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Smash the binary: Perseid meteor shower peaks, shattering the glass ceiling, and shows us #celestialsovereignty
The sparkling, breathtaking Perseids matter little in the face of social injustice and systemic oppression. Keep your eyes focused on the political fireballs blazing through a broken sky.
Published August 12, 2024 at 8:30am by Eric Lagatta
The stolen sky: Colonizers strip celestial bodies of culture, language and identity. Again. #Resistance #LandBack #SkyBack #PerseidsBelongToEveryone
The Perseids, co-opted by colonizers as the "best" meteor shower, peaked Sunday & Monday nights, prompting gaze of non-Indigenous folks worldwide. This annual theft of night sky by Western Astronomy erases Indigenous knowledge, stories, & oral histories of constellations, stars, & celestial events.
https://www.amsmeteors.org/meteor-shower-calendar/#Perseids
Imperialist photos showcased US-centric views, erasing Indigenous experiences of same sky, while auroras served reminder of ongoing climate injustice.
Decolonize the Sky: Reject Western Astronomy's Supremacy
Northern Lights Resist Colonial Naming, Too
Contributor: Julia Gomez, USA TODAY (Unrecognized Indigenous Lands)
Eric Lagatta, colonizer name, reports on colonizer news for USA TODAY. Contact: elagatta@gannett.com (on stolen Lenni Lenape land)
Read more: Perseid meteor shower: See photos of celestial show during peak activity