06/09/2026
Not art related. But a more serious matter…
My daughter and granddaughter.
And lack of acceptance of their identity, culture and roots.
Lived experience.
From my daughter,
I know people do not understand what it’s like walking in two worlds/communities. The everyday micro aggressions towards either black or native people have gotten old to me, I have a great ability to either address it immediately and move on but that doesn’t mean I don’t continue to hear it from the next person I encounter.
My skin colour is not something I can “escape”. I have to face these issues every day, no matter how kind, or pretty (😝) that I am. I’ve dealt with it at school, I’ve heard the word “N***er” said out loud when I worked in an office. I get the weird “jokes” that I don’t even laugh at because they aren’t funny and plain racist.
Where I’m really struggling today is knowing kids in the area i am in are using the N-word. Using it with their friends, on video games and in text messages.
I am not the perfect parent but i can’t grasp the concept that you guys allow your children to use slurs against a community that suffered very similar and horrifying atrocities at the hands of racist white people.
My little girl has to sit by yours in class, attend the same school & im having to have the talk with her about blackness — what that looks like for her — how it’s different for me and what it looks like out in the community we live in. This is my part of the job, it’s time for you to do your part.
Poor parenting, poor life skills and poor moral compass.
My response;
My Girl,
Reading your words fills me with heartbreak. Heartbreak because you and your daughter are still carrying burdens that no child or parent should have to bear.
You are right. Many people do not understand what it means to walk between cultures and communities, carrying identities that others feel entitled to judge, question, stereotype, or diminish. What some dismiss as "jokes," "comments," or "just words" are daily reminders that racism is still very real. The exhaustion that comes from constantly educating, confronting, ignoring, or processing those moments is difficult for those who have not lived it to fully grasp.
As your mother, I have watched you grow into a compassionate, intelligent, resilient woman. I have seen you face prejudice with dignity and strength, and I know the emotional toll it takes. Having endured racial slurs and discrimination myself in small-minded communities, I have always hoped for a better world for my all of my bi-racial and multi-cultural family. More than anything, I want my biracial granddaughter to have every opportunity to thrive, to be judged by her character and talents, and to grow up without experiencing the hurtful ignorance that too many of us have faced. I am NOT surprised that families both on and off reserve spew racial slurs, there has always been that undertone and sometimes outright hate. The fact that you continue to advocate not only for yourself but for your daughter reflects your commitment to creating that better future.
What troubles me most is knowing that your little girl is already having to learn lessons about racism and exclusion when she should simply be free to enjoy being a child. No parent should have to prepare their child for hateful language, discrimination, or ignorance. Yet here you are, doing the difficult work of raising her with confidence in who she is and where she comes from.
You are not asking for special treatment. You are asking for basic human decency, accountability, and respect. Parents have a responsibility to teach their children that racial slurs are harmful, that words carry consequences, and that every person deserves dignity regardless of their race, culture, or background. That should not be a controversial expectation.
Please know that I stand with you. I also stand with my granddaughter, whose identity should never be diminished. She deserves a community that values her, protects her, and embraces her exactly as she is.
Never doubt that your voice matters. Speaking out against racism is not creating division—it is challenging it. Silence has never been the solution. Change begins when people are willing to have uncomfortable conversations and hold themselves and others accountable.
I admire your refusal to normalize hate and the care you bring to raising your daughter. Despite everything you have experienced, you continue to lead with love, courage, and conviction.
Neither you nor your daughter should ever have to carry this burden alone.
With all my love,
Love lil momma
