06/18/2023
🌈Celebrate Father’s Day with love, acceptance and appreciation. 🌈
Let’s redefine masculinity this Father’s Day through Indigenous kinship and care. Together, we can nurture the next generation of Indigenous fathers to offer unwavering support and unconditional love for themselves and their families – especially towards Two-Spirit & LGBTQ+ children!
Toxic masculinity has constrained society for too long, hindering expressions and preventing many fathers from freely giving and receiving love. It’s time to challenge this harmful stereotype. We must rewrite the narrative with Indigenous love, rooted in vulnerability, compassion and inclusivity. ✊🏼❤️
We must learn from history and set a new example. We must acknowledge the limits of toxic masculinity within our society. We must not hide behind colonial constructs of tradition and the gender binary as a means to reinforce this toxic behavior. Instead, we must integrate the wisdom of Indigenous communities who have always recognized and respected what we understand today as gender and sexual identities.
This Father’s Day, we uplift the Indigenous fathers and guardians who embrace their children wholeheartedly, defying colonial and societal norms. This movement towards decolonizing fatherly love paves the way for a future where every child, no matter their identity, is cherished, loved and accepted.
Happy Father’s Day to all the dads and guardians leading with love, compassion, and open hearts. May your love and acceptance guide generations to come. 🌈💙
Artwork by Jackie Fawn (Yurok/Washoe/Filipino)
