The following are a gathering of practical movements of ancestral recovery, re-indigenization, and decolonization. These movements focus on aspects of cultural-spiritual action to provide a solid, grounded foundation for the political. They are not exhaustive and are best considered as places to begin.
These steps recognize the complicated histories that people of european heritage have, both as displaced and traumatized people of Indigenous origin, and as settlers on lands violently taken and occupied from resisting and resilient Indigenous peoples around the world.
The movements described below are experiential and moving in nature. They are non-linear and often intuitive requiring the active recovery of Indigenous consciousness. A person will likely engage with multiple actions or movements at the same time. Ultimately, these movements – and the process of healing relationships with All Life they represent – are profoundly spiritual in nature.
REMEMBERING
Seeking and learning the stories of who we are, and how we came to be where we are. Accepting the complicated history of colonization, trauma, resistance, displacement, and survivorship in our past and present. Genealogy. Researching family and cultural history. Renewing relationships with ancestors. Family alters. Reunions. Pilgrimages.
RECONNECTING
Turning towards what’s alive inside and outside of us. Renewing relationships with nature and life. Moving with the seasons. Migrations. Learning our Indigenous languages. Reconnecting with culture via elder’s stories, songs, dreams, visions, myths, and folklore. Ceremonies. Rituals. Finding one’s culturally specific healing ceremonies.
RECONCILING
Using the lessons of our own complicated history in movements of reconciliation with Indigenous peoples, lands, and other living beings impacted by our colonization. Cross-cultural healing including apologies, atonement, restorative justice, reparations, return of Indigenous lands, and cross-cultural healing ceremonies. Earning the privilege to become an invited guest on another’s lands.
REACHING OUT
Growing decolonized relationships with Native people, our people in Europe, and each other. Learning togetherness. Becoming relatives. Participating and committing to anti-colonial and anti-racist solidarity action/resistance. Supporting Indigenous sovereignty. Defending the land, water, and all living relatives. Representing oneself as a person with cultural identity by knowing language, stories, songs, dances, and foods.
RETURNING
Returning home. Listening to our lands and places. Speaking with our relatives. Restoring connection. Renewing culture. Rebuilding decolonized understandings of home and community with people of one’s family and/or nation. Growing elders. Passing history, knowledge and stories on to future generations.
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