By Sydney Alexandra, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Grandmother’s Voice recently hosted a powerful two-day conference, “Truth with Reconciliation: Respect, Restore, Relearn,” bringing together Indigenous speakers, storytellers, and knowledge keepers. Discussions explored celestial teachings, prophecy, untold histories, and the wisdom of the Two-Row Wampum Belt.
Day one, on Feb. 25, saw presentations by Samantha Doxtater on Indigenous astronomy and her sister’s legacy, speakers Allen Sutherland and Mike Doxtator, whose sessions shared a theme of wider and deeper education on Indigenous history, and Grandmother Renee’s reflections on the importance of wampum belts.
Samantha Doxtater honours Sasha Doxtater and celestial teachings
Samantha Doxtater opened the conference with a touching tribute to her late sister Sasha, explaining how she continues Sasha’s work on Indigenous astronomy. Sasha’s research explored connections between Western and Indigenous knowledge.
“She was a student at Western in London, Ontario, and she needed an extra course, and was asked by a professor if she would be interested in taking an astronomy course. One of her professors proposed that Sasha do an Indigenous astronomy research project,” Samantha shared. So for three years, Sasha traveled around to different Anishinaabe communities to gather information on the similarities of Indigenous creation stories of Sky Woman, Turtle Island, and the celestial teaching. The Doxtater sisters had planned to further their research however, Sasha soon passed away after a cancer diagnosis.
A few weeks after Sasha’s passing, Samantha’s journey took a profound turn after falling into a coma caused by COVID-19. While in her unconscious state, Samantha had a spiritual experience where she connected with Sasha in what she called the “middle plane.”
“She was there with me the whole entire time. And I remember thinking, how am I gonna explain this to people? What are people gonna think?” Samantha recalled. This encounter reaffirmed her mission to carry on her sister’s work, guided by Sasha’s presence in dreams and unfinished research.
A presentation with NASA
Fast forward: Doxtater’s dedication led to an invitation from NASA to present her findings and witness the 2024 eclipse in Niagara Falls.
”They [indigenous teachings] say a total solar eclipse was how they formed Great Law of Peace for Anishinaabe people and that the Senecas were the last ones to agree, and when the sky got dark, they took that in the design to agree to Great Law of Peace, when the peacemaker “Putagotta” went through all the nations. So out of this whole path of totality, the 7700-kilometer path, NASA said, the best place to view the total solar eclipse is Niagara Falls, New York — Seneca territory, and Anishinaabe homeland. When I saw this, I knew we needed to be part of this conversation.” Doxtater shared the Indigenous perspective on solar eclipses, highlighting their role in restoring balance. “So my presentation opened up NASA’s presentation in Anishinaabe homeland for the eclipse.”
Presenting at the Hayden Planetarium
Samantha would later present her and Sasha’s findings at the Hayden Planetarium at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. She described a surreal moment when an audience member claimed to see Sasha standing beside her.
“This young woman approaches me and says, ‘Your sister is here with you, and she was standing right beside you during your whole presentation. She said she had messages for you: she said she’s so proud of you and she wants you to continue this work.’ So for two minutes, that lady let my sister’s spirit go in her, so she could hug me and my family one more time.”
Doxtater is continuing to work towards building her own planetarium and Indigenous science centre. “I’ve seen a lot of things and I believe a lot of things. So that’s why planetariums have a special place in my life. And so that’s my goal, I’m going to build my own Indigenous science centre and planetarium; I’m going to get funding for it, and I’m going to name it after my sister.”
Doxtater explained that when a star goes supernova and passes away, it turns to stardust. The iron found in that dust is the same iron that turns our blood red — highlighting our connection to the stars. This led to Sasha’s favourite quote by Nikita Gill, which reflected her belief in our cosmic origins: “We have calcium in our bones, iron in our veins…93% stardust with souls made of flames. We are all just stars that have people names.”
Allen Sutherland: A call to action
Allen Sutherland urged reflection on humanity’s collective responsibility.
“We need to seek the truth to educate ourselves on the true history of Canada…in the curriculum throughout [the country] from coast to coast to coast, not [just] in Indigenous communities…all schools of Canada and on all levels.” He emphasized integrating the true history of Canada into the national curriculum to ensure future generations understand the past and move toward reconciliation.
Mike Doxtator: The untold history of Canada’s adoption
Mike Doxtator shared the little-known story of Canada’s adoption into the Mohawk First Nation in 1869. Prince Arthur, Queen Victoria’s son, was sent as a representative of the Crown to gain Indigenous acceptance of the British Commonwealth. He was given the title Chief of the Six Nations and the name Kavakoudge, symbolizing Canada’s adoption into the Mohawk longhouse.
Doxtator also challenged the term “settler,” arguing that non-Indigenous people were given the responsibility to become Indigenous to the land. “When they raised your rafter inside our longhouse and made yourself a member of our family, it was because you were given a duty and responsibility to become indigenous to this land.”
He posed a thought-provoking question: “All that time later, I can only ask one question, did you? Have you become indigenous to this land?” Doxtator shares, “Our foundational principle says, ‘Nobody eats until we all eat, nobody is healed until we all are healed, and nobody is happy until we all are happy’,” emphasizing that true reconciliation means shared well-being.
Grandma Renee and the Wampum Belt; the power of Indigenous teachings and ceremony
Grandmother Renee spoke about the importance of wampum belts. Wampum belts are crafted from white and purple beads and are used in ceremonial contexts. The term “wampum” originates from the Narragansett word for “a string of white shell beads.”
Grandmother Renee explained how wampum belts symbolize frameworks for coexistence and collective well-being: “The Wampum reflects the essence of who we are as Indigenous people. We carry a message of purity, honesty, and integrity. These belts remind us of our relationships, the importance of supporting one another, and striving to be better human beings.”
Day one of the conference underscored the power of connection — whether between Indigenous communities, the stars above, or the teachings passed down through generations. As each speaker shared their unique wisdom, they reminded us that reconciliation is not just a process but a continuous journey rooted in mutual respect, learning, and shared responsibility. With such foundational conversations laid out, the path ahead calls for reflection, understanding, and collective action for a more inclusive future. Stay tuned for a follow-up article, where we’ll explore the impactful proceedings of day two of Truth with Reconciliation: Respect, Restore, Relearn.
