Harper Valley

The other day I was at a woman's on a reservation in B.C.. She was showing me her basket collection, most of which came from an elderly white woman who's grandmother had it. Before the elderly woman died she wanted to pass the baskets on to their rightful owner, the great-grandaughter of the well noted native woman who made the beautiful woven carriers.

I held them and the strength that each one exuded was enormous. The wisdom, knowledge and power in each one came from the maker's connection to nature and all it holds. Woman's wisdom...so strong because it has the ability to hold, to move and shake, to bring forth the spiritual warrior who keeps society on track. Women have womgs, the ultimate connection to Mother Earth.

Before Christianity we were all able to tap into areas of our mind that helped heal, see, hear and know. Come the Dark Ages and in Europe these people were seen as evil witches to the Crusaders. Burnt, drowned, tortured along with some men who practised what was thought as savage (without soul) activities. That same attitude carried forth with the coming of the conqueror to Turtle Island.

Native ways went underground. For Europeans too much was lost though some like the Ukrainians and Roma held to the underground too. For most groups it was the women who kept the ways. Before the Dark Ages, tribal Europe like North America was largely Mother Clan.

Mother Clan were the 'original feminists'....decreed by nature and spirit. The women held the land to make sure it was never sold and properly stewarded. The women appointed the leaders (men or women) as they raised the children and knew best who was suitable for the jobs. Leading meant listening, for the circle was consensual. Mother Clan is gender equal.

The patriarchal heirarchy of religion was well ingrained in most settler's minds. I'm sure many a woman worked towards change, but the most well noted in recent history were two movement, one being the sufferagettes who gained the vote for Canadian women in 1922. Natives were granted voting privilege in 1964. The other group was 'The Feminists' of the 60's and 70's.

I have benefitted greatly from all my ancestors, and my aunts and sisters who worked towards change. It has given me OPPORTUNITY AND CHOICE. The list is too long to even begin to make. Those two words will have to suffice.

The Dark Ages seem upon us again but there is light at the end of this long tunnel of hate. Love always rules in the end, no matter what. Be it 'bread and roses' or 'baskets and blue cohosh', I say HiHi , thank you, to the grandmothers, aunts, sisters who worked for change and the men who worked along side them. And I say the same to our daughters and sons who will continue the work until someday soon Mother Clan ways are reclaimed. It is coming soon, this change to the light. Our Six Nation's sisters bring new meaning to warrior society where taking action is the way. To date they have filed so many claims, put the process in motion in the courts of Turtle Island and are on the verge of brining us all liberation from the oppression of the oligarchy.

Mother Clan reclamation is the new 'feminsism'. We have to go back in order to proceed correctly. Female warriors live on.

When Women hold their rightful place again then so too will all people, all races, all gender, all sexual preference, all as one blood.

*Blue Cohosh is an herb traditionally used by native indians to induce abortion. It is also used to ease labour, as a contraceptive and for anxiety, and asthma. Use of this herb is not suggested unless you know someone who knows it's properties, protocal and dosage.