Update: Blog Posts and Frequency

I have decided that my life is in a constant state of metamorphosis and change. The only thing constant in my life is change. Stagnation is a fear I have that is probably a past life fear that I need to overcome in this lifetime. Haha! Therefore, it can be said that this blog will change as I change. As you can see I have changed the looks of the blog and therefore the energy of it. I have also changed the name of the blog itself, but not the link which will stay the same. The name is Anishinaabekwe which means Anishinaabe (Ojibway) woman.

I will blog when I feel inclined to and take breaks when I feel I need to do so. I will still post news stories and information Aboriginal, First Nations, Indigenous and Native peoples. But, I am going to kick it up a notch with my writing and stories. I am a writer and a poet. Much of my writing is on shelves in small notebooks and binders. I have thousands of poems yet to be revealed. As well as stories ready to be written on this blog and into books.

I have noticed that I have more people following this blog. Right now I have 68 people following and that is a big deal. I know in many of you have mentioned that you like and enjoy reading my blog in previous posts that I have made. What I have gratefully taken from your comments is that my voice is important in the world. I know this but I often want to run and hide like a hermit to the forest and forget about life. So, I am here and I will write. I promise you I will write and I am sure you will enjoy my posts! For now I am here blogging, writing and being me!

Indigenist Intelligence Review: SPIRITUAL EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN

Today we are facing a new Era. The ancient Mayan culture speaks of this change, the ending of their old calendar in 2012, and the beginning of a new age. They, along with many other indigenous cultures, also speak that this coming time will be one of a more feminine nature, based in the heart.

But women in our modern world have a problem. Thus far, they have begun to become financially empowered and professionally empowered. Yet the most important need, for spiritual empowerment, has often been neglected or ignored.

Our world is already in the time of transition and it will be a difficult time until the new era blossoms into an age of peace and understanding. If our world is to survive, spiritually empowered women must take their place in helping. It’s time for them to step up and step out. The time of hiding is over.

Most “aware” people know that it is necessary to heal our Grandmother Earth if we are to survive. However, it is equally as imperative to also heal each other through love, compassion, respect and, most of all, prayer. Prayers of the heart are one of the most powerful influences in the universe. Moreover, women also need to help men develop their own feminine aspects of gentleness and sensitivity, compassion, nurturing, and kindness. They need to help men learn to work from the heart.

If we don’t do all of this, we can’t help our planet and humanity risks extinction.

Read the rest of the article at Indigenist Intelligence Review.

May Stop Blogging...

My beliefs and values are changing. I feel this blog was created out of the lack consciousness. I am not longer operating out of lack in any area of my life. I feel it may be time to move away from this. My personal daily mantras are changing. They are all about abundance, prosperity and love. We are always changing. This blog represents lack in thinking, feeling and living. I am done suffering and being about the "struggle." I am ready to live a wonderful life!

I may shut down this blog very soon. Please let me know your thoughts...

Dear Lake Michigan

Since I have written a Dear Sleeping Bear post I decided to write a Dear Lake Michigan post. Maybe I will do a Dear Michigan or Dear Lake Superior (Gitchee Gumee) post next!



Dear Lake Michigan,

My heart is directly connected to you. Agaming ~ the shore is my home. You have been one of the greatest healers and counselors in my life in the past several years. My heart stretches across the state towards you always. I will visit as much as I can until I am a permanent resident of yours.

Love,
Cecelia

Home, "Up North" Pictures

Up north is my home. When I am down in the city I am always thinking about the north. The city has never really felt like home because I am not a city person. I long for the day when my neighbor is 3 to 30 acres away, the stillness of the forest or the shore is right out my back 40 not back yard and I no longer know the hustle and bustle of the city. I was home recently and took some pictures of the place that is in my heart and soul. In the first few pictures you can see that the trees were in the process of blooming in mid-May whereas in the southern part of Michigan spring had already bloomed!

Discussion: The Other Category

Today I had to fill out some information for my health, dental and vision insurance at work. It is exciting that I will have insurance again after not having it for 2 1/2 years. So, I go to check my race and there is no Native American/Alaskan Native/American Indian box. There was Black, Asian, White and Other. I simply did not check anything. I told the insurance group specialist person that I was not going to check anything. He said that was fine and also said that he would tell his branch manager about this as soon as he got back to his office later that day. I am tired of checking race in general. I am a human being! I remember as a little girl going back and forth between White and American Indian. I do remember checking White because I denied being Native as a kid. So, since my early teens I have checked Native. If I get the chance I have wrote in Ojibway a line that says "other" if it was available. I just don't even want to check race anymore. It seems obsolete these days. I know we need it for EEO - equal employment opportunity but for some things we simply do not need it.

I thought I would start a discussion on this topic - the other category.

What are your thoughts?

What have your experiences been being the other on applications, etc?

Dear Sleeping Bear

I miss you when I am "down" in the city...


Love,
Cecelia

Blogging Less and Living More!

I have really noticed that my page hits are way down. I have not really been blogging. If I am not at work, commuting to work, getting ready for work I am engaging with the land somehow. Also, living more - bike rides, road trips, hanging with friends, daydreaming, writing, journaling, ect! As soon as the sun shows her face more you will find me less and less inside and more so outside! Shifts in life are good! I won't stop blogging but going with the organic and natural flow to blogging less right now!

Inawendiwin!

Native News Stories & Links

Lipan Apache Women Defense - Lipan Apache Women Defense an Indigenous Peoples' Organization (United Nations)



Survival International - ConocoPhillips poses 'deadly' threat to uncontacted tribes.

IPS News - PERU: Microbusiness Helps Women Weather Crisis.

Indian Country Today - Dakota and Ojibwe renew vows of peace.

Bolivia Rising - Bolivian Foreign Minister: "Communitarian Socialism will refound Bolivia."

BBC News - Colonial scars run deep in Bolivia.

7th Space Interactive - INDIGENOUS PEOPLE WORLDWIDE URGE GOVERNMENTS TO REDRESS ENTRENCHED LACK OF RESPECT FOR THEIR VALUES, OVERHAUL LEGISLATION, ENDORSE DECLARATION, IN PERMANENT FORUM.

What are YouTube?: multiracial and mixed heritage folks

Make a video!



Taking back "What are You?"

"What are YouTube?" was posted by Louie Gong, President Elect of the MAVIN Foundation, after attending a gathering of multiracial leaders in February of 2008. The grassroots video challenged people of mixed heritage to answer the question What Are You? on their own terms. In May of 2008, it inspired dozens of video responses and hundreds of thank you letters when it was prominently featured at MSNBC.com (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24542138/), where it received over a hundred thousand views. Several of the video responses (many not published here on YouTube) are on display as part of the Wing Luke Asian Museums mixed race exhibit, My Place or Yours: Mixed APIAs.

What are YouTube? and the subsequent video responses are excellent tools for sparking dialogue about the mixed heritage population. If youre a teacher or facilitator, please feel free to use What are Youtube? in your efforts to raise awareness about one of Americas fastest growing subpopulations.

Additionally, we invite you to respond to this video with your own. Remember, you can answer the question in whatever way feels right for you.

Bkejwanong "Walpole Island" Community Cultural Celebration

Please leave me a comment below with your email and I can send you the PDF file of this flyer. I won't publish your comment with your email on my blog. Please help spread the word!

How Much Native American Are You?

How can your identity be quantified? Do you believe your identity can be dissected into bits and pieces? I know that my body and spirit cannot be quantified. As a spiritual being I know I am whole, I am complete. Being mixed by blood as many Native people are because we are dissected in our identity on a daily basis. Because of colonization and genocide the majority society takes a look at someone who says they are Native and then poses the question, "how much?" If the person is not stereotypically Native then we are asked this question. The more I talk to other people in the Native community the more I realize this question is a common question that is asked.

This weekend I was asked this question and instead of getting furiously mad like I would of in the past I was calm. I had a realization recently since reading extensively about privilege, race, class and oppression. If I become mad then I am giving away my power to this person when they have no power over me in the first place. I do agree that anger has a time and place but I have made a recent choice to rise above it all with calmness, wisdom and grace.

My friend and I were at a restaurant when this question was asked. The waitress said that she liked my earrings. She made the comment that there were very "Native American looking." I replied, "I am Native American." She replied, "oh cool." My friend and I told her the drinks that we wanted. She left and then came back with our water and tea. She then proceeded to ask, "so how much are you?" I took a deep breath and replied, "I choose not to answer that question. The waitress replied, "ok."

I spoke with my friend and she said, "all you have to say is that I am full in heart." While this is true and this is the best response to say when someone asks this question I feel that this question should not even be asked in the first place. It is not about blood quantum, skin tone, hair color, eye color, facial features or height. It is what is in the heart and spirit.

I know who I am, no one has power over me and I am whole.

Miigwech - Thank You!

Miigwech everyone for your responses on my most recent blog post. I am still sitting with your responses and the changes I want to make to this blog.

I can share with you the following changes that will take place:

• More of my personal stories and poetry.
• Native News Stories will remain.
• If I write about women's new stories and issues it will be from the Aboriginal, First Nations, Indigenous and Native community only.
• More personal stories about the healing arts, self care, environmental issues, Native traditional healing, energy work, Native prophecies, Michigan and stories about my love for Michigan.
  
• More pictures from powwow's and other events.
  
• I will be writing less frequently - maybe 3-4 days a week. With my new job I have been redirecting heart, spirit and energies to it so this is why I feel that I will be blogging less.
  
• I also may change my blog page name and my domain name.

That is all for now. Miigwech!