem. Control. 

First off, fuck the idea of crown land. It’s bullshit. Read your history about the doctrine of discovery etc and then come to learn of the thousands of policies and laws created by the abuser and colonizer in Canada and you’ll come to understand why identifying as a Canadian is a real problem for so many of us, including myself. 

We are and always will remain a peaceful people. Canada only exists because of violence and control. It is a great liar and abuser of power. It’s ugly to me, really fuckin ugly. So yes, I’m not the type to wave the flag or celebrate Canada day. I dont celebrate any of the colonizers holidays. Not Christmas, not Halloween, not Easter, not any of that shit. It’s all lies any how. Jesus birthday wasn’t on dec. 25th...lol. Do your research and you’ll discover that as well. 

To me, all those holidays and such are really a combination of stolen themes and rituals from other nations. It’s a mixed bag of mumbo jumbo bullshit. Filled with heart break, expectations and resentments and such for not getting what you want. It’s kinda super weird if you put it all together and realize what a complete waste of time it all is. 

Every day is a day to celebrate family, friends and loved ones. There are dozens of beautiful and powerful real ceremonies that offer true connection and sincerity that are authentic practices of spirituality and these types of mystic gatherings. Keep it real and authentic. It’s missing in the world. I am a sovereign Anishanabe soul. I lead me. No one else does or speaks for me either. I represent myself and my cultural ties and teachings. 

I am a sacred creation who is authorized and empowered to represent my relationship to our Creator and creation, to Mother Earth and to each other. I am Anishanabe. I am the Living hope that my ancestors blessed me to be...I am Rainbow Thunderbird. All my relations....MAJ

Love and healing for these 751 souls of our children recently discovered @ Cowessess First Nations

 

Wishing each and everyone love and healing during this tragic and very difficult time. It has taken me a few days to try and process this new discovery of these most beautiful of our people, our children. This particular new finding of 751 bodies is beyond understanding. I can’t even reason it. It’s just so dark.

This tragedy hits home for us here @ Jacobson native art. The mother of our son is from Cowessess First Nations. This means that because we follow matriarchal way of our teachings my son is tied to Cowessess. This is his First Nation. Those children recently discovered would have been great aunties and uncles, cousins family members of both Kassondra and our boy Sagein Wisdom. 

We’ve had some time to cry for these children, these lost relationships with our family members. We will carry on for each and everyone of them. I painted with a new apprentice last night who is also Anishanabe.   Before he came, he placed an offering and spirit feast on behalf of our family for the lost children in Kamloops, for those precious 215. He is living up that way and made the trip to come and learn more about this art form and the spiritual powers and energies contained in the practice of it. 

Pictured above along with the candle lights of 751 is my son Sagein smudging with shell, white buffalo sage and an eagle feather. My son is 3 years old and he is such a powerful spirit. He is the strongest yet most gentle loving medicine  I have ever known...he has the power to move mountains. With a strong resilience and spirit of self determination, we Anishanabe will walk in love strength and pride for them, for ourselves and our loved ones. We are the seeds they couldnt kill...we will live on for them. For us...

All my relations....MAJ

Active crime scene in Canada regarding crimes against humanity and genocide, new discovery of 751 children’s bodies...

I am truly at a loss for words today. I am beyond shocked, and absolutely horrified by this new discovery today. I feel so numb that I just wanna be left alone today. I feel so uncomfortable about this. I can’t even wrap my mind around it it’s just that ugly, dark and horrifying what this country Canada and their churches (Vatican) including their agents (the RCMP) are guilty of. 

This is clear evidence of genocide and crimes against humanity. An apology from the pope would be a fuckin insult at this point. Those criminals need to be held accountable for their crimes. They are murderers. All of them. This whole thing is an active crime scene. 

I can’t really say anything more at this point. I just feel devastated. To all our familes and children: I love you. I stand with you. I’ll do everything I can to continue to speak truth to power. For now, I will rest and pray. 

Here is an article by an old friend of mine named Tamara. We used to go to ceremonies and gatherings and would meet up and spend deep spiritual time in our culture. Much respects for all her work towards telling the truth about genocide, colonialism and decolonization. Please read it, she is super smart and tells it like I do. With honesty as her weapon of choice:

https://canadiandimension.com/articles/view/reckoning-with-genocide-and-the-denialism-of-the-canadian-state

So far this is now the new body count: 

Honouring the 215 souls of the Kamloops residential school @ Jacobson native art

 

It’s been a tough few days lately with the resurrection of the life and death of these 215 children buried in mass graves at the Kamloops residential school. It has brought up a lot of different energy and feelings for me. That is the thing regarding trauma, it forces you to either run and hide or face it head on. 

I choose to face it, head on. The reality is that these sufferings are super deadly. It is such a tragedy on so many levels. After processing my deep resentments and anger and frustrations around the injustice of it all, I certainly spent some time in deep prayer and reflection. 

The time afforded in conversations with the spiritual are indeed food for the soul. I sent out blessings in hope, love, comfort and strength to all the family members involved. To the moms, dads, aunties and uncles. The sisters and their brothers, their grandmas and grandpas and to all in their family bloodlines. It was needed for them and for me. It helped me to deepen my understanding of the realities of residential schools. 

My Anishanabe grandma, my moms mom suffered gravely in residential school. I am a 60’s scoop survivor as the direct result. I feel that at the end of the day, these are the things I can do to help make that a lighter place. I can do “medicine work” around that with the spirit. I know my grandma knows this. She would want for me to be my authentic self. Having no shame in being a human being and putting all of myself, out there. 

To continue to share my truth with all of you and around the world. To never hide what happened to us as First Nations. To be proud of surviving the colonizer’s death traps. To continue educating myself and others about the reality and the truth of what we have endured as Anishanabe people, on our home lands. 

The place where Canada and their churches performed their crimes against us. Their crimes against humanity. For now...we will continue to heal and we shall continue to grow into the beautiful creations that we are. All my relations, MAJ

Prayers of love for the 215 First Nations children found murdered by Canada and the Christian church

 Sometimes it just seems so out of reach this idea of truth and reconciliation. I feel really angry at Canada and the Christian church. I feel disgusted that no one has been held accountable for these crimes. Not Canada, not the church, not the priests or nuns or government officials who were and are responsible for this atrocity. 

These are crimes against humanity. They are crimes against us. It is beyond tragic. I am totally heart broken by this discovery yet again. How in the world do you trust anything “Canadian” when time after time this horrific history rises up from its ashes and speaks literally from the grave about these innocent and treasured 215 souls of native children who were massacred? 

It’s simply too hard to accept these truths. I feel devastated by it. The trust for Canada? A vanishing. An emptiness. A ghost of nothingness. These are just a few of the reasons on why I don’t identify as a Canadian. I am Anishanabe. Period. I’ll always belong to my people. We are sovereign. We always will be.

Fuck Canada and fuck that ridiculous Canadian flag. And fuck that cross too. None of these entities deserve my respect. None. If you cannot see this as it really is which is absolutely disgustingly wrong on every level, then indeed you will need some help with that. Being a proud Canadian is a delusion. There is something the matter with your understanding of history. There is something wrong with your identity. Your identity in being a Canadian. 

Even hard to say this....all my relations, MAJ 

For these 215 children...this is for them in eternal love:

Being a 60’s scoop survivor @ Jacobson native art

 My dealings with Canada as a First Nations soul has been absolutely tragic and heartbreaking on many levels. The hijacking of our land, the continual theft of our natural resources, colonial and cultural genocide, residential schools, stealing our children, the violence, the forceful control of being on reserves, the racism, the discrimination, the prejudice and violations of our human rights for 500 plus years now is absolutely disgusting. 

The truth is and continues to be that Canada was and is built on racism. It’s sickening. The perverse colonial mind set continues to roll on through in this, the 21st century. It’s sad and absolutely appalling on all levels with regard to being a human being. The destruction of our cultural practices, trying to wipe out our languages, stealing our cultural artifacts, dishonouring the treaties, wiping out and outlawing ceremonies,...the list goes on and on and on. 

And even under this darkness that colonialism is, we as First Nations continue to thrive and live. We continue to find our ways, we continue to heal and rise. And even in that, we First Nations continue to be welcoming and forgiving. We continue to share our love for not only the sacredness of the earth, but each other. 

What makes us even more powerful is that through the abuse and torture of colonialism we are forced to learn your ways, as settlers. Your languages, your history, your mathematics, your religion, your laws and your education. And on that we must rediscover who we are as indigenous, as First Nations, as Anishanabe. We literally have to live in 2 worlds. That of this perverse colonial system and that of our own history, our own teachings, native laws, cultural history, stories, songs, ceremonies and the arts. We literally have to learn how to think and live like an Indian in a white mans world. Even in that, what have you truly learned of us? 

That is what being a 60’s scoop survivor means to me. Through these lessons and experiences that I have gone through I have found the secret path. I have learned to free myself through these experiences. I learned that I did not have to identify with my abuser, in being a Canadian. I could be an Indian, an Anishanabe soul, entitled to my sovereignty as First Nations. That I could find my own way, my own beingness. 

I shared a post recently in this regard. I have a lot of support on social media. I am grateful for the connections and relationships that I’ve built and have over the years with those who fully support us and desire to work with us and not against us. Here is a sample of that post:

 I am very thankful that my teachings and experiences can have a powerful impact on the lives of others. That’s what sharing from the heart is all about. Something I’ve certainly discovered that the average Canadian settler/immigrant struggles to do with us as First Nations. It all comes down to perspective. My activism is and will always be about speaking truth to power. All my relations...MAJ