On April 6, the founder of Women of All Red Nations, Lakota Harden spoke of a new way to deconstruct internalized colonialist ideals. “It’s important to make sure that we bring indigenous voices to the colleges, to the mainstream so that people know we’re still here,” said Marshall Jeffries ’08. “(Harden) is someone that’s been doing activism for 50 years and probably for many people in the room it was the first time they heard her name.”

Junior Lauren Jeffries spearheaded the effort to ensure that Harden could come to Guilford and speak.

“I went out and harassed a bunch of people that would be interested in the topic, and made sure that there would be butts in seats,” Jeffries said. “It speaks a lot to what I think people want to hear about because it’s really interesting to hear that sometimes Native American issues aren’t included in diversity . so I feel like I have to work extra hard to get our stories heard, and our events heard and seen.”

Harden talked to a crowd of 45 people and talked about topics ranging from cultural differences between Native Americans and the mainstream, to racism and homosexuality.

“Anything I teach you, will not stick if it isn’t already part of you,” Harden said at the beginning of her speech.

“When we talk about colonization, we talk about genocide,” Harden said.

Harden discussed the damage the colonial excursions caused the native people, which created the soul wound. The soul wound is defined as the destruction of the Native American culture.

“That’s how racism and genocide happen. They don’t only keep us separate from each other but it also keeps us separate from ourselves,” Harden said. “People don’t think we exist; that’s what colonization did to us and the mainstream.”

The big topic of the night was how each person comes into the world and the shields they put up throughout their socialization.

Harden said each person is born with the same brilliance and beauty, but as he or she grows up there is a barrage of messages saying what is, or is not appropriate and those messages create a shield around their original brilliance and individualizes each person.

“These shields look like skin color, piercings, gender, tattoos; they are a protection,” said Harden. “Whether we came here on our own or in chains, wherever we came from, we all came from the same beautiful, brilliant culture.”

She said that every person is the same underneath their shields and that everyone should value themselves and their ancestors.

“The bottom line of what I hope to instill is a respect for each person’s self; to really care and love themselves and know that they are related to everybody else; that they have community; that they aren’t alone,” said Harden. “Not just in this physical world, that they’re ancestors are looking over them (as well).”

Harden said that the biggest crime against people is the message that they aren’t good enough.

“I’m hoping to try and get people to remember that they’re more than enough. They’re brilliant. They’re beautiful and to not allow that pressure to keep running their lives,” said Harden.

The room was silent during her speech as all eyes in the room remained on her. Harden’s message resonated with many members of the crowd.

“I feel like this is kind of cliche, but I feel like this is something we all forget, that we’re the same and I think that was one of the most powerful things I got from it,” said sophomore Adam Watkins. “You can’t really judge someone or be mean, or be mad at someone, while realizing that they’re the same as you.”

Marshall Jeffries received a similar message from Harden’s words.

“I hope that what (people) do take (from this) is a higher level of self-awareness and to know that they are not just individuals but they come from a long line of survivors, so they should see themselves as a collective not as an individual,” Jeffries said.

After the speech there was also criticism about the lack of emphasis surrounding the event within the larger Guilford community.

“I was glad many people came out, but I feel like the whole school needs to hear about this . I think the world needs to hear it,” said Watkins.

“Guilford likes to pretend that it’s very different (from other colleges),” said Marshall Jeffries. “There’s a lot of privilege and inability to recognize privilege on this campus just as it is on any other campus. I think talking about that is the next step for Guilford.