As David received his Under Graduate degree, his Father atypically teared up and hugged him tightly. Surprised, David asked “what’s really happening here dad?”. Father replying “I’m very proud of you! YOU did it, all on your own, with NO governmental assist!” David perplexed “what do you mean by that?”. Dad atypically meek admits “… because you could have qualified with a Native American grant. David, we are Cherokee by descent … not Hispanic.”
Well, you can imagine the range of emotions. Confusion, frustration, anger, disappointment (that Dad didn’t raise me to be who we ARE). This was a defining moment, provoking research and introspection, as to who my ancestors really are/were. Many affirmations from childhood would result, and the healing came suddenly and incrementally over the next 15 years.
June 5 2022 – I found this recent article, which shows the ignorance, biases and corruption of funding around Native support programs. Guess I didn’t miss out on much.
The counter-culture shock, had I known and suddenly attended a Native school program, would have been overwhelming and heart breaking – realizing what actually happened to my people and how “far gone I was”.
Attending the normal schools of assimilation, with a Native endorsement, would have only heightened my confusion and pain since childhood “knowing” of who I really am.
https://nativenewsonline.net/education/higher-education-enrollment-down
Recent Comments