Intersectional Identities: Afro-Indigeneity

Intersectional Identities focuses on the often overlooked and underrepresented intersectional identities of individuals who are Black and Indigenous. Through this series, my goal is to provide an opportunity through my photography to highlight the unique experiences, struggles, and triumphs of those who navigate being both Black and Indigenous.

At the heart of my work lies a commitment to fostering inclusivity, understanding, and solidarity within Indigenous communities. By highlighting the voices and stories of Black-Indigenous individuals, I seek to challenge ingrained prejudices, dismantle harmful stereotypes, and confront anti-Black racism within our communities.

Representation matters. By providing a platform for Black-Indigenous voices to be heard and seen, I hope to use my photography to share the lived experiences of those who often feel marginalized or erased while also assisting in creating much needed visual representation of Black-Indigenous peoples. I invite viewers to confront their own biases, expand their perspectives, and recognize the richness and diversity within Indigenous identities.

In a world where discrimination and exclusion persist, it is crucial that our communities be welcoming and safe for all individuals, including Black-Indigenous kin.

Jay Northcott

Denesuliné, St Kits & Nevis, and White.

On Identity,

“It’s very complicated because it’s how people see you but also how you are connected to your community…a lot of the time my nationality is seen as Black which takes away some of my lived experience with my family.”

What do you want people to know about Black-Indigenous people?

“You can hold both identities, similar to people that hold identities from multiple Indigenous nations. There has always been inter-cultural identities. And how boring to have to choose just one.

What do you think non-Black natives should do to fight back against anti-Blackness?

“Hurt people, hurt people sometimes. Oppression Olympics happen a lot. Our ability to know there is shared experience with genocide, and violence, to our communities. The connection isn’t in the violence but in our ability to persevere.”

On the best parts about being Black-Indigenous,
“Sharing in 2 communities that have a lot of generosity, learning, and a wealth of knowledge and teaching. And good fucking food! My final answer is food!”

Fola Kotree

Métis-Cree (Cumberland House) and Nigerian.

On identity,

“As Afro-Indigenous people, we’re living with many intersections in our identity and we have a lot of rich culture that we come from and it makes for a really distinct and special reality. I think it’s really awesome. I’m grateful that I’m Afro-Indigenous because you can see ally-ship depending on your family background is, for me seeing my Nigerian father and Metis-Cree mom and how they loved each other and whats come from that. It’s cool to see solidarity in your family.”

What are the best parts of being Afro-Indigenous?

“The best part about being Afro-Indigenous is finding that intersection from both of the cultures I come from. I’m on a learning journey and find it fascinating to find similarities in both of my backgrounds. For example, I do traditional drumming through an Indigenous Centre in Toronto while also becoming more curious about my dad's culture, and how the drum means a lot for them as well.”

Nolan Moberly

Buffalo River Dene Nation and African-American.

On what non-Black Indigenous people can do to address anti-Black racism within Indigenous communities.

“When a lot of trauma is suffered by certain communities, there is a feeling of not wanting to look further than your own struggle. Because the struggle is very real, it’s very hard, and it’s hit for a long time, and it’s in the people you love, which is very tough. And I think when you feel the pain of it so much you don’t want to look outside of the pain and seek other pain, and because of that it may cause you to look at other people who are suffering. It’s not a competition of suffering, and when you know the extend of the pain you’ve gone through, do some research and not making assumptions about other communities.

Who are some other Afro-Indigenous people that inspire you?

“I got to say, nothing comes to mind. It’s something in my experience seeing other Afro-Indigenous people is something that comes very few and far between. Afro-Indigenous people are not easily identifiable. You look out into a crowd of black people and you can’t tell who is Indigenous, and the other way around. It’s like being on an island. You know you are, but that’s all you can really hold on to.”

Sienna Vautour

Anishinaabe (Serpent River First Nation) and Jamaican.

On identity,

“For a long time, it was complicated trying to figure out both identities and how they work together. I never really saw myself as one or the other and never really met a lot of people who had the same identity so I think it was a bit confusing at first.”

What should people know about Afro-Indigenous peoples?

“Don’t put us into a box. Both sides of a history that they’re proud of and sometimes things people are not proud of because of racism and oppression. It’s not a straight simple line.
Cultural identity is not as straightforward as it might seem, having both identities being present in them.”

What should non-Black Indigenous people do to address anti-Black racism within Indigenous communities?

“I think taking the time to go out and learn is important, looking into history and how oppression or other parts of history have affected Black and Indigenous people. There has to be an effort for someone to want to know the information. You should go out and find the information you’re looking for and ask for clarity.”

On the best parts of being Afro-Indigenous,

“The best part about being Anishinaabe and Jamaican is having both sides of my family having pride in their cultures, and their history and spiritual things are important to them.”

Suzanne Shoush

St’atl'imx and Sudanese.

On identity,

“It’s interesting because it’s something very important that was given to me by my parents for me to give to my children. I’ll often talk about my mom being First Nations, and my dad being Sudanese. I don’t often associate those with myself, but I also make sure that my children are raised to know and be aware of, and they are very proud to be First Nations, to be Black, to be Haitian on their father's side. I think for me, I love both sides of my family's cultures, ancestry, and history, even the hard parts of that history and feel very lucky to have cultures on both sides that are such generous, giving, welcoming people.”

What do you want people to know about Afro-Indigenous people?

“It’s the fastest growing demographic of Indigenous people who are mixed, is with Black or African ancestry. There’s a deep relativeness to our cultures. It’s something you don’t see embraced generally.”

Who are other Afro-Indigenous people that inspire you?

“A lot of the Black Indigenous peoples that inspire me are the aunties here in Toronto. They are so fiercely incredible as mothers, aunties, community members, sisters, advocates, and as trailblazers in terms of pushing to understand our belongingness, our value, and are just beautiful people.”

Jada Reynolds-Tabobondung

Potawatomi, White, Jamaican, Taiwanese.

On identity and growing up with intersectional identities,

“Identity is unavoidable because it’s who you are.
Growing up being Afro-Indigenous, I’d be in Indigenous spaces but perceived as Black, and in Black spaces be perceived as mixed. I’ve been in Indigenous spaces and experienced anti-Black racism and with people in positions of authority who did not stand up when experiences of racism occurred.”

What should more non-Black natives be doing?

“Speaking up. Role models in our communities should be addressing these issues because these are members of our community and if you say you’re supporting your community while alienating a section of your community then you're not doing what you say you are. There are a lot of young Black-Indigenous kids who we want to be supported as they grow up, and be comfortable in their communities, and that’s why it’s important to acknowledge anti-Black behaviour and step in otherwise you’re not protecting the generations of the future.”

Joy Henderson

Lakota and African-American.

On identity and the complexities of Afro-Indigeneity,

“Identity means community, a sense of belonging, but also very politicized so you got to take it where it is. I tend to feel when I’m Afro-Indigenous my black relatives were not accepted as Indigenous through colonial measures. It’s not just a matter of being white and deciding not to be native anymore to be safe. There was no safety for us either way. We were forced out by colonial measures whether that was our relatives pushing us out or colonial rule through the 1-drop rule.”

What do you want people to know about Afro-Indigenous people?

“That we are just as varied as non-Black natives. Potentially even more so because there are multiple Black communities as well as Native communities. In Canada, Afro-Indigenous tends to be seen as having one black parent and one native parent. Whereas mores in the US and eastern Canada there are multigenerational families of Black Natives.”

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