Mommy Dearest

I had an intense expereince a couple weekends ago. I was talking with a woman at a seminar about "Ending Acts of Sexualized Violence." Then, the subject came to people of color, specifically Native Americans.

I shared my mother's experience as a child in the Catholic boarding school system. My mother, who is a full-blood Blackfoot and English was not her first language, was snatched from her family along with her brother. Their hair was cut off and were forced to learn English and were to be "assimilated." This began grueling years for my mother along with her peers. They would be beaten if they spoke their native language or practiced anything from their culture.

My mom told me a story of how two girls (don't recall if they were related or not) ran away from the school, which is called "Crowfoot." They ran away in the middle of a blizzard and ended up freezing to death by a road. There are those who suffered initially but there are also those who suffer to this day. For my mother, this was decades ago and she still carries the stories with her.

I am imensely proud of my mother. She survived and she is one happy person right now, even with something so dark in her past. I always say, if I am just a fraction as strong as she is, I would be happy. My mom raised the four of us kids as best she could and the results are amazing to me. It's all because of her.

When I told my mother's story, I didn't even say "I am Native American" or anything stating my own heritage. Even now, I don't believe it's my place. I don't know why I do this and continue to do this. Anyone care to help me out?