Posoh eneq newihswan Namaewkukiw. Rachel Fernandez eneq aekaeyan. Netotaem awewawaehsaeh. Nohnaeq kaehnap Luke Beauprey. Nekiah awew Karen Beauprey. Eneq s’kew wekiyan Naenaweyah Omaenihkan.
Hello my real name is Namaewkukiw, Sturgeon Woman. Rachel Fernandez is what I am called. My clan is bear. My father was Luke Beauprey. My mother is Karen Beauprey. I live in Middle Village. I reside on my ancestral lands of the Menominee.
I am an organizer, activist, advocate, and artist. I have been a cultural advocate organizing Maeqtekuahkihkiw Metaemohsak, Woodland Women for 11 years. We are a group led and mentored by our elders who teach lifeways and reclaiming traditional knowledge through art and circle. We awaken our blood memory as our ancestors speak through our work and teachings. As we decolonize based on land and the connection to relationship, knowledge, and language we know that we are breaking cycles and asserting our inherent right to what we have known all along, who we are and where we come from. Our elders help us in this way.
As we gather in circle, we learn from our elders of how they were taught from their mothers, aunties, gramma’s. They share through stories our history and continue the oral tradition. With every bead put on the loom, every strand woven on the belt, every quill wrapped, and every thread sewn, we are creating our own stories. This is our healing and power. This is how I heal and connect to who I am. I learn where
I have been, where I am now, and where I want to be. Decolonized.
Circle has been a great healing tool for me. I have always felt the love, acceptance, and power that our circle holds for us. We help each other in creating this safe space for sharing while we work on projects. Beading has been my greatest therapy because when I am beading, I am putting all my good thoughts and feelings into what I create. It helps me reclaim what was taken from me and to hold that true to my heart, my power and my control. Learning through my elders has saved me. My mind, body, and spirit. Through them I was able to move forward in a good way. I continue to move forward with them by my side as we decolonize.
I am honored to be in this inclusive space and a participant of ILI’s Cohort 6.
