THEROLEOFTHEMATRIARCHINENVIRONMENTALJUSTICE
BYSHERRIMITCHELL
ORIGINALLYPUBLISHEDINNATIVENEWSONLINE
GUESTESSAY–WOMEN’SHISTORYMONTH
PublishedMarch26,2017
Editor’sNote:ThisguestessaywasoriginallydeliveredonMarch16,2017astheWomen’s
HistoryMonthkeynotespeechattheUniversityofMainebySherriMitchell.
Kwey,Aquanu.HelloandWelcome.N’daliwisi,WenaHamuKwasset,nejayuPenawahpskek,
N’dilnabamukAwesusnilPeanwahpskek,nakaKahkakus,nilSipiyak.MynameisSherri
Mitchell,I’mfromthePenobscotNation.MyfamilyisBearClanfromthePenobscotNation
andCrowClanfromthePassamaquoddyTribeatSipiyak.N’leedahuzeu,n’dyin.I’mhappy
tobeherewithyou.
BeforewebeginI’dliketotakeamomenttoacknowledgetheancestorsofthisland.Since
weareinWabanakiTerritory,theancestorswhoresideherearemyancestors.Iaskthat
youallriseandjoinmeinamomentofsilencetohonortheirpresencehere.Woliwon,
thankyou,pleasebeseated.
Thankyouforinvitingmetobeherewithyoutonightforthisimportantgathering,to
celebrateWomen’sHistoryMonth.TheveryfirstInternationalWomen’sDaywasonMarch
8,1911.In1980PresidentCarterestablishedNationalWomen’sHistoryWeek.Then,in
1987Congressmadethatweekafullmonth.Ofcourse,weknow,thateverymonthcontains
women’shistory.And,weknowthatwomenwereinfluencingthecourseofhistorylong
before1980andevenbefore1911.Yet,it’simportantforustopausetothinkabouttherole
ofwomenthroughouthistory,sowegatherheretonighttopayhomagetothewomenand
torecognizetheircontributionstohistory,andtorecognizetheirroleinframingthe
movementsthatwillshapeourfuture.
Weareatacriticaltimeinourevolution,standingatacrossroadswithinmultiple
movements,allofwhichhavethecapacitytodeterminewhetherwemovetowardlifeor
death.Sincewomenareinextricablyconnectedtolife,thesubjectofmatriarchyisnotfringe
tothesemovements,itisattheveryheartofthem.
I’dliketoframethisexplorationintotheroleofthematriarchinenvironmentaljusticeby
sharingsomeexcerptsfrommyupcomingbook,SacredInstructions.ThesectionthatIwant
tosharewithyouexplorestheroleofwomenwithinoursocietiesandlooksathowthatrole
hasdiminishedandmisrepresentedbythepatriarchy.Thisisfromthechaptertitled,
WomenaretheWaterBearersoftheUniverse:
“Asskejinaweapid,anIndigenouswoman,Ihavebeentaughtthatthewomennurturelife
intobeing;wearethecreatorsoflifeandtheprotectorsofthelifethatwecreate.We
possessauniquemagic.Aswomen,weareabletocallforthlife,andcultivatethatlifeinthe
quietspacebelowourhearts.Withinourbodies,weholdanopeningtothedivine;aportal
thatallowssoulstoenterintothisworld.Becauseweholdlifeinthatmagicalspace
betweenworlds,withinoursacredheartspace,wearealsothekeepersofdivineintuition
andheart-basedwisdom.Thus,theteachingsthatwecarryareessentialforkeepingour
societiesspirituallyhealthyandemotionallybalanced.
Everylifethatpassesthroughourwombisnurturedanddevelopedinwater;wecarrythe
watersoflifewithinus.Thus,wearealsothewaterbearersoftheuniverse.Thisiswhy
women’sceremoniesarecenteredonthewater,andgovernedbyUhkomee,Grandmother
Moon.Theseceremoniesareourwayofacknowledgingthatthewaterwithinandaround
usiscentraltolife.
Aswomen,weareindispensabletotheperpetuation,protection,andbalancingoflife.When
thewomenareabsent,whentheyaresilencedorignored,theheart-basedwisdomneeded
toguideandbalancelifeisalsomissing.Thiscausesdisharmonywithinourfamiliesand
societiesanddisruptsthenaturalrhythmsoflife,whichplacesusallinharm’sway.The
activeparticipationofthewomen,withinourfamiliesandwithinoursocialandpolitical
spheresiscriticaltothewellbeingofoursocietiesandthecontinuationoflife…
Unfortunately,thedivinevoiceofthewomenhasbeenmissingfromthepublicdialoguefor
averylongtime.Asaresult,lifehasgoneintodisarray.And,theverybuildingblocksof
creation,includingourlife-givingwaters,havecomeunderattack.
Aroundtheworld,womenhavebeguntoriseuptoaddressthemanycrisesthathave
resultedfromthesuppressionofthefeminine.Inthisuprising,therearecountlessissues
thatarecallingforourattention.But,thereisoneissuethatiscentraltothemall–the
protectionandpreservationoflife.Theissuethatismostcriticaltothepreservationoflife
onthisplanetistheprotectionofourwater.EverylivingthingonEarthisdependenton
watertosurvive.Ifwehopetosurvivelongenoughtosolvealloftheotherchallengesthat
weface,thenwehavetoensurethatthesourceoflifeisprotected.
Wehaveafiniteamountofwateronthisplanetanditisbeingdestroyedatanaccelerated
rate.Forthefirsttimeinhumanhistorywearetakingwateroutofthewatertable,by
injectingitbeneaththebedrockthroughtheprocessofhydrofracking.Inaddition,weare
continuingtopromotedirtyenergyprojectsthatcontaminateourwaterfrombeginningto
end–exploration,production,distribution,andtheuseoffossilfuelsinourdailylivesall
leadtopollutionofourwater.Wearealsocontaminatingourwaterthroughlarge-scale
agriculturalpractices,anddiminishingitsavailabilitylocally,throughuncheckedwater
extractionforthebottledwaterindustry.Asaresult,thewaterthatisrequiredtosupport
lifeisdisappearing.
THEREAREINCREASINGAREASAROUNDTHEWORLDTHATAREINIMMEDIATE
DANGEROFRUNNINGOUTOFWATER.THISPOSESATHREATTOUSALL,NOTJUST
FROMDEHYDRATIONBUTFROMESCALATINGCONFLICTSTHATERUPTAMONGTHOSE
WHOARESEEKINGACCESSTOWATER.
Inlightofthatreality,here’sasidethoughtforustoconsider–Peopledon’tneedoilto
survive.Oilproductionisapurelyprofitdrivenmarket.However,everysinglelifedepends
onwater,humanlife,animallife,andplantlife.Alloftherequirementsofourcontinued
existencearetiedtotheavailabilityofcleanwater.Becauseourlivesaredependenton
water,wewilldowhateverittakestoobtainit.Thismeansthattheoilwarsthatwe’veseen
inrecentdecadeswillpaleincomparisontothewaterwarsthatwillemergeifwedon’t
starttakingdramaticmeasurestoprotectthecleanwaterthatwehave,andtocleanthe
waterthatwe’vecontaminated.
Thevoicesofthewaterbearershavebeenleftoutofthelargerdecisionmakingprocess
aroundenvironmentalprotectionandregulation.Therefore,thedecisionsthathavebeen
madebyourgovernmentandindustrialleadershavenotproperlyweighedthe
consequencesofthosedecisionsagainstthevalueoflife.Inordertorebalanceour
relationshipwithlife,thevoicesofthewaterbearersmustbemovedtotheforeground,and
theirlifecreating,lifeprotecting,andlifesustainingwisdommustbehonoredand
respected,andthedestructivepatriarchalnarrativemustberevealed.
Theinfluenceofthepatriarchyhastakenawaythevitalcontextinwhichtheroleofthe
womenisheld.InWabanakicommunities,weseethisinfluenceinchangestoourlanguage
thathaveresultedfromtranslationthroughthepatriarchallens.Forexample,theMi’kmaq
word,Nisqum,isthewordusedbythepeopleforCreator.Whenthemissionariestranslated
thatintotheirowncontexttheybaseditontheirownworldview,definingNisqumasthe
GreatSpirit,andidentifyingthatGreatSpiritasamalegod.However,thisinterpretationisa
completereversaloftheoriginalmeaning.Whenthewordistracedtoitsrootmeaningin
thelanguage,ittranslatesto“theonewhoholdsalltheeggs”whichisthewoman.Inorder
tounderstandwherewecomefrom,wehavetodotheworkofdecolonizingourlanguage
andourstories.Ourtraditionalstoriessettheframeworkforourbeliefsystems,ourvalues,
andourprinciples.Theyprovidetheblueprintforhowweengageoneanother,howwe
relatetooneanother,andhowweinteractwiththeworldaroundus.Toaddressthe
misrepresentationscontainedinthesestories,wehavetobewillingtotracethembackto
theiroriginalformandaddressthepatriarchaldistortionsthathavebeenmade.
Kluskapisacentralfigureinourmythology.Inthestoriescapturedbymissionaries,and
folklorists(likeCharlesLeland)muchoftheoriginalmeaningwithinthesestorieshasbeen
lostandtheyhavebeenreframedinthecolonialcontextofthetranslators.Intheoriginal
teaching,KluskapisatwinpairedwithMulsum.Originally,Mulsumwasconnectedtothe
feminine,withtherootwordMulbeingtiedtothebleedingtimeofthewoman.Overtime,
thecolonialtranslationschangedMulsumfromawomantoaman,andthenlabeledthat
manastheeviltwin.Theythenshiftedthestories,makingKluskaptheheroandreducing
Mulsumtoabackgroundrole.Inthetranslations,Klukapisgivencreditforcreatingthe
landscapeandtheanimals,andforfacilitatingtheirevolution.Heisevencreditedwith
creatinghumanlife.Inthesestories,Mulsumisallbutabsent.Shehasbeeneliminatedfrom
thenarrativeanddeniedherroleincreation,justasthewomenaredeniedtheirrolein
creationwithintheChristianbible.AccordingtoChristianity,thewomanhasnoroleinthe
genesisoflife.Instead,thestoryclaimsthatshewascreatedoutoftheribofman.Thisstory
isnotanaccuratedepictionofthelifenarrative,whereliferightfullycomesfromthewomb
ofthewoman.Instead,thisstoryrepresentsthecreationofthepatriarchy,wherewomen
areremovedfromtheircentralroleincreation.Theremovalofthewomenfromourstories
hasimpactedourthinkinganddisruptedthenaturalbalancewithinourcommunities.
AllofourtraditionalWabanakiteachingsrepresentamirroredbalancebetweenthemen
andwomen.Ourceremoniesprovideaclearexampleofthisbalance,wherethemen’s
ceremoniesaresimplyanexternalreflectionoftheinternalprocessesofthewomen.For
instance,thesacredpipeiscomprisedoftwopieces,thebowlandthestem.Thebowl
representsthemother,thestemrepresentsthefather.Thebowlholdsthefire,which
representsthelifeforce.Thestemisanextensionofthatlifeforceandittransfersitspower
fromtheexternalworldintothebody,astheairispulledthroughthefiretocarrythe
smokeintothelungs.Thismirrorstheroleofthewoman.Thewomanholdsthelifeforce
withinher,andshetransfersthatpoweroutintotheworldthroughthebirthcanal.Shealso
transfersdivineknowledgeandheart-basedwisdomoutintotheexternalworldthrough
herbreath,intheformofwordsandactions.
TheSundanceisamirroredimageofthebirthingprocess,recreatingthepainoflabor.In
theSundance,thedancersbreatheandpull,untiltheirfleshistorn.Inthebirthingprocess,
thewomenbreatheandpush,untiltheirfleshistornandanewlifeiscreated.IntheSun
Dance,themenaredancingtogainconnectiontothedivinebyreversingthelaboring
processthatcarrieslifeintothisworld.Theyaresacrificingtheirbodiesforthecreationofa
newlifeforthosethattheylove.
Thesweatlodgerepresentsthewomb.Inthatceremony,youreturntothewomb,toget
closertotheintuitive,heartbasedwisdomthatcomesthroughtheportalthatopens
betweenworldsduringpregnancy.Allthemen’sceremoniesareareflectionandreversalof
thewomen’sinternalprocesses.Theseceremoniesexternalizetheinternalprocessesofthe
women,sothatthemencangainthewisdomthatthoseprocessesnaturallyprovidetothe
women.
Inourtradition,thewomenareconnectedtothemoon,representingthequiet,heart-based
intuitionthatshecarries.Thefeminineenergiesareinternalandtheirpoweris
demonstratedintheinnerrealms.Themoontimeisthewoman’smostpowerfultime.This
iswhenherbodyentersitsownnaturalceremonyandsheismostopentothedivine,asthe
lifeforcemovesthroughherbody.Themoontimeisconnectedtothenightbecauseitis
symbolicofthedreamtimewherecommunicationisopenbetweenworlds.Themenare
connectedtothesun,representingtheactive,externalmovementoftheday.Themasculine
energiesareexternalandtheirpowerisdemonstratedthroughactivemovementoutinthe
world.Therolesofthemenaredesignedtobalanceandsupporttherolesofthewomen.
Themenprotectandprovidefortheexternalneedsofthepeople.Butfirst,theymustlearn
whatthoseneedsarebyfollowingthewiseinternalguidanceofthewomen.Thisbalancing
betweeninternalwisdomandexternalactioniskeytobalancingmasculineandfeminine
energieswithinourselvesandwithinourworld.Itisalsokeytomaintainingthebalanceof
lifeonthisplanet.Thisbalanceismissinginthemainstreamsociety.Thus,theneedsofthe
peoplehavenotbeenproperlybalancedwiththeneedsoftherestofcreation,andthe
largersocietyhasbecomeunhealthyandunjust,puttingallofourlivesatrisk.
Thewaytochangethisrealityistochangeourperceptions.Wehavetolookatthe
underpinningsofthepatriarchyandwithdrawourconsentfromitssystems,bothwithin
thepublicsphereandwithinourownlives.Thisinvolvesshiftingourculturalvaluesaway
fromthosedefinedbythepatriarchy,suchasholdingpoweroverothers,seeking
homogeneity,encouraginghypercompetitiveness,andsanctioningexcessiveaggression.
And,movingtowardmorespirituallyandemotionallybalancedbehaviorssuchas
empoweringothers,allowingotherstobethemselves,workingcooperativelyand
collaboratively,andactingwithmorecompassionandequanimity.
Oneofthetrapsinthisshiftingprocessisassumingthatthepatriarchyissimplyamale
issue.Theideasassociatedwiththepatriarchyhavebeenengrainedinusall.Ifwehopeto
unravelthepatriarchy,wehavetoacknowledgethatwehaveallbeeninfluencedbyitand
wehaveallbeencomplicitinitscontinuedexistence.
ThePatriarchyhasbeenkeptaliveartificiallyforgenerations,despitebeingcompletely
bankrupt,throughourthoughts,ideas,andattachmentstoitsimposedideals.Yet,the
patriarchy’s“accomplishmentscannotcompetewithitsdisasters:climatechange,racism,
endlesswars,andsoon.”Ifwehopetoendthedisastersthatthepatriarchyhaswrought,
wemustbeginwithdrawingoursupportfromit,thisincludeschangingthenarrativethat
thepatriarchyhascarvedintoourminds.Thisrequiresustohonestlyassessthemanyways
thatourmindshavebeenimpactedbytheculturalnormsheldbythepatriarchy,andbegin
tochangethemonebyone.Anti-apartheidactivist,StephenBiko,says:“Themostpowerful
toolinthehandsoftheoppressoristhemindoftheoppressed.”Therefore,themost
powerfulthingthatwecandotoendpatriarchaloppression,istofreeourmindsfromthe
shacklesofthepatriarchalmindset.”
Thepatriarchyisbasedonnotionsofpropertyownershipthatareframedinhierarchiesof
power.Thisinevitablyleadstoconquestbehaviorsthatresultinelitism,grossdisparitiesin
wealthandpoverty,andthecreationofillusorysocialcastesystems.Thesesystemsare
markedbyaggressionandcompetitionanddistortedideasofwinning.Thisisclearly
apparentintheemergenceofhatepoliticsthatframesthemoderndialogue.Withinthis
system,beingabletoaggressivelyoverpowerorshutdownanopponent,whetherby
physicalforceorlinguisticwitticismisviewedaswinning.However,thisoutcomeisonlya
winunderstandardsofpatriarchalconquest.Themomentthatwesucceedinendinga
discussion,dismantlinganalliednetwork,oreliminatingsomeonefromourmovement,is
themomentwehavelost.Whenweengageinangry,aggressivediatribesthatseekto
dismissorsilenceanotherwearesimplyengaginginactsofconquest,andthereby
upholdingthepatriarchalpowerstructure.
Wedothisbecausewehavebeentaughttobelievethatmightisright,andwhoeverendsup
ontopisthewinner.Wehaveboughtintoamythologythattellsusthatanewsystemcan
emergebysimplyreplacingwho’sontopandtransferringpowerfromthehandsofoneto
another,forexampletransferringitfromthehandsofthementothehandsofthewomen.
Thisisafallacy.Asimpleshiftinpowerwillnevereliminatethepatriarchy.Solongasthe
powerthatweoperateunderissteepedinpatriarchalideals,thegenderidentificationof
ourleaderswillremainirrelevant.Matriarchyisnotagenderrole,itisavaluebasedsystem
thatdefinesourwayofbeinginrelationshiptooneanother.
Matriarchiesarenotthefunctionaloppositeofpatriarchies.Whereaspatriarchiesare
dominatingandfoundedinnotionsofpower,hierarchyandexclusivity,matriarchiesare
egalitarianandfoundedonpatternsofkinship,balance,andinclusivity.Kinshipinthis
senseisnotsimplyaboutfamilialconnection,butthedevelopmentandnurturingof
relationships.Matriarchsareconcernedwiththecreation,preservation,andprotectionof
life.Therefore,theymusttakelifeintoconsiderationintheirdecisionmaking.Matriarchs
arealsoconcernedwiththebalancethatexistswithinthestructureoflife,andmustalso
considerhowtheirdecisionswillimpactthisbalance.Theyarealsotheguardiansofthe
spiritualandemotionalwellbeingoftheirfamiliesandsocieties.Thus,theymustworkto
establishcommunalrelationshipsthatfosterharmony,unity,andcompassionate
understanding.
Asocietythatpromotesaggressionanddomination,whetheritberuledbymenorwomen,
ispatriarchal.Tomoveawayfromthisparadigm,wemustbewillingtohonestly
contemplatehowthepatriarchalmindsetisinfluencingourthoughts,actions,anddecisions,
andthenconsciouslymoveinanewdirection.
Oneofthegreatestchallengesthatwefaceinthismoveisrevaluingtheroleofthe
matriarchandtheofferingsofthedivinefeminine.Oneofthemosttragiclossescausedby
thepatriarchyisthelossofvaluethatisplacedontheroleofthematriarchwithinthelarger
society.Today,muchofthepowerobtainedbyandexertedbywomenisfirmlyplanted
withinthepatriarchalframework.Aggression,domination,arrogantassertionsofpower
andsuperiorityareallviewedassymbolsofstrength.Theabilitytorisetothetopofthe
ladder,withinanygivenfield,isviewedassuccess.Theseideasareallareflectionofthe
patriarchalnarrative.
Atruematriarchalsocietybringsharmony,compassion,andthewisdomoftheheart.It
creates,sustains,andnurtureslife,andbuildsinclusivenetworksofreciprocalsupportand
mutualrespect.
Themostimportantstepthatwewilltakeinourcollectivemovementsisthestepaway
fromthenarrativesofpatriarchalpower.Ifwetrulyhopetoelevateamatriarchywithinour
currentmovements,wemustbefearlessinourintenttoelevatethevalueoftrue
matriarchalcharacteristicwithinourownminds.Formanythismoveisterrifying.The
notionsofpatriarchalpowerhavebeensodeeplyembeddedintoourpsyche,andthe
systematicdismantlingoftruematriarchalpowerhasbeensopervasivethatwecanno
longerseethetruemeasureofauthenticmatriarchalpower.Yet,ifwelookcarefully,wecan
seethatpowerallaroundus.NonecandoubtthetruepowerofMotherlove.Itisfiercely
protectiveandequallygentleandnurturing.Amother’sloveisthemostpowerfulforcein
nature.Amother’sguidanceiscrucialtothedevelopmentofanemotionallyhealthychild.
Therefore,theinclusionofmotherlovewithinoursocietiesiscrucialtothedevelopmentof
ahealthyexpressionofhumanity.Ifwehopetocreateaworldthatismoreharmoniousand
balanced,aworldthatisjustandequitable,thenwemustbewillingtoletgoofthefalse
powernarrativesofthepatriarchyandbeginpurposelyandconsistentlyengagingand
empoweringthematriarchalnarrative.Thisrequiresustoshiftourvaluestructuresaway
frompowerandprofitandmovethemtowardtheprotectionandpreservationoflife.
Therecouldbenomorevitalroleintheworkofenvironmentaljusticethanmakingthis
shift.Sincepatriarchalpolicy-makinghasbeenrootedinclassandracedivisionsthatcause
disparateoutcomesforthemostdisadvantagedpopulations,endingthesedisparities
requiresustoframenewenvironmentalpoliciesthatputforththelifebalancingidealsof
thematriarchy.
Hopeforabetterworldisgroundedinthetirelesscommitmenttocreateharmony,
equanimity,andcompassionatejustice.Thiscommitmentisheldintheheartofthe
Matriarch.Thus,thecreationoftheworldthatwehopeformustbeguidedbymatriarchal
idealsandledbymatriarchalmovements.
ThedegradationoftheEarth,hasgonehandinhandwiththesubjugationofthewomenand
thedenialoffeminineknowledge.Therefore,therestorationoftheEarthwillbetiedtothe
liberationofthewomenandtheresurrectionofmatriarchalwisdom.Inorderforthat
restorationtooccur,wemustalltaketheroleofthematriarchintoourheartsandallowit
toguideourthoughts,decisions,andactions.Akeypartofthisprocessisreconnectingour
hearts,minds,andbodiestothewildheartofMotherEarth.
ClarissaPinkolaEstessays:
“Whenwomenreasserttheirrelationshipwiththewildishnature,theyaregiftedwitha
permanentandinternalwatcher,aknower,avisionary,anoracle,andinspiratrice,an
intuitive,amaker,acreator,aninventor,andalistenerwhoguides,suggestsandurgesa
vibrantlifeintheinnerandouterworlds.”
So,aswecelebratethehistoricalcontributionsofwomenandacknowledgetheirunfolding
roleinourfuture,Iaskyoutojoinmeinmakingaunifiedcommitmenttoreassertour
relationshipwithMotherEarth,theoriginalMatriarch.Today,letuscallforththewildish
naturethatexistswithinus,andthenusethatinspired,visionarywisdomtobegincreating
amorevibrantlifeandamorejustandequitableworld,forourselvesandforallotherliving
beingswithincreation.
Thankyousomuchforallowingmetobeherewithyoutoday.KciWoliwon,P’silde
N’dilnabamuk.ForAllmyRelations
SherriMitchell(Wena’Gamu’Gwasit)wasbornandraisedonthePenobscotIndian
Reservation.SheisanIndigenousRightsattorney,writerandteacher.She’sbeenanadviserto
theAmericanIndianInstitute’sHealingtheFutureProgramandtheSpiritualEldersand
MedicinePeoplesCouncilofNorthandSouthAmerica.Sherrispeaksaroundtheworldon
issuesrelatedtoIndigenousrights,nonviolence,andthetraditionalIndigenouswayoflife.
SherriistheDirectoroftheLandPeaceFoundation,anorganizationcommittedtoprotecting
IndigenousRightsandtheIndigenousWayofLife.