Reflections of a Storyteller, part 7: The Place I'm in Is Who I Am
- zhaawano
- Jan 9, 2025
- 2 min read
Updated: 1 day ago
Bibooni-giizis (Winter Moon) - January 8, 2025
Boozhoo,
It doesn't concern me if others deny that identity. I have Ojibwe heritage, and my stories and art reflect this. Yet today, for the first time, after being called a "hokey it boy" by a mixed-blood woman in her 30s (while I'm 65, for goodness' sake!) who once praised my stories but now suddenly opposes me, I find myself no longer proud of my Indigenous heritage. I even begin to feel a dislike for Native people, a thought that brings me shame. Everything related to Nativeness seems so chaotic and messed up lately. Public shaming, driven by social media, is widespread. Sharing stories or art online feels like inviting the most vile criticism. The identity police attack with their toxic, disturbed, and delusional ideas, which stray far from the values of respect and inclusiveness our ancestors held dear. There seems to be no escape. The negativity is pervasive, and there's no remedy for it.
This leads me to realize that the poison has somehow, gradually yet inevitably, infiltrated my life. I'm seriously questioning whether I want to keep sharing stories and art. I truly wonder if it's still worthwhile. But is quitting the solution? I consider whether I should choose a different path and set a new goal for myself. What would that goal be? Even if I identify a new goal, achieving it might require starting from a different place. Then, I realize I need to be in a different place physically, mentally, and spiritually before I can move forward to a better place free of negativity and hate. But how can I be in a different place? The place I'm in defines me. It's what I stand for and what has always driven me.
Articulating my thoughts and writing these words has brought clarity to my life, art, and storytelling, enabling me to see things clearly once more. I've realized that I will continue doing what I've always done. Is enduring daily negativity and hostility worth it to carry on with my work? Absolutely. I'm precisely where I need to be.
Mii'iw. Miigwech gibizindawiyeg.
P.S. Regarding the "Pretendian Hunters," especially Chrystal Semaganis and her spiteful "Ghost Warrior Society" group of online agitators: maybe it's time they, too, consider some deep self-reflection.
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