[ windspeaker confidential ] - Kateri Akiwenzie-Damm

Windspeaker: What one quality do you most value in a friend?
Kateri Akiwenzie-Damm: Compassion. Someone who embraces and enjoys life yet has compassion is gold.

W: What is it that really makes you mad?
K.A-D.: A lack of reciprocity can really anger me because, at best, it's egocentric and thoughtless. At worst, it can be very disrespectful, exploitative, oppressive, and extremely destructive.

W: When are you at your happiest?
K.A-D.: I'm a happy person. What makes me "happiest" depends on my mood. Sometimes it's being at the rez, sitting on Jones Bluff, kayaking at Little North Bay, hearing the sound of the wind rushing across the escarpment, or watching a full moon rise above the escarpment, traveling, going to the Odawa and Cape Croker pow wows, hanging out with family and friends. I love spending time with the children in my family. Generally, I'm happiest when I'm with people I love, in places I love, or setting out on a new adventure.

W: What one word best describes you when you are at your worst?
K.A-D.: Neurotic.
W: What one person do you most admire and why?
K.A-D.: There are so many people I admire and have learned from including my grandparents Joe and Irene Akiwenzie and Anna Damm, my mom Julie Damm, some of the women in my community like Lila Johnston, Erma Akiwenzie and Doris Pedoniquott, and friends and activists like Haunani-Kay Trask. If you asked me again tomorrow or next week my answer would probably change. I'm surrounded by so many amazing people. Right now, one of the people I admire tremendously is my friend Adam Beach. He has faced great adversity, had so many disadvantages, experienced so many setbacks and he's overcome many of them in pursuit of his dreams. My observation is that when something doesn't go as he hopes, he lets it go, and keeps moving forward toward his goals. It's not just about financial success or fame - it's about spiritual growth and happiness. Adam's been through so much in his life and, like all of us, he's not perfect, he makes mistakes, and he continues to experience disappointments, but instead of letting them weaken him, he seems to use them to find greater confidence and strength. I really respect and admire that. We could all achieve so much if we could let go of our disappointments and keep our vision on our goals.

W: What is the most difficult thing you've ever had to do?
K.A-D.: The most recent was a few months ago - I had to have my dog Otis euthanized. I had him for 16 years and because I was either a student or self employed for that entire time, he pretty much went where I went. Otis was always at my feet or by my side. He loved and trusted me completely so at the animal hospital I stayed with him, petted him, and held him until he was gone because I didn't want him to be afraid - but it was heartbreaking.

W: What is your greatest accomplishment?
K.A-D.: It's yet to come.

W: What one goal remains out of reach?
K.A-D.: I don't believe any of my goals are out of reach. I intend to achieve every one of them.

W: If you couldn't do what you're doing today, what would you be doing?
K.A-D.: I don't know! Maybe I'd have a husband, a houseful of kids, and do work related to Traditional Knowledge. Or I'd travel around the world doing things like building homes for Red Feather or Habitat for Humanity, working with disaster relief agencies, teaching in Third World countries, tree planting in the north, going to spiritual ceremonies and retreats ­ that sort of thing. I love to learn and to challenge myself and I get great satisfaction out of working to improve the world in whatever ways I'm capable of doing. I could do anything, but actually, I do pretty much what I want right now.

W: What is the best piece of advice you've ever received?
K.A-D.: My friend Patricia Grace, the Maori novelist, once told me: 'when in doubt, do it.' I'm not sure it's the best advice I've ever received but I remember it and have acted on it. Maybe I received better, ignored it, and have forgotten all about it! I do think it was great advice for me. I'd rather live with the consequences of taking action than with the burden of regret for not having followed my heart because of fear or indecision.

W: Did you take it?
K.A-D.: Yes, I did. At the time I was trying to decide whether or not to go to Aotearoa (New Zealand). I did go and it was the right decision. That piece of advice has helped me to make decisions many times over the years.

W: How do you hope to be remembered?
K.A-D.: The usual - monuments, streets named after me, national public holidays, festivals in my honour, you know, someone whose death caused an outpouring of grief unseen since the death of Princess Diana! And, of course, I hope to be remembered as really good looking! Actually, I think it would be great to be remembered at all. What's that line in Hamlet? "There's hope a great man's memory may outlive his life half a year." Honestly, I would consider my life well lived if I was remembered as a loving, compassionate, and joyful person who helped to make the world better in whatever ways she could.

Kateri Akiwenzie-Damm, of the Chippewa of Nawash First Nation on the Cape Croker Reserve in Ontario, is one of Canada's best known Indigenous writers. She is also a producer, and owner of Kegedonce Press. Her first foray into writing resulted in the poetry book My Heart is a Stray Bullet. Since then, she's produced numerous performance pieces and literary works, often working with other Aboriginal artists, including a CD called Standing Ground, a collaborative spoken word/poetry album. Her passion is making Indigenous literature available to audiences everywhere.