Positionality Statement

Since there has been some public figures who have been revealed to not actually be Indigenous, I am here to reassure you that yes, I am very much Native/Onkwehon:we, even though I am terrible at beading (but Creator thinks I’m great at it).

Check this out: my mother is Lenape, originally born and raised in Moraviantown/Naahii, as were her ancestors before her, my dad was born and raised in Tyendinaga/Kenhtè:ke as was his father before him, and his mother/my grandmother, was born and raised in Six Nations as were her ancestors before her. If you would like to know my family names other than Claus, I would be happy to provide on request so you can ask around and get some gossip.

Of course, it’s been several hundred years since that trauma of forced contact, so there are some white folks with English and French accents in my lineage, some German/Dutch sprinkles in there as well, in case you obsessing why I have that light skin.

I know identity, belonging and ancestry in our community is very complex and I do have this privilege in knowing where I come from, and I am grateful for that.