Naanooshkeshinh Kwe Peggy Simon, #IWD2021 Guest

Mshkozii Kweok (Strong Women)

Aanii Naanooshkeshinh Kwe ndizhnikaaz. Mukwa Doodem. M’Chigeeng n’doonjibaa. Anishinaabe Kwe in N’Dow. Hello, my name is Humming Bird lady. I am from the Bear Clan. I live in M’Chigeeng. I belong to the Anishinabek Nation. My English name is Peggy Simon, a proud Anishinabek Kwe (Indigenous woman) who believes the cycle of violence and colonization stops with me. The intergenerational effects from Indian Residential Schools (IRS) still play havoc within First Nations. Entering the Masters of Indigenous Relations at Laurentian University will help find healings for five generations to untangle colonialism from an Indigenous perspective. I will be a Mshkozii Kwe.

My passion is about the Anishinaabe Debwewin (truth), Anishinbemowin Ojibwe language revitalization, and traditional practices. The journey would not be complete without mentioning the Mshkozii Kweok (several strong women) in my life. My mother, aunties, sisters, and cousins hold strong beliefs in education, the ability to speak Anisahinabemowin, the power of voice and the ability to be self-sustaining. My Nokomis (grandmother), a former IRS student, Christine Panamick, kept the family together of one-hundred and ten family members by laying the foundational principles of what family means and resonating the values of respect and responsibility. These values taught us the crucial role family plays in our lives and the ripple effects of strong women before us who were change-makers.

My connection to women and girl empowerment is I am an auntie to a sweet little four-year-old Kwezens (little lady) named Miigwewin (The Gift). I have a role and responsibility to help guide Miigwewin to support her in building a solid Anishinaabe N’Dow (Anishnaabek Identity) as she journeys through critical stages in her traditional rites of passage. One of these early teachings will include a one-year family berry fast.

Throughout life, there are seven stages, and we all have specific roles and responsibilities. Women are resilient and can reclaim their power by relearning their roles and responsibilities. Women play an essential role in empowering young girls that is so organic, fluid, and flux. Mshkozii Kweok (Strong Women) do not wait for the systems to change; they are the change-makers. In the twenty-first century, we no longer seek permission. From a global perspective, all women, regardless of race, are interconnected, and through supporting one another as one sisterhood will collectively make a nation of strong women.

Closing Message Mshkozii Kweok, aambe Zhichgedaa miinwaa Debwewendan*! (Strong women, Let us do it and believe!).

Miigwetch,

Naanooshkeshinh Kwe (Peggy Simon)

*Glossary of Ojibwe Terms

Miigwetch to auntie Kate Roy a fluent speaker and writer of the Ojibwe Language for the translations. She has instilled the importance of learning our language—photo credit to my cousin Caroline Debassige.

Mshkozii Kwe – (Strong Woman)

Mshkozii Kweok (several strong women)

Kwezens –(Little Girl)

Nokomis (grandmother)

Miigwewin -(Gift )

Aambe zhichgedaa miinwaa, debwewndan! (Let’s do it and believe!)

Anishinaabe N’Dow –(Anishnaabek Identity)

Anishinbemowin- (Ojibwe language)

Anishinabek Kwe (Indigenous woman)

Debwewin (truth)