Remarks on Capitol Hill (May 2nd)

“Boozhoo! Ogimaaikwe Ndizhinkaaz. Red Lake ndoonjibaa. Wawaazisii nindoodem.

Hello! My name is Ogimaaikwe, which in English means Boss Woman and given to me by my grandfather, but my name is also Anna Needham. I come from Red Lake. Bullhead is my clan. I am Annishnaabe. But I would also say that I did not get enough of my culture growing up. I was born in Colorado and raised in Arizona. I went to school in New York. I visited Red Lake every summer, but that does not feed you a culture. I know what goes on there through their news site. I got a taste thanks to my father. But I would still say that is not enough. I do not know as much about my culture and my people as you all. And I am so thankful that “knowing your culture” is the majority.

That is what the future must look like. That is the present and future this group has and continues to work towards. I cannot tell you about how much joy I get in seeing this group time and time again in institutions that did not originate with them in mind and see them take up space as well as be in spaces made by previous generations for us. Because we are worthy. We always have been.

Now our work begins in going back to our homes and sharing our knowledge. Or for some, to really take the time to bring ourselves truly home for the first time. And we must share our stories. We must present the idea that we exist in the present by simply being and continuing to engage. The culture of America must change for then the policies will change. We all have the power to change the perception of indigenous peoples in America because we already have simply by being here. We have already started for it is the work our ancestors that we have continued. We come from very different nations and cultures, and that must be voiced. Our truths must be voiced. Our joy and pain must be voiced. We already have the microphone in front of us. Now we must share our stories because then we share our humanity. We are not mascots. We are not historical figures in museums. We are not caricatures. We are human beings, here, now and ready to show you who we are, whether you are ready or not.

That is the work I want to do for the rest of my life. Tell our stories and help other indigenous people tell theirs. As a lifelong theatre person and general art geek, I love stories. I have loved to hear of all of your stories and cultures and traditions and how ingrained in your life it is. Especially, with our two Native Hawaiian colleagues, I have gotten to learn how different Hawaii is to the mainland, and yet so similar.  It is inspiring how ingrained it is and I hope to see it become normal. Normal for Natives to practice their traditions. Normal for Natives to be ourselves in the complexities of our lives, traumas and all, moving towards healing.

We walk in two worlds. We must continue to acquaint them. We must continue to live in both. We must lift those younger than us and use our knowledge to help our communities. We must look to our lives before colonization to feed how we move forward. But we must find the strength to move forward. Our cultures depend on it.

Each of us came here for different reasons. I came here to learn something I never could at NYU. I came to learn it all through you all. I am so thankful to this group, because for the first time, I did not have to decode things from my life. I did not have to explain pow wows or Indian tacos or rez dogs or regalia or anything related to my identity. You all have enriched my life with yourselves and your stories.

With this type of group, a group of Native youth together or even a group of Natives at all, time and time again, we were told was rare. I don’t want to see it be rare anymore. I don’t want to see us as an asterisk, in the footnotes, under the radar. We deserve to be center stage and we must work together to ensure our voices, our needs, our sovereignty as Native nations is seen. So all I ask is, keep up the work and keep everyone updated of your stories. They are the most valuable things you have.

Miigwich.”

-Written for AT&T’s Center for Indigenous Politics & Policy at George Washington University Native American Political Leadership Program reception in the Johnson Room in Capitol Hill