Photo of Brian Cladoosby, chairman of the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community and president of the National Congress of American Indians
Tim Johnson:
“Harriette gives a loving portrait of the grandmothers who have played a determinative role in the survival of the people.”
thank you for this post. I had a retreat on Samish Island late last year and was disturbed by the casual white privilege among my fellow retreatants. I wrote to the community and asked about any contact they might have with the Samish and was told that they don't. I need to follow up. For us all to wake up, we must look deeply at the damage we have done, ancestrally and now, to those who were here first. Painful to look at and necessary.
ReplyDeleteSorry to preach. I believe you understand.
XXXX Beth
Yes. The United States has a grim shadow that is coming to light for healing, not without pain. From an early age, I met people who grew up on reservations, beginning with a man I met in college in 1967 who dropped out in his freshman year, broken and anguished, in a way that I did not understand at the time. Soon after that I met a man and a woman who were among those who occupied Alcatraz. In the years I have lived in Bellingham, I have become friends with two Lummi women who live on Lummi lands and am learning all I can about Coast Salish people. Thank you for speaking out.
ReplyDelete