Tag Archives: Lakota

Honoring Ancestors

  My heritage—in addition to being a North American native–is English, French, Osage and Lakota. Turns out, I know more about my Indian ancestors than my English or French relatives. It’s not because my relatives kept good records: they didn’t. … Continue reading

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My mother: the cop

An enduring memory of my mother was her sheer authority. She literally packed a pistol. As a deputy sheriff for Los Angeles County, she carried a purse that had a built-in holster for her gun. One day, she clearly and … Continue reading

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Is there a doctor in the house?

National Native American History Month: Less than one percent First daughter broke through a chunk of the glass ceiling in November—a tribute to her passion and persistence—and an important event tucked in the shadow of National Native American History month. … Continue reading

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Indian People’s Time

Visiting the reservation reminds me that I’m a poster child for the folks who tried to integrate Indians into the mainstream version of settler life—what Robert Warrior calls a Judeo-Christian viewpoint fueled by material capital. When I return to the … Continue reading

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Forget science: return the bones

Science, Blood & Bones One of my many Lakota uncles, John, casually referred to himself as mixed-blood. John grew up around Pine Ridge and Mission, South Dakota, and went to school with the Deloria clan. “I gave Vine a bloody … Continue reading

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Part I: Packing values into value

Our local grocery store has launched a strategy to link values with value. Usually when you hear a store talk about value the idea is that you get your dollar’s worth. In this case, the grocery store is an upscale … Continue reading

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Learning from Ferguson, Part II

Structural issues—poverty, education, advancement opportunities and health disparities—affect communities in significant ways. Some of the larger issues are being tackled right now, in part because of the turmoil in Ferguson, Missouri. Fortunately some reporters, critics, pundits and politicians are paying … Continue reading

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Embracing the Crow

In summer and fall mornings a flock of crows—a murder of crows—flies over our roof, headed north toward the Columbia River. We reckon they’re flying toward food. They shout at one another and sometimes a sentinel squats in a high … Continue reading

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Growing tobacco, staying connected

I cannot tell you why I decided to grow tobacco. I cannot tell you because I don’t understand myself. Early spring a photo of a white trumpet flower caught my eye while rifling through seed packets at the garden shop.

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