Urban Native Girl

Indigenous former bon vivante now country house cat.

[urbannativegirl]

“If I give away my power in exchange for someone’s love, I lack the power to receive love — even from those who want nothing to do with the power I give away.” ~ Matt Kahn

[urbannativegirl]

A man has as many social selves as there are individuals who recognize him.

~ William James, Philosopher, 'The Principles of Psychology'

[mysharona1987]

[urbannativegirl]

https://youtu.be/AASp25qWIUk

Not all heroes wear capes.

[urbannativegirl]

she never asked for any recognition, because she wasn’t doing it to be recognized.

she did it because it filled her up.

she just carefully planted those seeds.

she just kept picking up those pieces.

she just kept visiting those old ones.

she just kept speaking her language and visiting her mother.

she just kept on lighting that seventh fire every time it went out.

she just kept making things a little bit better, until they were.

~ Author Leanne Betasamosake Simpson (Michi Saagiig Nishnaabeg) in “for asinykwe"

[urbannativegirl]

“If you have hard truths to offer up to someone make sure the voice is soft, the language beautiful and that you protect the dignity of the other. When the storm clears, make sure you all see sunshine.”

~ Sto:lo Author Lee Maracle

[urbannativegirl]

"wonder changes us and changes our world. When we stop marvelling at ourselves—ourselves in the most connected and expansive sense, that is, we as individuals, as activists, as communities, as past and future ancestors, as gods, as mountains and rivers and ocean—we lose belief in our ability to heal and transform even the deepest wounds. The act of bringing new life to our Indigenous stories reawakens our lands and peoples to remember the power we have always had, to feed our families and strangers, to care for the past and future. Hope is fed by our ability to apprehend and trust our storied connections, by the rush of unexplainable movement, by the unruly growing of our love and gratitude for the strange and marvellous ways we live on."

~ Indigenous scholars Brian Kamaoli Kuwada (Kānaka Maoli) and Aiko Yamashiro (Japanese/Okinawan/Chamorro)

[axismundienarei]

The Shaman

Aboriginal mushroom rock art from the caves of western Australia’s Kimberley region, depicting a shaman in a state of ecstasy with a sacred mushroom communion. Kimberley rock art is arguably some of the world’s oldest, many sites stretching over a vast desert area, with hundreds of cave drawings in the region (-10,000 BCE).

*This is my favorite ancient petroglyph by far, there is truly something remarkable that the ancient Artist depicted here…

[urbannativegirl]

I watched Network (1976) last night, and I had NO IDEA what I was really getting into. It’s a fantastic film about network news that really hones in on the crux of the CV19 “crisis” that we are in today. If you can spare a few hours, take a gander, it was one social satire that spawns many thoughts about the state of affairs today. 

This clip shows one of my favourite scenes from this film, and prolly one of my fave monologues of all time TBH. The fictitious UBS network owner drones on about how the world really works (in his opinion obvi), and from all the rando research that I’ve been doing these past few months, I’ve got to say it’s en pointe. Enjoy.

“You are an old man who thinks in terms of nations and peoples. There are no nations. There are no peoples ... There is only IBM and ITT and AT&T, and DuPont, Dow, Union Carbide and Exxon. Those are the nations of the world today. The world is a college of corporations, inexorably determined by the immutable by-laws of business.” Arthur Jensen, UBS Network owner

[urbannativegirl]

THIS. 

This girl is the newest member of my SHEROES tribe. I love her enthusiasm, vibrancy, courage, but most of all her authenticity. 

“I am a survivor. I share my truth because I honour the path creator chose for me.I share my truth because creator, my ancestors, and loved ones support the strength within me as they stand behind me. I share my truth because Native women and girls need to understand that you are not a victim for sharing your story. You are a survivor. And when you speak you begin to heal years of unresolved historical and intergenerational trauma woven into your DNA. You are Indigenous and beautiful. You are strong and resilient. You are not your trauma, and do not ever give up.” ~ Sutton King/Naeqtaw-Piankiw (Afro-Indigenous and a descendant of the Menominee and Oneida Nations of Wisconsin)

I am working up the strength to share my story, my authenticity, of what I have experienced in this lifetime. Today, I am reminded of how much beauty and freedom awaits for me once I begin to speak my truths. In the meantime, I pray to creator everyday, and know my ancestors have my back and are their to guide me toward the right path in a good way. 

[urbannativegirl]

Some books are meant to be read, to be savoured, exactly when the time feels right. I'm so grateful for having some downtime this winter season to be able to catch up on some #IndigenousReads that have been on my list for a hot minute. This year I've had the great opportunity to read both @tanyatagaq & @bev_sellars_ books. Next up Alicia Elliott. Share with me what's next on your #IndigenousReads wishlist ... . . . #IndigenousReads #IndigenousLiterature #IndigenousLit #IndigenousWomen #IndigenousWomenAuthors #IndigenousWomenRise #IndigenousRISE #IndigenousWisdom #IndigenousGirlReads . . #WinterReading #WinterReads (at Williams Lake, British Columbia) https://www.instagram.com/p/B844JN4FL25/?igshid=je6otwx8kfal

[urbannativegirl]

multi-faceted, like a crystal i often wonder if I will ever find a life partner who will understand, embrace and celebrate ALL of my being? 

i can be a total nerd homebody in research mode and be into business, beauty, biohacking, or moon beams. i can be an extrovert performing in front of hundreds of thousands of people, or entertaining an entire dinner party. i can be the girl dancing alone at a rave, the woman studying a rothko at the gallery, or the one avoiding eye contact at the local superstore. i fit in all of the places, i fit in none of the places.

so you see how it can be confusing?  i realize now that i just need to embrace all of the places and the spaces i do and don’t fit in and JUST BE ME.  and now I worry/think/obsess less about who might embrace ALL OF ME, because i do, and that’s all that really matters.  CUE ‘all of me’ by Billie Holiday (reversed). 

[urbannativegirl]

pure manna

you know that feeling that you get when your coffee kicks in and the adrenaline rushes through your body and you feel like everything is magic and anything is possible?  i want to bottle it.

perhaps that is why I always loved that movie ‘limitless’ and have an obsession with even the IDEA of NZT. i know it’s out there. i know it’s within. ‘See Me’ painting by Hannah Adamaszek

[urbannativegirl]

It's my last night in Japan and I'm feeling a ways about it. Thankfully, I'll be back within 6 weeks to move beyond my amuse bouche experience, and on to the appetizer and entree. I'd say that Japan and I are courting, and I'm quite intrigued 😊. But tomorrow, what will Singapore bring? (at Shangri-La) https://www.instagram.com/p/B1815YKl6mA/?igshid=zguqog86yxuz

[urbannativegirl]

"What experience are we allowed to share from these places, that makes you comfortable, and makes it easy for you to digest? If you come from the struggle, how the f*ck do you talk about the struggle without talking about the struggle?"

MATANGI/MAYA/M.I.A.

[urbannativegirl]

Hey Vancouver, you're still pretty good looking. #YVR (at Vancouver, British Columbia) https://www.instagram.com/p/BtQF009F1bK/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=pfwxqr0vcnl7

[urbannativegirl]

It's beautiful to see two Indigenous women artists make the "most inspiring" lists in two Canadian cities! . . . #NativeAwesome #IndigenousRise #Indigenius #YYZ #YUL #GirlBoss #IndigenousWomenRise #IndigenousGirlBosses https://www.instagram.com/p/BsUFt3eAipL/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=a3jh5l1ppl54