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Hello and thank you for allowing me to join the group. I am a full blood traditional Lakota. I have been a nurse for 38 years and am semi retired. My background is in trauma, er nursing and teaching. I now have my own Native American health consulting business.
HearingLeaves
O'siyo ~My dad, born on the Rosebud. Lakota/North Cheyenne mother, unknown father. Removed as a baby & orphan by the govt. Joined the Army at 15. Tried to go back as a young man, was an "outsider because he left". As his dtr. I went & worked both there & Pineridge as a baby nurse. Have some wonderful friends there, one of whom, a Grandma, walked up to me & said, " You know you came from here don't you?" Made up for some sorrow that my dad experienced as a Native man. "I don't fit anywhere, except right here with my family." Thank goodness for that, he made a good life for us & was a great father.
I'm Cowlitz Indian (southern Washington state) and I've been trying to learn more about my culture and the Native American culture in general. My family was a military one, so we moved around when I was a kid, but I've started going to tribal meetings and talking to my aunt (on our tribal council) about our culture.
I had a huge eye-opening experience when I co-led an immersion trip of undergrad students to a Native American reservation (the Swinomish community) and felt so welcomed by the people there.
I have always felt unsure about my ethnic heritage since I don't look "Indian," but I've met so many wonderful people and I can truthfully say that I have never been told that I wasn't Indian by another Native American, but only from "white" people. Profound much?
I am 1/2Akimel O'odham or Pima, as the Spanish called us. My father is full blood, my mother is of English, Dutch, Irish, and French. I am also pretty mixed up, and proud of it! I identify as Native American as that is how I am seen. My spiritual beliefs are Native. I was raised in the North, an "Urban Indian". As a result, I have a Northern Spirit. It is nice to know that there are alot more native nurses than i originally thought. Yeah for us!