b'THINKING: GRANDMOTHERS MOVEMENTTHE WISDOM OF INDIGENOUSBy Rick GarrickGRANDMOTHERSA growing global movement is harnessing the knowledge of Indigenous Grandmothersand Renee Thomas-Hill and Gail Whitlow are a part of itA s Grandmothers of Turtle Island, Elder Renee Thomas-Hill and trad-itional healer Gail Whitlow are calling for a focus on the environ-ment, internationalism and human rights. Indigenous Grandmothers, they say, are playing a crucial part in sharing this knowledge, given their historic role as life givers and life nurturers. Through various information-sharing groups and organiza-tions across the globe, its fair to say that Indigenous Grandmothers are having their moment. Its the birthing of a new world that people have been waiting fora time of remembering and standing up for who we are, says Thomas-Hill, a Six Nations citizen. We are the children of our Mother Earth. She has given us respon-sibilities, and most of all she has given us our duties to carry on and preserve her for the future coming. There is a large awakening for the new birthing, as we call it, the new fire.Thomas-Hill is the co-founder of Grandmothers Voice, an Indigenous, women-led organization whose goal is to unify Indigenous voices and strengthen the lives of Indigenous people through healing, reclaiming Photo (left) by Sarah McPherson taken during a identity and rebuilding relationships.youth and Elder-centred project about climate It does this by restoring and reclaimingaction and land-based artwork on Animikii Wajiw culture, connecting to the land andin Fort William First Nation. Photos right: Renee Thomas-Hill (top) and Gail Whitlow (bottom)learning language. 16Spring/Summer 2023'