ᓀᐦᐃᔭᐍᐏᐣ nehiyawewin
Inspired by the Cree language, and learning it, in relation to family and while writing syllables with my mom, the movement within them came to life as little spirits and danced across the page. I asked her to translate phrases related to times my mosom spoke Cree to me and a dream I had where I could understand. I told her that my heart aches to speak Cree. She paused and thought for a moment. She said my mosom would say it differently, “In my heart I love Cree”. Tears welled up in my eyes. What a beautiful way to express this feeling. Turning loss into love and healing. I am learning Cree. emaci nehiyaweyan. ᐁᒪᒋ ᓀᐦᐃᔭᐍᔭ
Confluence: Raven Spirit Dance
Confluence is a dance work that weaves our perspectives, our histories and our bodies to create somatic tapestry that speaks to the resilience of Indigenous women. We embody the space between land and sky through play, prayer, grief and gratitude and are the living testament to the legacy that has been offered to us. Aligning our lives with the direction of the water in a river or geese in migration, we acknowledge we are always in process, shaping and carving through landscapes, creating rhythms and discovering our stories.
Image Credit: Image of Raven Spirit Dance by Erik Zennström
