I’ve learned
How to not be afraid of the dark
That to speak in our mother tongue is to speak among ancestors
That a language is connected to the land and loss of language is a loss of roots to those lands
That language can connect us but also be used against us
That as much as we have gained from the English language, it has taken so much from us
That English is not ancient
That a few syllables of our mother tongue shared outside the home is precious
That my roots as a first-generation Chinese diasporic settler are not deep
That my roots are rhizomatic and so lead me on how to be on this land
That poetry is healing and a way to talk to the land, to ancestors, and even to each other
That a land acknowledgment is a way to get directions
That a land acknowledgment for a settler is also a way to get lost
That a land acknowledgment is particularly complicated in a virtual setting
That a land acknowledgement is not a replacement for a relationship or an act of reciprocity
That a land acknowledge does not mean much if there is no intention for land back
That prior to Fort Calgary, the land of Mohkinstsis was sacred and where the Tsuut’ina nation often camped
That that land is still sacred
That Mohkinstsis means Elbow in Blackfoot and refers to the river
That the river and land are sisters.
That challenging the commemoration of white faces in Chinatown is a six-year project that will lead to a lifetime commitment. [1]
That Chinatown could have been the marketplace for the Tsuut’ina people when they came to the city
That it takes exceptional courage to move slow, be tender, and kind to yourself as much as to others because the way of everyday colonization will try its best to rob us of that way or life
That there is no turtle without a tail
That our mental health is intrinsically connected to our cultural history on colonized land
That all the trees in the city are male
That there are not enough safe spaces
That money is often meaningless.
That a lifetime of volunteering will lead you to a lifetime of friendships
That it takes generations of making friends to create safe spaces for the future
That a 2 spirited way of life is organic and needs to be fostered by the community with the strength and love of a mother
That sometimes witnessing the strength of others is enough to affirm it
That we each have our own dance
That it takes years to tell a story
That a story is full of knowledge
That a life can be given to telling stories
That we don’t always have to connect on similarities but can come together to witness our differences
That there is a willingness to share as much as to listen
That so much of our joy comes from sharing.
The video clip is of Annie's apartment and the view beyond her computer screen during the workshops on zoom.