So something else that happens in this book
is connected to work we're doing at Indigenous Nations Poets.
And as you may have noticed, I use Anishinaabemowin
in some of the poems.
About a year ago, I launched an effort with In-Na-Po
called Language Back.
And ask me later.
I'll just tell you more than you ever wanted to know.
But it's this really, really important effort to us.
And our last retreat was centered around Language Back.
And at our retreat, one of the things we create
are these beautiful little poem cards.
And so my poem card is excerpted from this book,
and I will read it to you.
Akawe.
A prelude.
I should say this one thing.
Language recovery is no joke, right?
And language recovery, for those of you
who have lost language, who have suffered linguicide
in your communities, whose language
has been repressed for various reasons,
know that speaking itself is resistance, right?
And for me, speaking the language
is an act of love, even when I'm faulty.
Akawe.
A prelude.
Between languages is in the shadow of old losses,
We adorn ourselves
Everywhere, careful words break open,
They feed us
Remembrance, like bread
Songs like bread:
Wiikwandiwin.
Inhabited, we whisper, sort tongue hungers
This blood caress of gone an almost melody;
nooji'ikwewe-nagamon
Courting song.
How we yearn for morsels, words,
Memory tangle of hands
Kneading bakwezhigan--
This dollop of sweetest dough
A language prisoner's bread.
This is to hunger
bakade
This is to break
biigoshkaad
To speak is to eat
wiikwandiwin,
Feast food
Our jagged stuttering a giveaway
maada'oonidiwag:
This is to share.
[APPLAUSE]