This is the closing section of my keynote for the Moananuiākea symposium at FESTPAC. I think insome ways nicely sums up what I tried to deliver. Throughout the keynote I spoke about Kamehameha and his legacy is expanding the institution of the puʻuhonua and institutionalizing principles of refuge and sanctuary into his governance. I asked the audience to consider what it would mean for those principles to again be applied at the core of our practice of sovereignty. I asked us to consider what it would mean to then extend that practice beyond the domestic, and even beyond the moana into our conceptions and practices of sovereignty globally. I asked us to consider the urgency of this work as genocides continue to ravage on in West Papua, Palestine, the Congo, Sudan… I asked us to consider what sovereignty means if it isnt pursued and practiced towards the liberation of all peoples. I offered that perhaps this means we need to entirely rethink and re-imagine what self determination means. I understand many of the reasons that this is not the “mainstream” position of many of our peoples. But I believe this moment is asking us to take a far more radical approach to our self governance. Let me be clear, no one is more equipped to lead hawaiʻi than Hawaiians. No one more prepared to lead oceania than our Indigenous pacific peoples. and still without a radical reimagining of sovereignty and self governance — our own people can lead us into a practice of governance that sacrifices the “unrecognized” to the ravages of genocides, rising seas, raging fires, and extractive capitalism. I am still asking that as we continue to take back our kuleana to manage our resources and govern our Aina and moana that we also take back our basic principles of refuge and sanctuary. i am asking that we do, what @joyenomoto so clearly called us to in 2020, “become puʻuhonua for each other” towards a genuinely secure and abundant future.
“The poets (by which I mean all artists) are finally the only people who know the truth about us.” – James Baldwin (via sister @terisasiagatonu ) I am in awe of what it means to stand among these truth telling trouble makers. I know for sure that many of us will remember tonight for the rest of our lives. From the hale, to (the) kahulileole’a, to the the audience — legends among them, to the artists on and off stage… the evening was pure love and perfection. Mahalo to @olapakauwila.wilz , aunty @vicky_takamine and the whole @paifoundation team for making this dream a reality. In the end, brother @izikfamous said it best, “I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you” All of you.
“The poets (by which I mean all artists) are finally the only people who know the truth about us.” – James Baldwin (via sister @terisasiagatonu ) I am in awe of what it means to stand among these truth telling trouble makers. I know for sure that many of us will remember tonight for the rest of our lives. From the hale, to (the) kahulileole’a, to the the audience — legends among them, to the artists on and off stage… the evening was pure love and perfection. Mahalo to @olapakauwila.wilz , aunty @vicky_takamine and the whole @paifoundation team for making this dream a reality. In the end, brother @izikfamous said it best, “I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you” All of you.
“The poets (by which I mean all artists) are finally the only people who know the truth about us.” – James Baldwin (via sister @terisasiagatonu ) I am in awe of what it means to stand among these truth telling trouble makers. I know for sure that many of us will remember tonight for the rest of our lives. From the hale, to (the) kahulileole’a, to the the audience — legends among them, to the artists on and off stage… the evening was pure love and perfection. Mahalo to @olapakauwila.wilz , aunty @vicky_takamine and the whole @paifoundation team for making this dream a reality. In the end, brother @izikfamous said it best, “I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you” All of you.
“The poets (by which I mean all artists) are finally the only people who know the truth about us.” – James Baldwin (via sister @terisasiagatonu ) I am in awe of what it means to stand among these truth telling trouble makers. I know for sure that many of us will remember tonight for the rest of our lives. From the hale, to (the) kahulileole’a, to the the audience — legends among them, to the artists on and off stage… the evening was pure love and perfection. Mahalo to @olapakauwila.wilz , aunty @vicky_takamine and the whole @paifoundation team for making this dream a reality. In the end, brother @izikfamous said it best, “I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you” All of you.
“The poets (by which I mean all artists) are finally the only people who know the truth about us.” – James Baldwin (via sister @terisasiagatonu ) I am in awe of what it means to stand among these truth telling trouble makers. I know for sure that many of us will remember tonight for the rest of our lives. From the hale, to (the) kahulileole’a, to the the audience — legends among them, to the artists on and off stage… the evening was pure love and perfection. Mahalo to @olapakauwila.wilz , aunty @vicky_takamine and the whole @paifoundation team for making this dream a reality. In the end, brother @izikfamous said it best, “I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you” All of you.
“The poets (by which I mean all artists) are finally the only people who know the truth about us.” – James Baldwin (via sister @terisasiagatonu ) I am in awe of what it means to stand among these truth telling trouble makers. I know for sure that many of us will remember tonight for the rest of our lives. From the hale, to (the) kahulileole’a, to the the audience — legends among them, to the artists on and off stage… the evening was pure love and perfection. Mahalo to @olapakauwila.wilz , aunty @vicky_takamine and the whole @paifoundation team for making this dream a reality. In the end, brother @izikfamous said it best, “I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you” All of you.
“The poets (by which I mean all artists) are finally the only people who know the truth about us.” – James Baldwin (via sister @terisasiagatonu ) I am in awe of what it means to stand among these truth telling trouble makers. I know for sure that many of us will remember tonight for the rest of our lives. From the hale, to (the) kahulileole’a, to the the audience — legends among them, to the artists on and off stage… the evening was pure love and perfection. Mahalo to @olapakauwila.wilz , aunty @vicky_takamine and the whole @paifoundation team for making this dream a reality. In the end, brother @izikfamous said it best, “I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you” All of you.
“The poets (by which I mean all artists) are finally the only people who know the truth about us.” – James Baldwin (via sister @terisasiagatonu ) I am in awe of what it means to stand among these truth telling trouble makers. I know for sure that many of us will remember tonight for the rest of our lives. From the hale, to (the) kahulileole’a, to the the audience — legends among them, to the artists on and off stage… the evening was pure love and perfection. Mahalo to @olapakauwila.wilz , aunty @vicky_takamine and the whole @paifoundation team for making this dream a reality. In the end, brother @izikfamous said it best, “I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you” All of you.
“The poets (by which I mean all artists) are finally the only people who know the truth about us.” – James Baldwin (via sister @terisasiagatonu ) I am in awe of what it means to stand among these truth telling trouble makers. I know for sure that many of us will remember tonight for the rest of our lives. From the hale, to (the) kahulileole’a, to the the audience — legends among them, to the artists on and off stage… the evening was pure love and perfection. Mahalo to @olapakauwila.wilz , aunty @vicky_takamine and the whole @paifoundation team for making this dream a reality. In the end, brother @izikfamous said it best, “I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you” All of you.
Protecting Oceania. Day 3. Day three was all about the fiery canoe sisters for me ❤️❤️❤️🔥🔥🔥 Mana’o of the day: 1.Resist reflect reframe remix — @katerina_teaiwa 2. Make island a verb. Let us island the earth. – Teresia Teaiwa 3.To rise, we must go deep— into the land — into the Moana. —Katerina Teaiwa
Protecting Oceania. Day 3. Day three was all about the fiery canoe sisters for me ❤️❤️❤️🔥🔥🔥 Mana’o of the day: 1.Resist reflect reframe remix — @katerina_teaiwa 2. Make island a verb. Let us island the earth. – Teresia Teaiwa 3.To rise, we must go deep— into the land — into the Moana. —Katerina Teaiwa
Protecting Oceania. Day 3. Day three was all about the fiery canoe sisters for me ❤️❤️❤️🔥🔥🔥 Mana’o of the day: 1.Resist reflect reframe remix — @katerina_teaiwa 2. Make island a verb. Let us island the earth. – Teresia Teaiwa 3.To rise, we must go deep— into the land — into the Moana. —Katerina Teaiwa
Protecting Oceania. Day 3. Day three was all about the fiery canoe sisters for me ❤️❤️❤️🔥🔥🔥 Mana’o of the day: 1.Resist reflect reframe remix — @katerina_teaiwa 2. Make island a verb. Let us island the earth. – Teresia Teaiwa 3.To rise, we must go deep— into the land — into the Moana. —Katerina Teaiwa
Protecting Oceania. Day 3. Day three was all about the fiery canoe sisters for me ❤️❤️❤️🔥🔥🔥 Mana’o of the day: 1.Resist reflect reframe remix — @katerina_teaiwa 2. Make island a verb. Let us island the earth. – Teresia Teaiwa 3.To rise, we must go deep— into the land — into the Moana. —Katerina Teaiwa
Protecting Oceania. Day 3. Day three was all about the fiery canoe sisters for me ❤️❤️❤️🔥🔥🔥 Mana’o of the day: 1.Resist reflect reframe remix — @katerina_teaiwa 2. Make island a verb. Let us island the earth. – Teresia Teaiwa 3.To rise, we must go deep— into the land — into the Moana. —Katerina Teaiwa
@dechintacentre day 5. On leaving Denendeh & the virtue of slow departures. I came to this place with my grief buried deep in my belly. This Kaumaha was So heavy that my grief became my anchor. You unmoored me in a way I wasn’t prepared. You see, I come from the wide, expansive, and magnificent sea. To be unmoored at home is to drift dangerously. But here — in this time of year— there is no darkness, just the bouncing of light off the lake until Infinity. There are no valleys, just the shield of granite and her forest stretching our eyes wider without limit. There are no endings to which I can trace the next beginning. The cycle of this land is beyond me. And so without the duality I am accustomed, I am shaken loose from much of what I think I believe. I am freed to spend my days seeking other sources of life, creation, root. Ea. I find them again every morning in all of you. Instead of waiting for a pō that will not come for months, I learn patience as I lay my prayers into the light. Instead of salt in my palms and on my tongue, I press tobacco into fire until it smokes. I press myself into fire until I smoke. I press these thoughts into the fires until they smoke. Ascend like ea to meet wākea. I wait for the drums. Their dependable rhythm. Their magnificent echo. And I follow them home. Some Mana’o from people smarter than me: 1) “When you get the right people in the right place at the right time it can be perpetual magic.” Leanne Simpson 2) “Each teee strengthens its neighbor.” — Krista (quoting a Haida elder) 3) “Being on the land this week has reinvigorated my love for existing… and resisting” — @i_am_into_that
@dechintacentre day 5. On leaving Denendeh & the virtue of slow departures. I came to this place with my grief buried deep in my belly. This Kaumaha was So heavy that my grief became my anchor. You unmoored me in a way I wasn’t prepared. You see, I come from the wide, expansive, and magnificent sea. To be unmoored at home is to drift dangerously. But here — in this time of year— there is no darkness, just the bouncing of light off the lake until Infinity. There are no valleys, just the shield of granite and her forest stretching our eyes wider without limit. There are no endings to which I can trace the next beginning. The cycle of this land is beyond me. And so without the duality I am accustomed, I am shaken loose from much of what I think I believe. I am freed to spend my days seeking other sources of life, creation, root. Ea. I find them again every morning in all of you. Instead of waiting for a pō that will not come for months, I learn patience as I lay my prayers into the light. Instead of salt in my palms and on my tongue, I press tobacco into fire until it smokes. I press myself into fire until I smoke. I press these thoughts into the fires until they smoke. Ascend like ea to meet wākea. I wait for the drums. Their dependable rhythm. Their magnificent echo. And I follow them home. Some Mana’o from people smarter than me: 1) “When you get the right people in the right place at the right time it can be perpetual magic.” Leanne Simpson 2) “Each teee strengthens its neighbor.” — Krista (quoting a Haida elder) 3) “Being on the land this week has reinvigorated my love for existing… and resisting” — @i_am_into_that
@dechintacentre day 5. On leaving Denendeh & the virtue of slow departures. I came to this place with my grief buried deep in my belly. This Kaumaha was So heavy that my grief became my anchor. You unmoored me in a way I wasn’t prepared. You see, I come from the wide, expansive, and magnificent sea. To be unmoored at home is to drift dangerously. But here — in this time of year— there is no darkness, just the bouncing of light off the lake until Infinity. There are no valleys, just the shield of granite and her forest stretching our eyes wider without limit. There are no endings to which I can trace the next beginning. The cycle of this land is beyond me. And so without the duality I am accustomed, I am shaken loose from much of what I think I believe. I am freed to spend my days seeking other sources of life, creation, root. Ea. I find them again every morning in all of you. Instead of waiting for a pō that will not come for months, I learn patience as I lay my prayers into the light. Instead of salt in my palms and on my tongue, I press tobacco into fire until it smokes. I press myself into fire until I smoke. I press these thoughts into the fires until they smoke. Ascend like ea to meet wākea. I wait for the drums. Their dependable rhythm. Their magnificent echo. And I follow them home. Some Mana’o from people smarter than me: 1) “When you get the right people in the right place at the right time it can be perpetual magic.” Leanne Simpson 2) “Each teee strengthens its neighbor.” — Krista (quoting a Haida elder) 3) “Being on the land this week has reinvigorated my love for existing… and resisting” — @i_am_into_that
@dechintacentre day 5. On leaving Denendeh & the virtue of slow departures. I came to this place with my grief buried deep in my belly. This Kaumaha was So heavy that my grief became my anchor. You unmoored me in a way I wasn’t prepared. You see, I come from the wide, expansive, and magnificent sea. To be unmoored at home is to drift dangerously. But here — in this time of year— there is no darkness, just the bouncing of light off the lake until Infinity. There are no valleys, just the shield of granite and her forest stretching our eyes wider without limit. There are no endings to which I can trace the next beginning. The cycle of this land is beyond me. And so without the duality I am accustomed, I am shaken loose from much of what I think I believe. I am freed to spend my days seeking other sources of life, creation, root. Ea. I find them again every morning in all of you. Instead of waiting for a pō that will not come for months, I learn patience as I lay my prayers into the light. Instead of salt in my palms and on my tongue, I press tobacco into fire until it smokes. I press myself into fire until I smoke. I press these thoughts into the fires until they smoke. Ascend like ea to meet wākea. I wait for the drums. Their dependable rhythm. Their magnificent echo. And I follow them home. Some Mana’o from people smarter than me: 1) “When you get the right people in the right place at the right time it can be perpetual magic.” Leanne Simpson 2) “Each teee strengthens its neighbor.” — Krista (quoting a Haida elder) 3) “Being on the land this week has reinvigorated my love for existing… and resisting” — @i_am_into_that
@dechintacentre day 5. On leaving Denendeh & the virtue of slow departures. I came to this place with my grief buried deep in my belly. This Kaumaha was So heavy that my grief became my anchor. You unmoored me in a way I wasn’t prepared. You see, I come from the wide, expansive, and magnificent sea. To be unmoored at home is to drift dangerously. But here — in this time of year— there is no darkness, just the bouncing of light off the lake until Infinity. There are no valleys, just the shield of granite and her forest stretching our eyes wider without limit. There are no endings to which I can trace the next beginning. The cycle of this land is beyond me. And so without the duality I am accustomed, I am shaken loose from much of what I think I believe. I am freed to spend my days seeking other sources of life, creation, root. Ea. I find them again every morning in all of you. Instead of waiting for a pō that will not come for months, I learn patience as I lay my prayers into the light. Instead of salt in my palms and on my tongue, I press tobacco into fire until it smokes. I press myself into fire until I smoke. I press these thoughts into the fires until they smoke. Ascend like ea to meet wākea. I wait for the drums. Their dependable rhythm. Their magnificent echo. And I follow them home. Some Mana’o from people smarter than me: 1) “When you get the right people in the right place at the right time it can be perpetual magic.” Leanne Simpson 2) “Each teee strengthens its neighbor.” — Krista (quoting a Haida elder) 3) “Being on the land this week has reinvigorated my love for existing… and resisting” — @i_am_into_that
@dechintacentre day 5. On leaving Denendeh & the virtue of slow departures. I came to this place with my grief buried deep in my belly. This Kaumaha was So heavy that my grief became my anchor. You unmoored me in a way I wasn’t prepared. You see, I come from the wide, expansive, and magnificent sea. To be unmoored at home is to drift dangerously. But here — in this time of year— there is no darkness, just the bouncing of light off the lake until Infinity. There are no valleys, just the shield of granite and her forest stretching our eyes wider without limit. There are no endings to which I can trace the next beginning. The cycle of this land is beyond me. And so without the duality I am accustomed, I am shaken loose from much of what I think I believe. I am freed to spend my days seeking other sources of life, creation, root. Ea. I find them again every morning in all of you. Instead of waiting for a pō that will not come for months, I learn patience as I lay my prayers into the light. Instead of salt in my palms and on my tongue, I press tobacco into fire until it smokes. I press myself into fire until I smoke. I press these thoughts into the fires until they smoke. Ascend like ea to meet wākea. I wait for the drums. Their dependable rhythm. Their magnificent echo. And I follow them home. Some Mana’o from people smarter than me: 1) “When you get the right people in the right place at the right time it can be perpetual magic.” Leanne Simpson 2) “Each teee strengthens its neighbor.” — Krista (quoting a Haida elder) 3) “Being on the land this week has reinvigorated my love for existing… and resisting” — @i_am_into_that
@dechintacentre solidarity gathering, going home day We join the last of our comrades in leaving Yellowknife today. Its bittersweet to depart an aina and peoples who opened themselves wide to care for us. Who fed, sheltered, and offered us ceremony at every turn. But it is also Pono for us to return to the aina and peoples who have carried our kuleana in our absence. Where I was once full of grief, all I feel is gratitude. Mahalo for the recharge and redirection. I return home recommitted to the people and places I’ve always loved & to you. Until next time…Perhaps in the winters night 🖤 Ps: when @gwitchinaabekwe says we’re going to the legendary “Gold Range” western bar to two step with the aunties— join her and the crew. It’s worth it 🫣😅
@dechintacentre solidarity gathering, going home day We join the last of our comrades in leaving Yellowknife today. Its bittersweet to depart an aina and peoples who opened themselves wide to care for us. Who fed, sheltered, and offered us ceremony at every turn. But it is also Pono for us to return to the aina and peoples who have carried our kuleana in our absence. Where I was once full of grief, all I feel is gratitude. Mahalo for the recharge and redirection. I return home recommitted to the people and places I’ve always loved & to you. Until next time…Perhaps in the winters night 🖤 Ps: when @gwitchinaabekwe says we’re going to the legendary “Gold Range” western bar to two step with the aunties— join her and the crew. It’s worth it 🫣😅
