17: Celebrating Who We Are

My Beautiful Clan Sister and I
Elizabeth Peratrovich Celebration 2012

ANB Hall. Juneau, AK

Without the tireless efforts of people like Elizabeth Peratrovich we wouldn't be allowed to celebrate who we are today, let alone be who we are without persecution.  

Elizabeth and her husband, Roy, worked to establish the Anti-Discrimination Act of 1943.  No more signs reading "No Natives, No Dogs".  Tonight, we honored her with dance.  We were able to honor her and everyone who lived, worked, and survived during this trying time (all of our grandparents, great-grandparents, all family included) because of what they endured to get us to where we are, and who we are today.  That is a powerful yet humbling fact.

Tonight also marked the first time that I danced with my clan sister, Pam.  We are a dynamic duo, and I love her to pieces.  She is strong, beautiful, powerful in more ways than she knows and tonight she danced and sang her heart out next to me while unknowingly helping me heal a part of me that needed healing.  Even I didn't know that I needed healing.

We all walked away empowered, humbled, lighter...  Likoodzí áwé.