Lee Maracles's Interview With Context: Beyond The Headlines

In Lee Maracles’s interview with Context: Beyond the Headlines, Maracle explains the healing properties of literature and how expression through poetry has helped her advocate for Indigenous people. The medicinal properties of literature are a sacred belief of the Stó:lō peoples. The power of poetry helps relieve the chronic wounding created by the colonizers.

Maracle begins by addressing how the movement of colonialism caused irreversible intergenerational trauma among the Indigenous communities. She shames the Canadian government because none of the real people who evoked the damage had ever faced confrontation. The apology from Canada is a one sided conversation, as the Indigenous peoples who suffered through the torture received no chance to banter. This act is not reconciliation as in order for reconciliation to occur, “two parties get together, one that has victimized the other” (0:06-0:13). These groups must reflect on their actions in order to move forward. Maracle explains

Her works include topics such as Indigenous rights and Indigenous women. These underlying themes are then weaved into words that express Maracle’s thoughts. To her, reiterating her ideas and composing them into poetry “[strengthens her] body so [her body] can repair its own damage”. Poetry also allows Maracle to immerse herself in her emotions. She writes her stories according to her mood and true feelings, so the audience would consume an authentic Indigenous voice. The sincerity in her poems also integrates her culture and the Salish people. To those communities, “words have power, they have impact...the only [languages] that [help people are] story and poetry” (2:27-2:30). To Lee Maracle, poetry is not a simple medium used to convey stories. Poetry is a boundless form of storytelling that bridges herself and her community to embrace their Indigenous