Walk around the areas highlighted on the map to listen to the stories on location. All you need is a device with you that can run the link in a browser (Internet connection required).
A remembering of a moment in history holds space for family members and survivors affected by the grief of MMIWG2S+.
Storyteller Statement: Larissa Derosiers
I am honoured to have been chosen to care for this memory through song. Miigwech to the Memory Holder Verna McGregor for sharing this important story. Thank you to Raven Street Studio for bringing my ideas to life and to the National Arts Centre’s Indigenous Theatre team for producing this project.
I wrote these pieces to hold space for family members and survivors who deal with the grief of MMIWG2S+. My own family has been affected by this issue and I have witnessed the effects it has. I also want to acknowledge the 2SLGBTQ+ community as our experiences regarding this issue are often ignored. As Indigenous women, girls, and LGBTQ2S+ folks, we deserve to live and grieve with respect, safety, and love. Healing is possible and we deserve justice.
Story transcript
A medicine woman, kept this story alive,
through the generations, it has survived,
A young Algonquin girl, camped for night,
and the British soldiers who took her life,
Her hair was braided in the sunlight,
skipping through sweet grass,
pickin medicines while her family set up camp,
Atop the hill the soldiers barracks stood
spotted the girl, they were up to no good
sun was setting, the search for her was on
something stopped them in their tracks,
they knew she was gone.
her hair was blowing in the wind,
her blood spilled on the ground, threads of red led up the hill
They remember the day that she was found.
they wanted to fight, chief said listen to me,
Her spirit will seek vengeance naturally,
Aandakii we are only passing through, till we reach the other side,
where we will find the truth.
Her hair was blowing in the wind, her blood spilled on the ground,
threads of red led up the hill,
They remember the day that she was found, she was found.
When you walk on the concrete, remember it was moccasins on moss
That traveled all across this land. who are now feeling the loss,
sometimes at night, if you close your eyes,
listen to the wind you can almost hear her cry,
her hair blowing in the wind, her blood spilled on the ground,
threads of red went up the hill,
they remember the day that she was found, that she was found.
Bamapii
Baamaapii Manitou Ikwe
I will see you again someday
Bamaapii Ishkode Ikwe
I will see you again someday.
Bamaapii Nibi Ikwe
I will see you again someday.
Bamaapii Anishinaabekwe
I will see you again someday
Credits
Interpreted from a Memory from Verna McGregor
Shannon Murray, Jelan Maxwell, Jake Jones of Raven Street Studios
Douglas Gagnon for Anishinaabemowin Language Consultation
Written and composed by Larissa Desrosiers
Additional credits:
Brit Johnston, Artist Liaison
Howard Adler, Videographer
Jaime Morse, Consulting (Ottawa)
Heather Cant, Consulting (Indigenous Cities)