by Liz Mariani
In the chapbook titled before the stone shatters and leather bindings break by tawahum justin bige writes about another perspective on the life of a water protector poet. Here’s an excerpt from the poem “Warrior-Poet”:
“We work and toil on Burnaby Mountain for community,
blockade roads, plant trees, delay the jobs. Their obsession
with jobs has us tense, rage in our chest, constantly tested.
When glow-in-the-dark-vested police officers arrest with
criminal impunity and we can’t do anything, a stirring quiet
vibrates between water protectors.”
tawahum justin bige continues:
“Warrior-poet
Plummets on watchhouse floor—please
breathe, please. You’re needed.”
—
*Tawahum aka North Star aka Justin Bige is a Lutsel K’e Dene and Plains Cree poet who resides on unceded Musqueam, Tsleil-Waututh and Squamish territory colonially-known-as Vancouver. Published in Red Rising Magazine, Oratorealis and Pulp Magazine, Tawahum’s poetry stokes the sacred fire of resurgence and decolonization on occupied Turtle Island. Their writing deeps into the valleys of healing intergenerational trauma, up the rocky cliffs of reconnecting with culture and against the solid concrete city streets of colonization. They’ve featured on stages including Talking Stick, Verses, and Drum-is-Calling festivals. In their 3rd year of studies toward a BA in Creative Writing at KPU in BC, Tawahum hopes to publish a book of poetry by his graduation in 2019. They invite you to join them on a journey that is both emotionally personal and deeply political.
*You can purchase this moving and necessary chapbook for $10-15 by contacting Tawahum Justin Bige via justin.bige@gmail.com You can watch and listen to the power of Tawahum’s talent by searching for audio and videos online. Tawahum Justin Bige is water protector poet you should know.
The world needs water protector poets.