This episode of the Belonging podcast is another throwback. Darla Antoine had come to me a few months before, identifying as both a First Nations Okanagan Tribal Member and as a descendant of Celtic ancestors, offering up her expertise in ancestral healing work through food and a sense of place. Being a woman of European ancestry with the same passions, I knew Darla would have so much to share in ways I could never possibly see or experience, so I was thrilled to hop on a call with her and listen alongside you.
“For me, cultural reparation is about helping to make sure there’s a balance and even exchange between the cultures.” -Darla Antoine
I invited Darla to share her powerful origin story and her experience of being descended from both an oppressed culture and that of the oppressor (she is literally descended from known Indian killer Kit Carson). Together, we wove through a conversation about humanity’s deep craving to belong, what it means to take part in cultural reparations, her grief over being the end of her lineage, how she connects with her ancestors over food, and so much more. This conversation is juicy!
This conversation with Darla shows us how deep our craving to belong really goes. When you combine that with a rich and complicated ancestral past and infuse it with what it means to be a good ancestor today, we can see just how powerful walking the path of belonging can really be in practice.
Resources:
- AncestralMedicine.org
- {Video} White Sage: Spiritual Practice with Integrity
- Know Whose Lands You Walk On
- Camp Souldust
More from Darla Antoine:
What did this conversation bring up for you? Share in the comments below.
Credit for the phrase “be a good ancestor” goes to Arianna of Quw’utsun’ Made
