nedí nezų (Good Medicine)

Tenille Campbell

• Editorial: Arsenal Pulp Press
• Año: 2021
• ISBN:
  9781551528472
• Categoría: Letteratura
• Categoría: Poesia

nedí nez? (Good Medicine) explores the beautiful space that being a sensual Indigenous woman creates—not only as a partner, a fantasy, a heartbreak waiting to happen but also as an auntie, a role model, a voice that connects to others walking the same path. From the online hookup world of DMs, double taps, and secret texts to earth-shakingly erotic encounters under the northern stars to the ever-complicated relationship Indigenous women have with mainstream society, this poetry collection doesn't shy away from depicting the gorgeous diversity in decolonized desire. Instead, Campbell creates the most intimate of spaces, where the tea is hot and a seat is waiting, surrounded by the tantalizing laughter of aunties telling stories.

These wise, jubilant poems chronicle many failed attempts at romance, with the wry humour needed to not take these heartbreaks personally, and the growth that comes from sitting in the silence of living a solo life in a world that insists everyone should be partnered up. With a knowing smile, this book side-eyes the political existence and celebrates the lived experience of an Indigenous woman falling in love and lust with those around her—but, most importantly, with herself.

nedí nez? is a smart, sensual, and scandalous collection dripping in Indigenous culture yet irresistible to anyone in thrall to the magnificent disaster that is dating, sex, and relationships.

This publication meets the EPUB Accessibility requirements and it also meets the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG-AA). It is screen-reader friendly and is accessible to persons with disabilities. A Simple book with few images, which is defined with accessible structural markup. This book contains various accessibility features such as alternative text for images, table of contents, page-list, landmark, reading order and semantic structure.

1

LANGUAGE LESSONS

snagging while Indigenous

means road trips from

rez to rez

one hundred miles

a story in the making

meeting grandparents

cousins and aunties

because there are no secrets

among family

snagging while Indigenous

means bringing dry meat

across borders

jars of canned fish

clinking in the back seat

bags of frozen blueberries

waiting to be handed to relations

ancient bribes for modern flirtations

snagging while Indigenous

means DMs and double taps

and casually saying hey

I was just in the neighbourhood

we should hang out

I know your cousin

you look like trouble

and you know it

tall and lean

head cocked just so

I can taste you already

northern accent dripping

from tongue and lips

you look like morning regrets

the shuffling of clothes

the lost bra

the headache

trying to remember

where I am

what your name is

you look like

someone who will text

that I’m beautiful

captivating like northern lights

sparkling like a blanket of stars

like someone

who has those words

on copy and paste

you are fresh river water

chilled by underwater glacial

pulsing through my mouth

over my tongue

down my throat

carrying story

kissing cree boys

around spinning bottles

snaps never posted

stories told in group chats and DMs

nēhiyaw to dënësułıné

smiling turning into laughter

turning into speculative glances

you kiss me

like you wanna remember how I taste

imprinting your lips onto mine

making sure I never forget

these early mornings late nights

who’s keeping track

all I know is

when you pull me closer hand on neck

grinning and making me blush

I almost forget

it’s just a game

when you kneel down to worship

palms laid flat on soft thighs

head bowed in praise

speak out loud the blessings before you

say my name with reverence

when your lips and tongue

taste me for the first time

knees spread before you

know that

we are in ceremony

when you feel me break

body trembling spilling joy

hand reaching for you

drawing you in

remember this moment

I’ve never wanted to dance

the drums don’t call me home

swirling ribbons and colourful beads

have never entangled me

we don’t all powwow, you know

but

but

but

watching you

big drum singer

I want to dance

for you

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Índice

• Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright
• Dedication
• Contents
• 1: Language Lessons
• 2: Northern Lights
• 3: Broken Treaties
• 4: The Land
• Glossary
• Acknowledgments
• Artist Statement: Heather Dickson