The Seventh Generation Principle, rooted in the Haudenosaunee Great Law of Peace, implores us to reflect on the consequences of our choices for the coming seven generations.  Mindful of this principle, Savage Daughters embraces seven core values that we perceive as our medicine.

Medicine

Kujichagulia

Kujichagulia, “self determination” in Swahili, is more than a principle. It’s a birthright.  It is the sacred act of naming ourselves, defining ourselves  and reclaiming the stories stolen or silenced by colonization, patriarchy and white supremacy.

For Black and Indigenous peoples, self-determination is resistance and remembrance.  It is remembering that before we were ever enslaved or displaced, before borders and blood quantum and forced religion, we had names.  We had languages.  We had medicine.  We had purpose.  And we still do.

To walk in Kujichagulia as a Savage Daughter means:

  • Speaking truth even when your voice shakes

  • Choosing identity over assimilation

  • Refusing to be defined by erasure, shame, or statistics

  • Honoring your ancestors by becoming the version of yourself they dreamed into being

  • Self-determination is cultural, spiritual and collective.  It is:

  • A Mvskoke woman reclaiming her language

  • A Black mother teaching her child their roots beyond slavery

  • A Two-Spirit person refusing to be boxed by colonized gender systems

  • A medicine woman choosing earth-based healing over institutional frameworks

    Kujichagulia means: We are not who they said we were.  We are who we say we are.   And we are becoming who we were always meant to be.

This is the work of the Savage Daughters: To walk in our own names, to build beyond survival and to return to our medicine, our story and our power on our own terms.

Yakoke

We  cultivate a culture of thanksgiving, expressing gratitude to our ancestors through the Chahta word "yakoke," meaning "thank you" or "to thank."  This expression goes beyond mere acknowledgment; it signifies a deep, heartfelt gratitude that connects us to our roots and acknowledges the sacrifices and wisdom of those who came before us.

Gratitude to our ancestors is a cornerstone of our vision because it grounds us in humility and respect.  By expressing thanksgiving, we honor the resilience, traditions, and sacrifices of those who paved the way for our existence.  This gratitude becomes a source of strength, a guiding light that shapes our actions and decisions, fostering a sense of belonging and interconnectedness with our lineage.

We understand that the culture of thanksgiving is not just a ritual but a transformative force that shapes the narrative of our collective journey.  Through "Yakoke" and the universal language of gratitude, we weave a tapestry that transcends borders, cultures and generations, a tapestry that acknowledges the interconnectedness of all life and the profound impact of our shared history.

Halito

We extend a culture of welcome, using the Chahta word "Halito" as our greeting.  "Halito" means "hello," but in our vision, it transcends a mere salutation; it embodies a welcoming spirit that recognizes the intrinsic value of each of us.  Creating a safe and welcoming space is crucial, especially for Black and Indigenous communities. It is a sanctuary where everyone is embraced, celebrated and encouraged to express their authentic selves without fear or judgment.

This culture of welcome is not just a gesture; it is a commitment to dismantling barriers and fostering an environment where diversity is not just tolerated but cherished.  In the welcoming space we envision, the richness of everyone’s background, experiences and identity is woven into the fabric of our collective journey.

Igbagbo

Meaning “faith” in Yoruba, igbagbo is not about dogma, it’s about deep remembering.  For our people, faith was never a rigid set of rules handed down by empire.  It was a living relationship with the unseen: with Spirit, with the land, with our ancestors and with the divine breath that moves through all things.

Our ancestors called on God, Creator, Allah, Orisha, Wakȟáŋ Tȟáŋka, Bondye and more not because they were confused but because they understood something sacred: The names are many, but the Source is one.

They knew that faith is not just belief, it’s practice.  It’s the way we light candles. The way we touch the earth before we pray.  The way we keep going when we are tired.  It’s the medicine we make with our hands, the songs we sing in grief, the fire we pass to our children.  To walk in igbabo, as a Savage Daughter, is to say:  I trust what I cannot always see, but what I deeply feel.  I trust the wisdom in my bones, the guidance of my ancestors and the rhythm of something greater that holds us all.

We don’t separate spirit from survival.  We know that liberation is sacred work, that healing is holy, that justice is a form of devotion.  And that our faith, in all its forms, is not weakness, it is our strongest medicine.

Omi

We believe that Water (“Omi” in Yoruba) is a member of our society.  We advocate for the protection and reverence of water, recognizing its role as a life-giving force and a sacred connection to our ancestors.  As water protectors, we commit to advocacy for clean water, opposition to practices that harm water ecosystems and a dedication to the spiritual understanding of water as a life force that binds all living beings.

Through our Yoruba culture, we are children of Yemaya, often associated with the ocean and motherhood.  Yemaya, with her nurturing and protective qualities, symbolizes the interconnectedness of life and the importance of honoring the waters. We draw upon the wisdom of Yemaya in our commitment to water as sacred, recognizing the spiritual and cultural significance of water in sustaining life and fostering harmony.

Rematriation

At the heart of our vision lies a profound commitment to rematriation, a sacred journey of reclaiming and restoring the intimate relationships between Black & Indigenous people and our ancestral lands.  We acknowledge the stolen voices, lands and cultural artifacts and we are united as warriors for justice and healing, striving to return what was taken and rebuild the sacred connections severed by historical injustices.

Embracing rematriation goes beyond the physical return of land; it encompasses the revitalization of cultural practices, languages and the wisdom passed down through generations of Black & Indigenous people.  It is an affirmation of the matriarchal lineage, recognizing the central role of our foremothers in preserving and transmitting ancestral knowledge.  We seek to create spaces where Black & Indigenous Women and Two-Spirit are empowered to lead, our voices amplified and our wisdom honored.

Rematriation, for us, is in direct opposition to patriarchal violence and dynamics that have often overshadowed the profound contributions of Black & Indigenous Women and Two-Spirit.  We strive for a world where our power is celebrated, where the interconnectedness of all life is acknowledged and where the Earth is treated with the reverence it deserves as a sacred entity.

Abolition

Our commitment to justice extends to the principles of abolition. Embracing abolition means dismantling oppressive systems that perpetuate violence, discrimination and inequality.  We envision a world where the chains of systemic injustice are broken, where prisons and structures of punishment are replaced with holistic approaches to healing and restoration.  We are advocates for the abolition of practices that perpetuate harm, acknowledging the urgent need to address systemic racism, colonialism and other forms of oppression.

Our commitment to justice extends to the principles of abolition. Recognizing the historical and ongoing impact of systemic oppression, particularly on Black and Indigenous communities, we are advocates for the abolition of oppressive structures that perpetuate violence, discrimination and inequality.  We envision a world where the chains of systemic injustice are broken, where prisons and structures of punishment are replaced with holistic approaches to healing and restoration, where the inherent dignity and rights of every person is upheld and where all marginalized communities, particularly Black and Indigenous, are liberated from the shackles of systemic injustice.

Mission

Savage Daughters is a sacred space born out of the rich tapestry of Black and Indigenous ancestral traditions, where the wisdom of our foremothers thrives.  We are united in opposition to historical labels of savagery that sought to silence us, forging a path towards a future where we are free to make our own informed wellness choices.

We believe that the key to this freedom lies in decolonization, a profound process of rediscovering and reclaiming the wisdom embedded in our traditions.  With roots firmly planted in the rich soil of the US South, we aim to bloom throughout Turtle Island, nurturing a community that emphasizes the voices and experiences of Black and Indigenous people.

Through a variety of offerings deeply connected to traditional ancestral wisdom, we strive to dismantle the barriers that have sought to confine us, cultivating a world where cultural resilience thrives and the intersections of identities are celebrated, a world where all Black and Indigenous people can flourish free from the constraints of colonial labels and exclusions and most importantly, where the term "savage" is reclaimed as a symbol of strength, wisdom and unapologetic authenticity.