The Art of Healing

The truth is my trauma cannot be erased.  

It is a part of my story, it does not make me a disgrace.  

I did not choose for all these things to happen to me, they just did.  

I’ve learned how to cope with my trauma from when I was just a kid. 

 I’m Indigenous and proud but society has narrowed me down to a number, another statistic.  

Every time I go to the police for help, they blame me and say my story is unrealistic.  

It’s a continuous cycle that I always get caught in.   

I can’t take it anymore, I will not stop fighting until Justice is served and my perpetrators are in prison. 

 People are so quick to judge me, but they don’t know my story, they do not know what those men did to me.  

These men I talk about defiled my temple and took away my innocence for free. 

 For so many years I blamed myself because I thought it was my fault. 

 It took many years of counselling and healing circles before I understood I was a victim as an adult.  

I am no longer a slave of fear.  

I will keep on sharing my story until the whole world can hear.  

I am a woman, a sister, a friend, a mother, a niece, a daughter but my body is not your canvas.  

My body is my dignity and not for your bliss. 

I have mastered the art of healing by not letting my trauma be my downfall.  

I understand these horrible things have happened but the bravest thing I can do to conquer it is advocate for other young women so together we stand tall.