the-yaadihla-girls
The Yáadihla’! Girls
Dear Yáadihla’ Girls' Reader,
This tumblr presence has its origins in a zine called The Yáadihla’ Girls!. A zine that extends the same mission within tumblr world as it does in the real world: to empower Indigenous women and LGBTQ.
The material posted, seeks to encourage and increase Indigenous representation; to focus on promoting ideas that foster Indigenous self-esteem, confidence, and new-found positivity-- to create and extend hope, healing, love, and prayer!
So it should be no surprise that this tumblr primarily focuses on an intersection of Indigenous Queer Feminism to address colonization's heteropatriarchy
The Diné word “Yáadihla’!” expresses frustration. In this rendering, Yáadihla expresses Indigenous People’s experience as they straddle various expectations that are inextricably linked to identity and sovereignty while experiencing an active colonization.
And if you still aren’t quite sure what we mean, here is an exhaustive list of the things that make us say, “Yáadihla’!”:
- misogynistic taboos that are invented for political convenience sake.
-Deliberate corruptions of our culture, history, and reality to fit political agendas and heteropatriarchal comforts.
- Sexual and domestic violence within and upon our communities.
- Natives who hate on other natives (Łeh), also known as lateral oppression or lateral violence.
- Various forms of lateral oppression/violence, including but not limited to the impact of intergenerational trauma, resulting from nationalism's patriarchs that forcefully assumed ownership over land and people, the boarding school era, capitalism, and other variants that are a result of british, spanish, french, etc... colonization; all of which contributes to the cannibalization of our people and people's recollection of their own heritage in relation to this continents transnational body politic.
- Structural oppression/violence withi...
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It’s very, very obvious that many leftist/progressive groups, movements, and organizations cast aside groups once they begin to demand not only social change, but material resources. Indigenous people demanding land back. Black people demanding reparations. Poor people demanding free access to education. Once you want more than words, you are seen as a parasite on the group.
This is particularly obvious as a disabled person, because frequently we require material resources in order to bring into the group. We request accessibility in order to attend groups and events, and are often told that our needs are too expensive. Why would they want to spend those resources, just to include people who will likely only need more support once included? Our existence is viewed as a stumbling block for the rest of the group, or, worse, as a burden to bear. I’d rather be a Problem than be someone’s martyrdom.
I could choose to see this as isolated to us. But I look around, and I see that every time a group becomes strident enough to demand not only respect, but the resources that should be theirs by right, they are dropped left and right from leftist groups and disavowed as radicals.
This is loosely theorizing the reason. I suspect it is because people recognize our needs, the needs of people who need material resources, and they recognize that they can’t help with that because either they don’t have them themselves, or they only have enough for themselves. Perhaps the people that they love, if they are lucky.
So they look at us, coming to them with clear needs, and they say “This is too much. You are asking for more than is reasonable.” They fail to realize that they are not the only person who can give, and fail to understand that none of these requests are anything more than just. Often, it is much, much less than what is just, often because the time for true justice passed a long, long time ago.
So, in this way, peoples that demand material resources as part of our justice are branded as unreasonable, unruly, as wanting to be oppressors, as being just as bad as those that were unjust to us. Our needs are degraded and we are told they are wants. Our passion for ourselves is demonized, and our love for our communities is seen as bigotry towards people not in our group. This is so that we can be cast aside without guilt.
We deserve better. We deserve our justice. We deserve resources.
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At stake in the creation of a Native veganism is the authority of Native people, especially Native women, to determine cultural authenticity for ourselves. Dominant white discourse portrays Native culture as focused on preserving the pre-colonial past. This must be replaced with the recognition that Native culture is a living tradition, responsive to changing social and environmental circumstances. In bringing postcolonial and ecofeminist interpretations to our stories, in retelling traditional stories, or in creating new stories, Native women claim authority over our culture. In doing so we recognize that our oral traditions are not fixed in time and space, but are adaptable to the needs of our animal siblings, and of the land itself.
Margaret Robinson, “Mi’kmaq legends and veganism: Native feminists do eat Tofu” (via waldensblog)
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SAVE RUTHERFORD FALLS AND ITS ROSTER OF INDIGENOUS TALENT
In case y'all haven't heard, after two seasons and barely advertised, (and existing on a platform very few folks use), Peacock has pulled the plug on the quirky, modern, Indigenous comedy Rutherford Falls.
WHY DOES THIS MATTER TO YOU?
It matters because for all the talk of allyship and support I see online, this petition only has 329 signatures at the time I'm making this post. These numbers don't reflect this support y'all supposedly have for Indigenous creators.
I am challenging all of you to put your metaphorical money where your goddamn mouth is.
Show us you give a damn about representation and save this show full of Indigenous talent that could continue to bring perspective to wider audiences and bring representation to a group that largely has not seen itself truly depicted on TV. It takes 1 minute. Tops.
The least you can do is sign this petition. Then you can reblog this to get it as far as you can.
Currently the showrunner is hoping to find it a new home at another network, but we can help the likelihood of it getting picked up if we show networks we care and want to see more.
Use #SaveRutherfordFalls and reshare this petition across platforms.
OTHER REASONS TO SAVE RUTHERFORD FALLS
Studies have proven that stereotypes, mascots, and derogatory depictions have long-term negative impacts on Native youth.
This show has one of the largest indigenous cast, giving opportunity to a wide range of actors and talent.
It is also one of the few modern series that focuses on an Indigenous lens.
The lead character Reagan (played by Jana Schmieding—comedian, actor, writer, and star) is one of the few female Indigenous leads out there. Oh, and she also helps write the show.
Rutherford Falls is also body positive—Reagan is not your "typical" female lead. She is a plus size QUEEN moving the show in such a humorous, cynical, and real way where others would typically fall on jokes at the expense of her weight. She is awkward and honest and all around an amazing character many can see themselves in beyond Hollywood's usual depictions of First Nation people.
The show has the wonderful non-binary talent of Jesse Leigh, who is bringing so much character to the show.
Micheal Greyeyes. That's it. If you haven't seen his speech, I invite you watch it here. It means so much to me an an Indigenous artist and business owner to see this.
Ed Helms plays Nathan, Reagan's childhood best friend and audience educator. Nathan plays the part of well-meaning ally who often missteps but also grows and learns. He helps illustrate common misconceptions and shows how to learn from them. (I facilitate so many questions from white allies I was pleasantly surprised and happy to see a character like this because he's so ding-dong likable and earnest. Having people like Nathan helps illustrate that it's ok to fumble and learn because we're human!)
All around, the show tackles various issues that not only are large topics within Indian country—Pretendians, Native allyship, land rights, cultural traditions in modern settings, and so much more—but can raise larger questions about your society as a whole.
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Whatever your views, it is clear that poor women, and particularly woc, are always going to suffer most under these anti abortion laws.
And if she’s a rich white woman? Oh, she is totally fine.
In Texas, for example, you think anyone will kick up a fuss if an unhappily pregnant millionaire’s daughter catches a plane to NYC or California for a couple of days?
No. Of course not.
Let’s think about that.
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Navajo Woman Grinding Daily Corn Supply
Photographer: Veronica Evaneshko,
Date: 1950-60
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25 YA Books for Indigenous Peoples Day
NOTES: For brevity and diversity, I did not include all the North American Native books I found, but there are plenty more - feel free to post your favorites in the comments! Most books are from indigenous authors, but not all - do your own research if you like. Not all books may be “technically” YA. I’d love to hear more suggestions of Latin American indigenous stories or Hawai’ian native stories which were difficult to find.
EDIT: This is just a random list by a random tumblr blog from 2022 - get out there and find your own books or list some in the comments if you find this list lacking.
Australia
The Things She’s Seen by Amebelin & Ezekiel Kwaymullina
The Boy from the Mish by Gary Lonesborough
Becoming Kirrali Lewis by Jane Harrison
Swallow the Air by Tara June Winch
Canada
The Missing by Melanie Florence
Sorrow’s Knot by Erin Bow
Son of a Trickster by Eden Robinson
The Marrow Thieves by Cherie Dimaline
A Girl Called Echo by Katherena Vermette
Surviving the City by Tasha Spillett
Japan - Ainu
Golden Kamuy by Satoru Noda
Latin America
Saints of the Household by Ari Tison
Tree Girl by Ben Mikaelsen
The Huaca by Marcia Argueta Mickelson
Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
The Lost Dreamer by Lizz Huerta
New Zealand - Maori
The Whale Rider, Witi Ihimaera
Falling into Rarohenga by Steph Matuku
United States
Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley
Trail of Lighting by Rebecca Roanhorse
Elatsoe by Darcie Little Badger
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
If I Ever Get Out of Here by Eric Gansworth
Hearts Unbroken by Cynthia Leitich Smith
Rain is Not My Indian Name by Cynthia Leitich Smith
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“Grandma’s House is not like a drop-off daycare or an immersion school where only the children learn. Through a grant from the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota Foundation, parents get paid to learn alongside and speak with their children in Ojibwe five hours a day, four days a week.
…
‘Learning Ojibwe in college and pursuing learning the language and teaching the language, I hadn't really thought about babies speaking it as their first language,’ Erdrich said.
‘It seemed like this impossible thing because of how much work it would be, how hard it would be to have a whole community and other babies to be speaking Ojibwe, but it's happening! And it's amazing because it's the peer language here so the kids are speaking Ojibwe to each other,’ she said.
…Grandma’s House is not like other college language programs. Learning a Native language in an academic setting is beneficial for language revitalization, but academic learning does not usually include learning the traditions, heritage or spirit within a Native community.
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Although it’s common to refer to a language no longer commonly spoken as a ‘dead language,’ some people in the language revitalization movement instead refer to them as ‘asleep.’ The idea is that sleeping languages can be awakened through family and community efforts.
Waking up Native languages can also bring intergenerational healing.”
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"The pieces are split into three groups, each benefiting a different organization. The “In Another Life” auction, which contains several costumes including Evelyn’s giant baby outfit and Jobu’s Elvis getup, will benefit the Transgender Law Center, which advocates for trans immigrant and workers rights and represents imprisoned trans people in the U.S., among other causes.
Proceeds from the other two auctions will be donated to the Asian Mental Health Project and the Laundry Workers Center, a grassroots collective of immigrant workers in the New York/New Jersey area."
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Decorative Sunday
GEE’S BEND QUILTS
Since the 19th century, the women of Gee’s Bend in southern Alabama have created stunning, vibrant quilts. In 2002, folk art collector, historian, and curator William Arnett organized an exhibition entitled “The Quilts of Gee’s Bend,” which debuted at the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston and later travelled to a dozen other locations across the country, including our own Milwaukee Art Museum (September 27, 2003 - January 4, 2004). This exhibition brought fame to the quilts, and Arnett’s foundation Souls Grown Deep Foundation continues to collect and organize exhibitions for Gee’s Bend Quilts.
The images shown here are from Gee’s Bend: The Women and Their Quilts, with essays by John Beardsley, William Arnett, Paul Arnett, and Jane Livingston, an introduction by Alvia Wardlaw, and a foreword by Peter Marzio. The book was published in 2002 by Tinwood Books, Atlanta, and published in conjunction with the 2002 exhibition at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. It includes 350 color illustrations and 30 black-and-white illustrations. The dust jacket notes observe:
The women of Gee’s Bend - a small, remote, black community in Alabama - have created hundreds of quilt masterpieces dating from the early twentieth century to the present… . [The] quilts carry forward an old and proud tradition of textiles made for home and family. They represent only a part of the rich body of African American quilts. But they are in a league by themselves. Few other places can boast the extent of Gee’s Bends’s artistic achievement, the result of geographical isolation and an unusual degree of cultural continuity. In few places elsewhere have works been found by three and sometimes four generations of women of the same family, or works that bear witness to visual conversations among community quilting groups and lineages.
Our copy is a gift from our friend and benefactor Suzy Ettinger.
View more Black History Month posts.
View more Decorative Sunday posts.
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You don’t have to figure everything out today. You don’t have to solve your whole life tonight. And you don’t have to tackle everything at once. You just have to show up and try. You just have to focus on the most immediate thing in front of you. And you have to trust that you’ll figure out the rest along the way.
Daniell Koepke (via onlinecounsellingcollege)
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This is Indian Land, Garden River, Ontario, Canada
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