I wanted to share my own ancestry, because I'd been talking about blood and legacy and connection to our lost roots, many of which were stolen by our very own ancestors in their flurry to get what little they could out of a broken system by injecting themselves with the psychotoxin that is "whiteness", all to avoid seeming Black or indigenous enough to "deserve" persecution.

History is fun and full of laughter and joy, but only if you enjoy gallows humor as much as I do. ☠️

Now away with the radically honest reflection of my ancestors' many, many sins! We proceed now with the more fun part of history...cultural ancestry!

Secundum Enatam
Following the line of enatic (maternal) inheritance

My maternal ancestors come from the South Santander region of Colombia. My grandfather's family came from the Kingdom of Castille in northern Spain, and we retain the Burgos surname to the present day (it's literally my surname :P ). At some point, this means we were descended from a royal or noble Castillian line.

And we all know blue blood turns red if you don't narcissus at it enough.

My grandmother's family came from the Basque region of northern Spain and southern France. Both Burgos (Castillian) and Peña (Basque) lines were city-builders, law-bringers, and the defenders of Roman Catholicism. We had a reputation for individualism, independence, order, honor, and a "no-nonsense" approach to life.

It's funny how I can see these same characteristics now reflected in me, although not in anyway that my ancestors would recognize or approve of. My individualism and independence demands freedom from the order of false dogmas and oppressive laws. I'm very glad to have been born in our family's post-apocalyptic age. I get to bring back the old values in a way that represents them more universally, and not just for my "noble peers." Fuck nobility.

My European ancestors were like all the rest in that they also "mixed" with indigenous peoples. I use the word "mixed" because euphemisms prevent CWs. Because of where my family remained for centuries, it becomes clear that I am also descended from the Guane people of the Chicamocha Canyon and the Suárez River valley. They were master weavers and terrace farmers, and they were called the "Engineers of the Highlands." They practiced cranial deformation and mummification, too, so they were fucking metal. 🤘

Secundum Agnatum
Following the line of agnatic (paternal) inheritance

Now, this was a surprise. My father comes from the Cuban Medinas. They were from Havana, and were likely part of the early Cuban merchant or colonial bureaucracy. As it happens, my father's family were late arrivals, and came to Cuba during the 17th and 18th centuries, when Sephardic Jews were fleeing the Spanish Inquisition. Medina was one of the many "cover" names the Sephardic Jews used to escape persecution. Given what I know about my father's family...holy fucking shit, I have Jewish ancestry. 🤯

Now the hatred transphobes feel towards Jews makes sense... they somehow knew I was always both. 🙀 /j

Ergo Sum

More seriously speaking, I think what makes an ancestral search worthwhile is when it helps explain parts of who you feel like you are. If it does, and this search definitely did that for me, then great! This was worth it. I've gotten to the point where I'm fortunate to be able to say that I see myself, but it's nice to be able to see how that self connects to the wider context of the world too.

We are, invariably and inevitably, the sum of our parts. How that sum adds up depends on you and what you want to do with it. Identity is a story. Culture is a story. They're only meaningful insofar as they serve as a sort of mythological cosmogony for our selves. These should give us foundations for growth and means of understanding ourselves.

Trash 'em when they don't. 💙

#Ancestry #Genealogy #Identity #Guane #Basque #Castilian #Sephardic #Converso #Latine #AfroLatine #IndigenousResilience #Santander #Colombia #Chicamocha #Cuba #Habana #OldCastile #NorthernSpain #Pyrenees #Decolonize #AntiColonial #WhitenessAsProperty #RadicalHonesty #RadicalAcceptance #TransIdentity #Neurodivergent #History #SecundumEnatam #SecundumAgnatum #ErgoSum

#Decolonizing #ScienceFiction And Imagining Futures: An #IndigenousFuturisms Roundtable

By: Rebecca Roanhorse, Elizabeth LaPensee, Johnnie Jae, Darcie Little Badger, 30 January 2017

Johnnie Jae: "As a writer, Indigenous Futurism comes as naturally as breathing. It is in every story and article that we write because we have always understood the role that the past, present, and future play in every aspect of our realities. Unlike mainstream science fiction, where futurism is typically violent and values the advancement of technology over both nature and human beings, Indigenous sci-fi is the polar opposite. We imagine worlds where the advancement of #technology doesn’t disrupt or destroy #ecosystems or the balance of power between humans and nature. Even in stories where we are exploring alien worlds, we think about how we can co-exist with the life forms indigenous to that world. We think about the ways our cultures, languages, and everything that makes us who we are can be preserved and how they can evolve in these new worlds. As Elizabeth has mentioned, alternate realities are a huge part of our sci-fi because even if we’re not writers or artists, we all imagine how differently the world would be without certain events like #colonization."

Read more:
http://strangehorizons.com/non-fiction/articles/decolonizing-science-fiction-and-imagining-futures-an-indigenous-futurisms-roundtable/

#SolarPunkSunday #DecolonizingFuturisms #Decolonize #Nature #HarmonyWithNature #Science #Balance #Futurisms

Uncovering #decolonial pedagogies for learning #agroecological transitions: comparative analysis of #SouthAmerica cases

Michelle Bonatti, et al, October 2025, published in Global Environmental Change.

Highlights:

• Decolonial pedagogies can facilitate agroecological transition processes.
• Pedagogical models facilitate agroecological transitions by integrating diverse epistemologies in agriculture practices.
• This study identifies three contextual learning narratives: Living, Resistance, and Hybrid Pedagogies.
• A main archetype has been discovered, known as the 'South pedagogies archetype'.
• The operational decolonial pedagogies framework shows how agroecological knowledge is created in the territory.

Conclusion:

"This study reflects on the strengths, nuances, and contextual factors shaping three distinct learning processes, offering insights into the effectiveness of diverse pedagogical approaches for agroecology that value the epistemologies of the South. The research recognizes that potential agroecological transitions face challenges from entrenched power structures and the historical #erasure of knowledge systems, calling for more than technical adjustments—rather a fundamental revaluing of diverse ways of knowing and being is essential. In this context, this research responds to the pressing need for a deeper understanding of pluriversal knowledge systems, epistemologies of the South, and learning approaches that have emerged organically within the Latin American context, where agroecological movements have deep and strong roots.

The growth of agroecology, also as an academic discipline, presents both opportunities and challenges. While it validates traditional agricultural practices within Western scientific frameworks, it risks perpetuating colonial knowledge hierarchies if not grounded in decolonial perspectives. Decolonial pedagogies are fundamental for accelerating agroecological transitions. As shown in this study, traditional communities in #Colombia and #Peru have preserved and evolved their #agroecology knowledge systems through generations of #CollectiveLearning, offering profound insights into #Sustainable #FoodProduction that transcend the limitations of Western scientific methodologies. In parallel, decolonial pedagogies in the Brazilian case were essential to promote agroecological transition that started recently in the last decades.

"The three contextual narratives that emerged from the South pedagogy archetype are intricate and interconnected, defying simplistic categorization. This study shows how the South pedagogy archetype serves as a model of resistance to poverty and social exclusion through agroecology. As research understanding deepens, there is a pressing need to explore Indigenous pedagogies to unveil additional valuable approaches to learning that lead to more inclusive educational models that resonate with diverse learners and address complex global challenges.

"By showcasing the rich knowledge systems and alternative learning structures present in these three cases, this research provides valuable insights for policymakers, educators, and practitioners. These findings can inform the co-creation of strategies that nurture agroecological systems and transitions, embrace the growing diversity of agroecology approaches, and navigate the complexities inherent in designing learning processes that value multiple ways of being."

Read more:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0959378025000792#ab005

#SolarPunkSunday #Decolonize #Agroecology #Brasil #SouthAmerica #SustainableFoodProduction #SustainableAgriculture #TraditionalEcologicalKnowledge #TEK

Der Bund hat eine Pflicht zur Kolonialismus-Erinnerung

Offener Brief von Organisationen der afrikanischen, asiatischen und Schwarzen Communitys und von Akteur*innen der Kolonialismus-Aufarbeitung zur novellierten Gedenkstättenkonzeption des Bundes

https://decolonize-berlin.de/de/pressemitteilungen/details/der-bund-hat-eine-pflicht-zur-kolonialismus-erinnerung

#histodons #kolonial #Decolonize #gedenkstätten #MemoryStudies @histodons #isd

Alas, starting to wind down this #SolarPunkSunday... TY to @MaQuest , @jblue , @BrambleBearGrrrauwling and everyone who used the hashtag and/or boosted the posts! I'll re-post a few articles from yesterday before returning to the "Doom and Gloom" posts. Please join us next week for the 1 year anniversary of SPS! We hope you'll share your stories, art, helpful hints, and tales of hope and community! #InformationIsPower!

#ABetterWorld is possible!

#SolarPunk #SolarPunkArt #SolarPunkMusings #StabilizedWorld #LtG #BuildingCommunity #Decolonize #DeGrowth #SolarPunkSunday
#HopePunk #DeCapitalize
#RightToRepair #NatureRocks #ClimateChange #RenewablesNow
#GrowYourOwnFood #ClimateAdaptation

So, for the upcoming one year anniversary of #SolarPunkSunday on December 21st, we invite writers, artists and makers to share their works! I'll be focusing on #SolarPunk and #Resiliency around the world, as we are all in this TOGETHER! #AnotherWorldIsPossible!

#SolarPunk #SolarPunkArt #SolarPunkMusings #ABetterWorld #StabilizedWorld #LtG #BuildingCommunity #Decolonize #DeGrowth #SolarPunkSunday
#HopePunk #DeCapitalize
#RightToRepair #NatureRocks #ClimateChange #RenewablesNow
#GrowYourOwnFood #ClimateAdaptation

The Benin Bronzes are home, but true decolonization hasn't begun yet. I still see it when Western museums are surprised the Oba doesn't follow their plan, when they document infrastructure 'deficiencies' as if they have a right to judge.

Respect also means accepting choices that don't align with our standards.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/09/arts/design/benin-bronzes-returned-nigeria.html?unlocked_article_code=1.8E8.DK1l.LU4LOGTzMxsy&smid=url-share

#Decolonize #AfricanHeritage #MuseumReform #WesternPaternalism #RealDecolonization