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An Open Letter to the University of Regina Press, regarding the kisiskâciwan anthology:

 An Open Letter to the University of Regina Press, regarding the kisiskâciwan anthology (Indigenous Voices from where the River Flows Swiftly):

Over the past year, University of Regina Press invited Indigenous authors from the four directions of Saskatchewan to submit their written works for an upcoming anthology. We were excited to be part of the necessary honoring of great Indigenous writing from our respective homelands.

Much of our writing is an expression of our experiences with the ongoing, violent impacts of colonization. We know the intricacies of this violence: racism has deep roots here, entangled with misogyny and patriarchy. As Indigenous women and Two-Spirit people, we are too familiar with the verbal, physical, and psychological abuse that is a key part of colonialism, attempting to make Indigenous women’s experiences invisible, and therefore, disposable. We want to see the end of violence that is freely and inconsequentially directed at our bodies, minds, and well-being.

It was brought to our attention that the kisiskâciwan anthology will include the work of Neal McLeod, who has recently been charged and pled guilty to domestic assault. We cannot consent to publish our work alongside Neal McLeod, whom to the best of our knowledge has not made amends to those that he has harmed.

After discussions with the University of Regina Press, we are disappointed that their decision is to proceed with the anthology in support of Neal’s work, even after we stated we will be removing our collection of voices from the anthology in an act of solidarity with Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit people (MMIWG2S) and survivors of assault. In an era of MMIWG2S, we believe in concrete actions to build a future where gendered colonial violence is over.

We ask the University of Regina Press and the editors of the kisiskâciwan anthology to honor the experiences of Indigenous women and abuse survivors by removing Neal McLeod from this anthology.

We ask the University of Regina Press, along with all other publishing houses, schools and universities, governments, and cultural spaces to recognize the lifesaving necessity of supporting Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit people who name abuse and abusers.

We believe we must question, disrupt and abolish systems of misogyny and patriarchy, in order to be free to direct our energy and work towards a place of thriving for Indigenous women and Two-Spirit folks. Until these places become real and readily accessible, our work will remain with us, and with publishers who understand our worth.

Signed,

Erica Violet Lee Nickita Longman Sylvia McAdam  Lindsay Knight                                         Night Kinistino  Dawn Dumont

In Solidarity, Chelsea Vowel, Ian Campeau, Billy-Ray Belcourt, Alicia Elliott, Zoe Todd, Sheelah McLean, Janice Makokis, Samantha Marie Nock, Katherena Vermette, Emily Riddle, Shannon Houle, Robert Innes, Christi Belcourt, Jesse Wente, Tracey Lindberg, Hayden King, Daniel Heath Justice, Leanne Simpson, Eden Robinson, Tara Williamson, Paul Seesequasis, Tracy Bear, Erin Marie Konsmo, Kayla Ironstar, Angela Semple, Laura Reid Kooji, Jennifer Adese, Eve Tuck, Dallas Hunt, Joshua Whitehead, Ryan McMahon, Sandi Auger, Renae Watchman, David Gaertner, Melanie Lefebvre, Sarah Nickel, Gail MacKay, Lou Cornum,  Thohahente Kim Weaver, Lee Maracle, Thirza Cuthand, Sherri Swidrovich, Tara Borin, Erin Soros, David Parent, Emma Schultz, Darlene Sicotte, Susan Greer, Pauline Wakeham, Kim Wheeler, The Regina Public Interest Research Group (RPIRG), Sarah Cortez, Molly Swain, Cowboy Smithx, Rene Ariens, Michelle Lee, Shawn Johnston, Crystal Fraser, Adam Gaudry, Ashley Morford, RJ Jones, Aylan Couchie, Julia Christensen, Renée Roman Nose, Franki Harrogate, Terri Monture, Veldon Coburn, Hayley Lapalme, Darryl Leroux, Kathryn NicDhàna, Madeleine Reddon, Glen Coulthard, Stephen Steward, Christian Bertelsen, Turning the Tide Bookstore, Jaime Forsythe.

to add your name in support, email kisiskaciwan@gmail.com.