How 'Reclaimed Chippewa' Sprouted and Grew

Hello again!

I wanted to take some time to explain how I got to this place in life, and how 'Reclaimed Chippewa' came to be!

If you didn't know already, my name is Meghan Matte-Truax. I've always lived along the southernmost shores of Ontario. 

I was lucky to be mainly raised by my father, some family, and close friends that became family. As a kid, I had many incredible experiences that I wouldn't change for the world!

Growing up, I knew my mother's side of the family was indigenous, but didn't know the extent or any details- and wasn't exposed to anything culturally. I also didn't get to spend much time with my mother because she struggled/struggles down a bad path... and not to place an exact reason on that, but I'd say part of why she has struggled so much in life, was because her mother was murdered when she was young. The case has gotten lots of media attention, but still remains unsolved. (I should take the time to mention too- not very many indigenous murder or missing cases are even exposed to the media- and many families simply watch their loved ones forgotten and swept under the rug.) I'll attach a few articles below, if you'd like to learn more about my grandmother's case. Her name was Diane Dobson, she was 36 when she died in 1995. She was a member of Saugeen First Nation, but like so many other children, was removed from her family and taken off the reservation very young. She was stripped of her culture, pushed down a very dark path, and I don't believe she ever had time to recover before she was taken... and the 'hurt' has echoed through our generations. 

Once I became a teen, I felt disconnected, angry, unrelatable, and unwanted. I started to feel myself slipping down a bad path too. It felt like my mother's and grandmother's cycles were repeating...and after seeing where those paths lead- I decided to change what I was doing, and go back and try and heal some of the intergenerational traumas we had acquired.

To elaborate slightly; the idea was that if an individual, (my grandmother in this case), is taken from their community, and stripped from their family, their culture/way of life, they then may lack some of the necessary 'tools' they need to raise a successful family... 'Tools' like; healthy coping mechanisms, self love and care, understanding of how to maintain healthy family dynamics, ect... 'cause you can't hand someone the 'tools' you were never given. Then, generation after generation, individuals are struggling, and lacking- until we choose to pick up the 'tools'... 

So I suppose you could say, I chose to pick up those dusty tools that hadnt been properly utilized in over 3 generations, modify them slightly to suit the world we live in now, with intentions of passing them on to my kids one day. 

I stirred the pot in high-school, made teachers uncomfortable, and wrote papers about the topic of 'Intergenerational Trauma and the Effects it has on Indigenous Communities'. 

After spending my year on topics like that, I realized exactly what I needed! It then became my mission to listen, learn, absorb, and read as much as I could to get on a more traditional path, while balancing it with a 'normal' life in society today. My mindset had changed, I finally had guidance, had never felt healthier- and I knew I was making a goood choice. Now, I try to take these healthy teachings and apply them to everything I can.

Over these past years, while continuing to grow, relearn, and raise my children, I started this little business. It is called "Reclaimed Chippewa"- and it is me through and through. 

It is me, as I regain the culture, language, and traditions that were lost along our way. 

It is me, as I do my best to give all the gifts and teachings I aquire over the years, to the next generations.

It is me, finding my healthiest self, to give as many 'tools' as I can to my children, in hopes of them really succeeding in our future world.

In the end, it is what I'm leaving behind- and if I can take the opportunity to say positive things, or teach good things through my work, while showing my kids dreams are achievable- that's something I can be proud of- and that's the goal!

Anyways, thank-you, chii-miigwetch, for reading! ... I just wanted to take the time to explain some more about me, the business I've created, where it was inspired from, and how it came to be... it's not always easy for all of us to feel connection with our culture, especially when it feels like we are young, rebuilding, and reclaiming. But I do appreciate all the guidance my Chippewa/Ojibwe culture has given me, and every minute I get learning about it- cause it truly is beautiful and continues to change my life!- I think that has been Diane's one gift to me. 

Diane's links here;

https://www.cbc.ca/missingandmurdered/mmiw/profiles/diane-florence-dobson

https://windsorstar.com/news/local-news/horrific-murder-windsor-police-offer-20000-reward-in-dobson-cold-case

https://windsorpolice.ca/newsroom/news-update/2025-02-14-update-3

https://www.ctvnews.ca/windsor/article/20000-reward-offered-in-1995-cold-case-murder/

https://www.justicefornativepeople.com/search?q=Diane+dobson&m=1

https://www.cbc.ca/missingandmurdered/