Amhran nam Bandia: July 2018

Gaelic Polytheism, Cultural Preservation, Indigenous Solidarity

Occasional musings from one of the original troublemakers behind the contemporary Gaelic Polytheist (GP) (Gaelic: Ioma-Dhiadhachd Ghàidhealach; Irish: Ildiachas Gaelach) and Celtic Reconstructionist traditions. Allegedly the person to blame for that unwieldy, awkward, misinterpreted and misrepresented, umbrella tradition name (CR), and most definitely to blame for the Nigheanan nan Cailleach agus Ora nam Bandia branches of the community.

Clann Eóghain na h-Oitrich, agus Eóganachta. Tha mi a fuireach ann Wabanahkik. Co-còrdadh: Kaswhenta.

While my family culture growing up was predominantly diasporan Gael (Irish/Scottish-American), and my low BQ gives me white privilege / passing privilege visually, I also have distant Indigenous heritage from both Turtle Island (Catawba/Yęh Iswä H'Reh) and Sápmi, as well as cherished African-American ancestors who survived the Middle Passage and the Underground Railroad. I am one of the people who has researched Cherokee blood myths to find the truth that so many of us turn out to share - Black ancestors who managed to pass and assimilate to stay alive after escaping slavery.

As an unenrolled Catawba descendant with Native family and relatives in a handful of Nations, from both ancestry and adoption, I'm a long-term member of several Indigenous-led collectives, active in Indian Country in largely a backup/support role since the 1980s, and in more recent years in interfaith and political work as both a collective member, extended family member, and as a representative of both our GP groups and the descendant crew. I don't presume to steer the canoe, even when I'm helping paddle one that my cousins and aunties have built and are helming, but except for my fellow Gaels and other diverse relatives, I jumped out of the ship over a decade ago. I'd much rather dive deep with the prop-fouling otters, be a shieldmaiden in the metaphorical jetski clan, and continue my work with the side of the family I live with now, than get back into that rotting colonists' ship, unless it's to sabotage and change the course. Which I've been known to do sometimes.

It's one of multiple ways that my life is lived in liminal zones.

And if it's not clear, I fully support Indigenous Sovereignty - the right of all Nations to decide their enrollment criteria, their terminology, and who is and isn't accepted in community. Descendants - those of us with distant heritage but not raised fully Native - need to abide by the criteria for Indigeneity set by the Nations we descend from. To dishonor that criteria by trying to claim full Native status - by self-Indigenization - is to shame one's ancestors and to violate the hospitality of being a good relative.

I serve on the governing councils of CAORANN and Gaol Naofa; however, all opinions expressed on this blog, and posted elsewhere under my own name on social media, are my own.

Amhran nam Bandia

Monday, July 02, 2018

No one is Illegal on Stolen Land