For Colten
By Nickita Danielle Longman

Be wary, young ones

as you tiptoe with your heels to the moon,

on lands that your ancestors generously groomed and gifted

to you long before you arrived.

Travel swiftly through territories

sprinkled with gravel roads and stray dogs,

because if you pause for a moment only

you may be met by shaky hands and Mayflower weapons.

Among us walk foaming-at-the-mouth

descendants who dig up and rip this land to shreds

and will attempt to do so against

your beautiful brown bodies with your shoulders to the sun,

so be wary.

"For Colten" was originally published in Red Rising Magazine's Revolt Issue #6 in late summer of 2017.

Nickita Longman is a Saulteaux writer and organiser from George Gordon First Nation in Treaty 4 Territory. Currently, she lives, works, and organises as a guest in Winnipeg, MB, Treaty 1 Territory. She has written for publications such as GUTS Magazine, Briarpatch Magazine, and The Washington Post and organizes for groups such as Winnipeg Police Cause Harm and Idle No More.