pê-kîwêhtahik ‒ Bring Them Home
Naomi McIlwraith
What can a poem do, but to speak
the truth ‒ kâ-tâpwêt, to shout
the truth ‒ kâ-têpwêt, step one
of Indigenous grief my friend Shannon tells me.
pê-kîwêhtahik
What can a poem do, but whisper ‒ ê-kitimâkihtawakik ‒
our deep unwhisperable sorrow for 215 children.
Spell it out: two hundred and fifteen small bodies.
Count it out: forty-four thousand two hundred and ninety small bones.
pê-kîwêhtahik
What can a poem do, but utter a prayer ‒ ê-ayamihêstamawakik ‒
for two hundred and fifteen children
for thousands of other children
who never saw their families again – ever.
pê-kîwêhtahik
What can a poem do when it can’t reach
stage four of grief – laughter – not
yet, perhaps not ever. Not until
the children come home, not until the Pope
says sorry for the crimes of the Church,
not until governments stop apologizing while doing so little,
not until we all walk with our Indigenous
sisters and brothers on the mean streets of Canada.
pê-kîwêhtahik.
Not until the children come in from the dark.
namôya pâtimâ pê-pîhtikwêtwâwi awâsisak itê ohci kâ-wanitipiskâyik.
pê-kîwêhtahik
pê-kîwêhtahik
pê-kîwêhtahik
pê-kîwêhtahik
With thanks to Naomi for sharing her powerful words, and her prayers on this day when we learn of another 751 graves at Cowessess.
2 Responses
I am so sad tonight. I need to hug somebody, and I need somebody to hug me. And all those little children who needed a hug….
I heard Naomi read this poem and it touched me to my core. I have read it over and over and shared it with many. My heart is heavy with sorrow.