Sharing Métis women’s stories about moon time and colonial body shame through visiting and berry picking in Buttertown, Alberta ...

• Main Author: Paul, Hanna M.
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: University of British Columbia 2023
• Subjects: Fort Vermilion
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.14288/1.0434188; https://doi.library.ubc.ca/10.14288/1.0434188

Indigenous women’s bodies have been the subject of extractive study through western scholarship, yet Métis women’s bodies and knowledge around experiences with Métis moon time (menstruation) has received little to no attention. I approach my Master’s thesis through the weaving of emergent Indigenous feminist theory, decolonial theory and methods, and Métis methodologies. My project focuses upon: (1) the historical legacy of western menstrual teachings and its effect on Indigenous women and youth’s body images; (2) how Métis teachings can create space for knowing, healing, and identity in my community; and (3) how Métis women’s teachings and bodily connection can help reimagine and dream into existence self-image futurisms for Buttertown, Alberta. Current literature only addresses how colonial and patriarchal concepts of menstruation affect Métis women and young girls (Baldy 2017). Beyond the literature, there is no specific research within Métis communities, specifically Buttertown, near Fort Vermilion, ...