Mulheres mohawk entre dois mundos: como pertencer ao clube com regras imperiais no século XXI?

Resumo

Dois documentários dirigidos por Tracey Deer, Mohawk girls e Club native, nos esclarecem sobre a complexidade do debate sobre identidade que hoje permeia as comunidades indígenas da América do Norte, sobretudo no que diz respeito às mulheres Mohawk da Reserva Kahnawake. Os diversos níveis de inter-racialidade e pertencimento são analisados e decididos por conselhos nativos compostos de homens e algumas mulheres mais idosas que tomam decisões baseadas em conceitos racistas estabelecidos por homens brancos no período colonial. A travessia entre esses níveis e as dificuldades no trânsito são representadas de forma concreta pela ponte Mercier sobre o rio São Lourenço, que separa a reserva de Montreal, ou a vida de acordo com as regras tribais da vida canadense dos assimilados. Os documentários discutem as estratégias de sobrevivência e a acolhida das identidades de ambos os lados do rio.

Résumé: Deux documentaires de Tracey Deer, Mohawk girls et Club native, nous montrent la complexité du débat autour de la question identitaire qui traverse les communautés autochtones de l’Amérique du Nord, surtout en ce qui concerne les femmes Mohawk de la Réserve Kahnawak. Les divers niveaux d’interracialité et d’appartenance sont analysés et décidés par des conseils natifs composés d’hommes et de quelques femmes plus âgées qui prennent des décisions fondées sur des concepts racistes établis par des hommes blancs pendant la période coloniale. La traversée entre ces niveaux et les difficultés dans le transit sont représentées de forme concrète par le Pont Mercier sur le fleuve Saint-Laurent, qui sépare la réserve de Montréal, ou la vie selon les règles tribales de la vie canadienne des assimilés. Les documentaires mettent en discussion les stratégies de survie et l’accueil des identités des deux rives du fleuve.

Mots-clés: film indigène; identité Mohawk; femmes indigènes; appartenance et interracialité.

Abstract: Two documentary films directed by Tracey Deer, Mohaw girls and Club native, we are enlightened about the complexity permeating indigenous communities in North America these days, especially concerning Mohawk women in the Reservation of Kahnawake. The several levels of interraciality and inclusion in the band are analyzed and determined by native councils composed mostly of native males and a few older women who decided on acceptance based on racist concepts established by white men during the colonial period. The crossing among these levels and the transit difficulties encountered by women are concretely represented in these two films by the Mercier Bridge which separates the reservation from Montreal, or life according to tribal life rules and Canadian life for the assimilated. The documentaries discuss survival strategies and ways of dealing with identity and native rights on both sides of the river.

Keywords: aboriginal cinema; Mohawk identity; aboriginal women; belonging and interrraciality.