To position my work, you may find my self-location here.
“Terra nullius” is an expression in international law that means “empty land” – or unoccupied land. When settlers first came to this continent, they claimed this land was unoccupied by a sovereign state – when actually this land was occupied and controlled by Inuit and First Nations. The newcomers refused recognize our political and economic systems, because our social orders looked different then theirs. Instead the settlers used the law of “terra nullius” to justify the theft of Indigenous lands.
Violence against Indigenous women is systemic, prevalent, institutionalized, and a real threat that manifests in our communities. The Tsimshian are a matriarchal society, and to allow violence to manifest against Indigenous women ensures our society cannot function properly. The state keeps First Nations people oppressed so that they can take advantage of our land and territories. They extract resources to create wealth in their own economic system, while leaving First Nations impoverished and segregated on remote reservations. This leaves us in a vulnerable position to be exploited.
“Indigenous women’s bodies are not terra nullius” means that Indigenous women are not here for the taking or to be claimed by anyone. Violence against Indigenous women is no different than violence against Indigenous lands and territories. Violence against Indigenous women impedes our ability to survive and move freely in our territories. Resource extractive industries can put our food sources at risk, which is a direct attack on a fundamental aspect of our culture and livelihood. It’s who we are.
The Tsimshian territory is at the westernmost end of Highway 16, the Highway of Tears. For women in the pacific northwest, the threat of violence is real every day of our lives. Indigenous women want sovereignty over our bodies and our lands. This Valentines Day I’m walking for the Indigenous women who came before me.
#WomensMemorialMarch #SistersInSpirit #MMIW #DTES
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