Reclaiming Your Indigenous Spirit: The Journey Back to Ongwehonwe Identity

By Evita Teiohonwake Stacey

I was once asked, “What does it mean to be Ongwehonwe?” My response came not from textbooks or tribal registries, but from the quiet voice inside me that had been whispering all along: It means to remember who you are—even when the world tries to make you forget.

I didn’t always walk this path with confidence. Like many of our people, I grew up surrounded by stories of pain, resilience, and disconnection. I heard whispers of our Haudenosaunee roots but didn’t understand how they lived within me. I thought I had to earn my place in the circle, prove I was “Indigenous enough,” or be fluent in our language to feel worthy of the title.

But what I’ve learned—what I now live—is this: To be Ongwehonwe is to live in relationship. With the Earth. With your ancestors. With your spirit.

And if you feel the pull to return to those relationships, then your journey has already begun.

Listening to the Spirit Within

Many of us begin this path after hearing a quiet, persistent call. A yearning for something deeper. A dream filled with animal guides or unfamiliar ceremonies. A sudden pull to the land, the language, or a drumbeat that stirs something ancient within us.

Indigenous Spirit

It’s not always easy to explain—but it’s powerful.

It’s the voice of your spirit awakening to the truth of who you are.

I remember sitting by the river near my grandmother’s home, feeling overwhelmed by life. I had just left a job that drained my soul, and I was searching for meaning.

I didn’t ask for a vision, but I received one anyway: a hawk circled above me, its shadow touching the water. I felt a wave of peace I hadn’t felt in years. In that moment, I knew—I was being called home.

Reclaiming in a Colonized World

Let’s be honest reclaiming your Indigenous spirit in today’s world can feel like swimming upstream.

Colonization tried to erase our languages, steal our children, and break our sacred relationships. Many of us carry generational wounds: shame, silence, and a sense of spiritual exile.

But I want you to know this: Your spirit remembers. Even if you were raised far from the Longhouse…Even if your family was assimilated…Even if you feel like a stranger to your own bloodline—Your spirit carries the codes of who you are.

You are not starting from nothing. You are picking up threads that were always yours.

Reflection Questions for the Journey

Here are a few questions that helped me walk back to myself. I offer them to you, with love and intention:

1. What stories or whispers from childhood hinted at my Indigenous roots?

2. What moments in nature have made me feel most alive, most at peace?

3. What parts of my life feel disconnected from my spirit—and what would it feel like to realign them?

4. Who are the ancestors I wish I could talk to—and what do I imagine they’d say?

5. What does “healing” mean to me as an Indigenous person today?

   
   

Write your answers down. Speak them aloud. Share them with someone you trust. This is your sacred map.

Simple Ways to Reconnect

You don’t need to wait until you “know more” or “have time” to start walking the path.

Here are five ways I continue to reclaim my Ongwehonwe identity every day:

1. Greet the Day with Gratitude

The Haudenosaunee Thanksgiving Address reminds us to acknowledge all of creation. Every morning, I step outside and speak my thanks—to the sun, the birds, the winds, the water. It reconnects me with the circle of life.

2. Use Your Ancestors’ Words

Even learning one word in your ancestral language is powerful. I began with “Nia:wen” (thank you). I say it with intention, and every time I do, I feel my spirit expand.

3. Create a Sacred Space

Whether it’s a small altar, a windowsill with stones and feathers, or a quiet spot to light sweetgrass—your spirit deserves a place to be nourished.

4. Attend Community Events

Powwows, language classes, online circles—connect with others walking this journey. You don’t have to do it alone.

5. Speak to the Ancestors

Even if you don’t know their names, they know you. I talk to mine when I need courage, clarity, or comfort. Sometimes I just say, “Guide me, Nókmas” (my grandmother).

Stories from the Circle

I’m always inspired by others who are reclaiming their truth. Here are a few words from our growing Ongwehonwe community:

“I was afraid to call myself Indigenous. But when I started to dream of ceremonies, I knew it wasn’t pretend. It was ancestral memory.” — Marissa, Northern Ontario

“We didn’t have much growing up, but my dad taught me to listen to the trees. Now I teach my son to do the same. That’s how healing begins.” — James, Six Nations

“The first time I danced at a powwow, I cried. It felt like my bones remembered the rhythm. Like they had been waiting for me to come home.” — Cheyenne, Akwesasne

You Are the Living Prayer

You are not lost. You are the dream of your ancestors, still unfolding. Every step you take toward healing—every ceremony you light, every song you learn, every word you speak in your native tongue—is a victory.

You are part of the great remembering.

Final Thoughts from My Heart to Yours

The journey back to our Ongwehonwe identity isn’t always easy. But it’s beautiful. It’s about choosing to live with intention, to honor your truth, and to walk with humility and pride.

You don’t need permission. You are the sacred. You are the ceremony. You are the continuation of everything that could not be destroyed.

And as you reclaim your Indigenous spirit, you light the path for the next seven generations.

So walk it with love. Walk it with courage. And walk it knowing you are never alone.

With deep love and solidarity, Evita Teiohonwake Stacey Ongwehonwe Daughter | Storyteller | Healer

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About the Author

Evita Teiohonwake Stacey is a proud member of the Haudenosaunee Nation and the visionary founder of Ongwehonwe Wisdom Indigenous. Through her life’s journey of healing, cultural reclamation, and spiritual awakening, she shares heartfelt teachings rooted in ancestral truth and Indigenous knowledge.

Her work inspires others to reconnect with their authentic spirit, walk the sacred path of their ancestors, and embrace the strength of Ongwehonwe identity. With every story, reflection, and ceremony she offers, Evita carries forward the voices of her people and lights the way for future generations.