Prosperity Returned—Aaliyah Black Hawk

Renewing the Prosperity of our Grandmothers and Grandfathers

Three Generations. Image © Aaliyah Black Hawk, 2023.

Han (Hello) my name is Aaliyah Black Hawk, I am a Dakota woman from Canupawakpa Dakota Nation located close to the border out in Manitoba. I moved out to Mini Sni four years ago to be with my now husband Tim. I am very honored that my Uncle-in-law reached out and asked me for my insight on “Rituals” so let's jump into my proposal that could help bring back peace and prosperity to our nation.

In our communities there is a high unemployment rate, along with an equally high number of school dropouts. This isn't just in Alberta it is all reservations across Canada. Comparing how our grandmothers and grandfathers once lived to how we live now is very different and this possibly could be the reason why a majority of Indigenous people are unsuccessful living the white man’s way—graduating from high school, and going to college or university, for example. Now don't get me wrong, there are some Indigenous people who are successful living this way. But many still struggle. If we are able to learn from the Elders who are still alive today, we might have a chance to change our future for the next seven generations.

It's time to go back to the Elders to learn and to listen to the wisdom and teaching. On our reservation, we have land that could be used for gardens, crops, medicine growing, and even having a space for our buffalo or livestock. Our grandmothers and grandfathers did this: they lived off the land and it benefited from it—not just their mind, but also their spirit and health.

Planting a garden full of fruits and vegetables year-round, and growing crops, raising livestock and sustaining our medicines, could guarantee jobs. It would fill up band members’ cupboards and fridges with food full of nutrition that comes from their land. The band could use the medicines to get through sickness that most of us battle with—diabetes, heart diseases etc. If this proposal is successful it will just grow into bigger and better outcomes: supplying grocery stores near and far with fresh produce, producing essential oils from the medicine crops, and making candles, etc.

Re-wiring the food system isn't the cure for all problems that Indigenous people face. But living as our thriving grandparents once did will ignite prosperity for Indigenous people.

This essay is part of the Rituals Series seeking to understand what is urgent about a place that could be addressed by a ritual.

Guest Editor: Greves Pouchette