Magical. Heart-wrenching. Soft. Brutal. Sacred. Revolutionary.
What does it mean to be an Indigenous mother? I don’t know of any word or collection of words that will ever encompass what it feels like to mother Indigenous children in a world hell-bent on erasing the Indigenous.
At least no word(s) in the English language that I know of.
How do you describe something other-worldly using this world’s language, anyway?
What I can describe about Indigenous motherhood is how the inherent feeling of simply existing is an act of defiance. It is the feeling of everyone around you telling you you’re doing it wrong while knowing that your instincts are stronger, more capable, and more qualified than their certifications or degrees could ever authorize them to dream of being.