The Decolonized Jewellery Maker

The Decolonized Jewellery Maker

by Cylon2036 we/us (Pseudopod Certified)

At the Saturday market, located near the table selling “fermented intentions”, stood Fern Willow-Moon (formerly Christine, but only on government forms). Fern was a Denman Island crafter, which in her case meant a person who crafted indigenous “inspired” beadwork, while holding an unwavering belief that good vibes could neutralize history.

Fern’s table was draped in beige linen, the official colour of moral purity. On it lay her beadwork jewellery. Each item came with a handwritten card explaining that it was non-colonial. “This isn’t appropriation”, Fern explained to anyone who walked within twelve feet of her table. “It’s appreciation. I’ve removed all the harmful colonial elements.”

Fern had taken great care to decolonize her process. She sourced her beads from a craft shop that acknowledged it was on stolen land, and before beginning each piece she asked the ancestors to consent retroactively. “I don’t copy Indigenous designs,” Fern insisted. “I channel them. The patterns came to me in a meditation about unlearning whiteness.”

When asked which nation the designs came from, she smiled gently, “I don’t believe in nations” she said, “especially historical ones.” Fern’s Etsy page featured a lengthy land acknowledgement before reaching the “Add to Cart” button. Buyers were encouraged to reflect on colonial violence, and a small portion of proceeds went toward “raising awareness.”

At the end of the market day, Fern packed up her unsold items and her sense of righteousness, satisfied that she had contributed meaningfully to reconciliation by redefining it as a lifestyle aesthetic. She drove home in her hybrid SUV, listening to a playlist called Decolonize & Chill, confident that history could be rewound and monetized. 

After all, nothing says non-colonial like selling something sacred, and insisting that you mean well.