This article by Tina Curiel-Allen is an interesting read… it’s about what the process of decolonization can look like from the perspective of a descendant of those colonized.
I wonder, as a white descendant of colonizers, what the process looks like for me? Of course it should look like speaking out against the status quo and colonial values and fighting for change. But…may I also join in on the reconnecting with our, now shared, land and the traditions of the people of this land? If it is a process I approach from a place of respect and humility?
Can I move forward in sisterhood with these peoples? I hope so, because her description of how her elders encourage decolonization is, quite literally, the song of my soul:
“We burn sacred herbs, resins, and woods to cleanse and reconnect. We remember by listening to drum and song, the rattle of the gourd, the whistle of the flute, and other instruments. These remind us of a life rhythm that can be easily drowned out in the business of American life. They bring us back home, to ourselves, and to the interconnectedness of all things.”
Thank you for your thoughtful article, Tina Curiel-Allen. I bow to you.