My name is Susan Clarahan; I was raised by a river in the Rocky Mountains of Treaty 7 Territory. Clarahan is an Irish name, my maternal side is Hungarian. Most of what I know comes from a mountain valley in Canmore, Alberta, the homeland of the Stoney Nakoda, Blackfoot, Tsuut’ina, and Kootenai Nations. My favourite storytellers/artists from that part of the world are: Peter Morin (Tahltan/French Canadian), Beric Manywounds (Tsuut'ina/Dene, Saulteaux Anishnaabe, Stoney-Nakoda), Veronica Rose Waechter Danes (Gitx̱san/euro-canandian), Richelle Bear Hat (Blackfoot/Cree), Seth Cardinal Dodginhorse (guts’ists’i), and Traves Rider (Rocky Mountain Stoney). I am thankful for the cultural stories that have been shared with me and the protocols of appreciation, respect, and sharing, as well as most certainly, a reciprocal relationship with the natural world. I approach this work as offering, with a reverence for everything that has come before, and to consider the effects downstream — I know I am a small stream in the big river of ideas and stories.
Thank you to my friends and teachers who have helped my research and practice more than I ever could have dreamt, and the oaks and redtail hawks who showed me the way.
You can find me online @clarahan or email me susan.clarahan @ gmail .com