By Ella Nathanael Alkiewicz (Labrador Inuit)
Living with my ancestors’ knowledge, my mother’s genes, and having centuries-old Inuit principles becomes a privilege and a challenge in today’s world.
I was a Lost Bird since residential boarding schools stunted my mom and almost extinguished her spirit. I joined a family in the United States and have the best worlds. I am loved by my relatives while I have plenty of feelings and thoughts. I asked “Why?” for decades. For me, the answers came from Spirit and higher learning.
I enrolled at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. I studied journalism and completed the Certificate Program of Native American Indian Studies. I heard the real history of Native Americans amid the tragic reality of what the colonists did.
I learned there are approximately 9.5 million Indigenous people in Turtle Island. “Indigenous” is a generic term. The estimated numbers are 138,000 Inuit; 640,000 Métis; 1.05 million First Nations; 7.7 million Native Americans. Canada has over 630 recognized First Nations, while the United States has 575 federally recognized Tribes and more than 60 state-recognized Tribes.
The Native American Indian Studies program rocketed me into empowerment after I blindly swam in a sea of sharks and snakes. I bawled and got mad through each class; however, I refused to quit my studies. Knowledge is power. After graduation, I returned to university and heard my hero, Winona LaDuke.
Winona signed my book after her inspiring speech. I rode down in the elevator with her and looked at my feet. My Cherokee Elder giggled and nodded at us both. Winona’s strength and wisdom have stayed with me. I have always thought of her as brave.
I eventually found courage and wisdom like Winona with Creator, the Universe, God, Guti.
Days and nights pass with asking and listening. We gather on Sundays or online or in small groups of two. Breaking bread and holding hands are lovely opportunities to feel the presence, hear the answers, and believe in better.
One day, the answers to my questions finally arrived: Just do. Just be. Be Inuk Strong.
We had a little family reunion where I crafted and gifted my relatives leather bracelets. Each leather bracelet had the words, “Inuk Strong” punched in after the 2013 “Boston Strong.” “Inuk Strong” made sense for me and my family.
My brother and I are children of residential boarding school survivors. Our parents were in their 20s when they had their “Irish twins.” However, their intergenerational trauma and health issues kept their children away until healing began. Mom survived while dad could not, and she made us Inuk Strong. Kittungaga Reggi is also Inuk Strong. Angutiga Chris is a fierce and loving ally.
Mom blossomed with the love of her kin and knew she was a strong Inuk. Mom drew this beauty.
The Indigenous feminism abounds despite the drudgery of the daily news. I hold onto strength, laughter, love and resilience. I wrote this poem that was published in "Locating Me" in 2020.
My Present
I drove to the
21st Inuit Studies Conference
a short five-hour drive,
and it was
EPIC!
Ajaitsiavak!
I finally felt
heard and seen
seen and heard
I sat
in the aisle and
the award winning, famous, marvelous Inuk,
a daughter, a fren, a mother, filmmaker
spoke.
Tears rolled down my nose
If others saw me, I do not know
My eyes were blurry with glory
I knew she knew.
I finally felt
seen and heard
heard and seen
I rocked and
whimpered.
My hand rose,
my head bowed low,
I knew she knew.
Her words I cannot repeat verbatim,
Feelings of love flooded over my crown,
The beautiful Inuktitut that she spoke with grace shined across her face
I knew she knew.
I left her talk a little taller.
I left her talk a lot prouder.
I left with the message — “Own your life, tell your story, be the voice.”
Another time, a television show helped. I recall watching “Reservation Dogs” with Angutiga. The actor Paulina Alexis (Alexis Nakota Sioux), who plays the character Willie Jack, had a moment with Lily Gladstone (Piegan Blackfeet/Nez Perce), who plays Hokti. The two sat at a metal table and Willie complained about her life. Hokti told Willie to hold out her hands, close her eyes, take deep breaths, and wait. Hokti asked for help from an unnamed spirit, then said:
“Remember the stories I told you when you were growing up about the people we come from, generations of medicine people, caretakers. These are the ones that held us together as we arrived from our homelands. The healers who carried us and buried us as we marched. Men and women whose songs led us through the dark. They’re watching you, my girl. You don’t need me. You have them. This is the power we carry. When you really pray, they’re all around you all the time.” (Season 2, Episode 9)
The tears streamed down my face when ancestors appeared behind Willie Jack. It showed that Kallunait had lied to me for years. After watching the episode and speaking with friends, I recognized cigarettes and shame shortened my joy.
There are plenty of other examples where I recognized my strength, my relatives’ answers. I hope my fellow Indigenous relatives and allies discover the reason why they exist and what greatness they contribute to the world.
Celebrating women, Indigenous women, is vital. We are the Life Givers. We must be safe, live a long life and carry on our cultures and traditions.
Ella Nathanael Alkiewicz (Labrador Inuk) is a journalist from Nunatisavut, a member of the North American Indian Center of Boston (NAICOB), and owner of Ella Alk Inuk LLC. She is a featured artist for UnMonument and will show her work in July at NAICOB. She lives on the Nonotuck lands with her family and her cat.
Top photo: Ella Nathanael Alkiewicz with Winona LaDuke.
