Title Track staff (L to R: Chris Good, Lillie Wolff, Seth Bernard, Jenny Jones)
The Title Track staff participated in the 2nd Annual Anishinaabe Racial Justice Conference in Baraga this past weekend, organized by the Native Justice Coalition. Title Track’s Lillie Wolff and Seth Bernard presented a well-attended workshop “Toward Accountable White Allyship & Accompliceship” to a highly engaged group of conference attendees. Here are a couple reflections to share from our team from this incredibly moving experience:
“My experience at the Anishinaabe Racial Justice Conference was overwhelming, heavy, and challenging. By the conclusion of the weekend, I was so amazingly hopeful. Through the sharings, teachings, and historical lessons, my point of view and realization of my own Native American history and roots were changed. Even though some things seemed so very hopeless, the power of the people is in knowledge, remembrance, determination, and VULNERABILITY. I was so incredibly honored to be among people who effortlessly expressed the need to be seen, be respected, and be restored. All other descriptions fail me at this point, but I know that by just spending one weekend with some dedicated people – I could forgive people who wronged me, see people differently, and crave the restoration of an ancient and regal people. Miigwech.” -Jenny Jones, Title Track Development and Administrative Associate
“As I entered into and engaged with the Native Two Spirit-led space of the Anishinaabe Racial Justice Conference, I felt profoundly honored and grateful to be a guest in a sacred communal space of Native resistance to colonialism and white supremacy. My biggest awareness was that to truly hold the weight of what it means to be a settler colonial white person on occupied Native land, I must be present in my body. I cannot feel grief unless I’m present in my body. I cannot orient toward right-sized and accountable relationship with Native leadership unless I’m present in my body. I cannot feel into my connection with my well ancestors and maintain boundaries with any troubled ancestors who may have participated in supremacy (un)consciousness unless I’m present in my body. This awareness helps me further commit to tending my own spiritual, somatic, and cultural healing work so I can show up as an accomplice for Native-lead and Native-centered racial justice work in resilient and embodied ways.” -Lillie Wolff, Title Track Cultural Healing Facilitator
“Throughout the weekend I kept sitting with the lived reality of existence as resistance. This legacy of resilience in the face of such devastating trauma was articulated so beautifully in a poem shared by our host and conference organizer, Cecilia LaPointe. What a powerful mirror to reveal my own privilege and the choice that I have to show up (or not show up) to engage in the work of solidarity, cultural healing, and decolonizing our communities. So the question becomes what do we non-Native folks do with our privilege, as we engage in understanding what it means to be in recovery from settler colonialism? My sincerest hope is that we commit to keep showing up! To listen, to learn, to hold space, to center Native leadership, to open our hearts and minds to be a part of the healing of the many deep traumas that exist. This work isn’t easy but it’s the work that must be done. My heart is full with many feelings yet to be fully integrated but I’m certain that this transformative weekend rich with new friendships will inform and inspire my work and life in the months and years to come.” -Chris Good, Title Track Communications Director
“Miigwetch to the Native Justice Coalition and everyone who hosted, presented, facilitated and attended. I learned so much and feel so grateful to have been a part of it all. We are living in a time of great collapse and upheaval. Indigenous peoples carry deep wisdom and ways of being that can help humanity into a better relationship with each other and the earth. Native communities bear an unfair burden of systematic injustice and oppression. When we work for healing and stand for sovereignty, we are building a bridge into better possible futures for all people. There is so much to love and celebrate about this earth, and so much work to be done to change systems of oppression and to heal our own hearts and show up for one another.” -Seth Bernard, Title Track Executive Director
Learn more about the efforts of the Native Justice Coalition at nativejustice.org
