Snapshot… Within just the last thirty days I have had some amazing conversations with some inspiring people.
A month ago I sat with Kurt Luger, Cheyenne River Sioux, during National Indian Gaming Association’s Mid-Year Conference at Mohegan Sun and we talked about violence against women and children in our tribal communities. He said that as a native man he felt that it was his role to protect women and children from harm. We used the issue of disenrollment of descendants due to dwindling blood quantum and how Tribes should consider disenrolling habitual violent offenders. He spoke with such conviction that I will never forget the passion.
While in Washington DC for an NMAI board meeting, I had another remarkable conversation with Jackie Old Coyote, Crow, who is a fellow board member. Jackie came to me with a heavy heart and tears in her eyes as she asked me if I was okay and that she had heard some disturbing information and didn’t know if it was true. She was upset at the thought that someone would hurt me… her friend. I was moved beyond words. It isn’t very often that a person meets someone like Jackie – a strong woman who walks the talk. She has a good soul and I am so lucky she calls me her friend.
Fast forward to my trip to Portland, Oregon for the National Congress of American Indian’s annual conference. I took time to visit with another friend, Robert Shepherd, Chairman of Sisseton, and one of our country’s young tribal leaders. We took the time to talk about leadership and its challenges because we have to sacrifice our own personal aspirations at times so that we can serve our people. Marriages, friendships and family time suffer so that we can work for our people.
I consider myself lucky to know such amazing people and to know that we’re all out there on the frontlines defending and protecting tribal sovereignty. Thank you Creator for allowing me to live a blessed life.
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