Six-year-old Dani looks inquisitively into the eyes of her mother, searching for reassurance. It is not the first time Dani has asked her mother, Michelle Alexis, whether they may be harmed because of the colour of their skin. In fact, it is almost a regular occurrence. And lately, the threats are feeling more ominous, Michelle says.

A single parent of two daughters, Dani and 10-year-old Teyla, Michelle survived a difficult childhood – one filled with abuse and dysfunction and spent in and out of the foster care system.

The family are First Nations, members of the Alexis Nakota Sioux Tribe in Alberta, Canada. Read more by clicking here: Aljazeera