[2myladyblue]

For many years now, I've been blessed to be included in an aboriginal women's spiritual gathering. A local elder invited women to her land for one weekend a year to take part in singing, drumming, circles and ceremonies. Other elders were often included to share their teachings as well.

That first year, I was so moved by the experience of my first sweat, everything I had heard and learned and all the new friends I had made, that I went up to this amazing woman to thank her. I remember telling her that she had changed my life and I will never forget how she corrected me..."you are changing your life", (These words turned out to be far more prophetic than I realized at the time). I continued to attend these gatherings over the years as often as I could and met many amazing women and learned so much.

One year in particular, I remember being especially concerned by the very likely perception that I was (mis)appropriating aboriginal culture. I felt as though I was an intruder...a white woman, taking the place of a native woman who should be there to experience and reclaim her culture.

I shared these thoughts with another woman I had gotten to know...and she shared her perspective with me. She pointed out that there wasn't that much difference in our skin colours (I think she may have even referred to herself as "a white indian") and she told me that it didn't matter if I wasn't aboriginal, because its what's on the inside that counts, and if that's the way we looked at it, she thought I was more "native" than a lot of native people.

I finally felt more than welcome...I felt at home (maybe even in my own skin, for the first time) and I went back the next year and asked my elder to give me my spirit name. I have continued to go back and take part and share and learn and grow with the other women who attend. In more recent years, the circle has grown to include transwomen. And every day, I remember what I started learning that first weekend that I found myself surounded by some of the most amazing and beautiful women I've ever met...We are all teachers and healers.

(Meegwetch ni kookum)

~LadyBlue