grandmother
Image retrieved here.
We are re-sharing this poem from Waaseyaa'sin Christine Sy's brilliant, lyrical, and insightful blog, anishinaabewiziwin. Go to her blog to find more of her thoughtful writings. Miigwetch for letting us share this beautiful piece!
by waaseyaa'sin christine sy
also, tonight, nokomis reminds me of shape-shifting. imagine a brand new pair of mucklucks made out of brain-tanned hide or bandolier bag made with velvet. imagine shining beads orchestrated into anishinaabe meaning made by her. she, tonight, a beading needle. long, thin, bendy.
a tool for tattooing sacred into our bodies and being (in blue). or, drawing out grief, pain or little balls of coagulated messes. etching in, siphoning out.
a long thin, curvy knife. perfect for filleting ogaa or shagan. any giigoonh really.
or, awl. for making a basket or preparing sheets of wiigwaas to be sewn together to make protection, a cover, walls, round; a soft, shaped home.
or, the bone for making an awl.
the way nokomis holds the earth shine tonight, too, on her darker side. reminds me that while she glows, she is not all light. and still, she is worthy of respect and honour. still, she is worthy of poetic pining.
About Waaseyaa'sin Christine Sy (from anishinaabewiziwin):
"Waaseyaa’sin Christine Sy n’dizhnikaaz. I’m Ojibway Anishinaabe and Canadian from Bawating (Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada), Robinson Superior Treaty area. My maternal ancestral ties (kinship & Indian Act band membership) are with Obishkikaang (Lac Seul First Nation, Northwestern Ontario), Treaty 3 area. My paternal ancestral ties are from Belle Island, Newfoundland and Sault Ste. Marie, ON as well. I reside in Michi Saagiig Anishinaabegogamig (Mississauga Anishinaabeg lands), 1923 Williams Treaty area, with my family."
