The unfortunate reality of existence as an Indigenous American is the likelihood of your living situation being unhealthy, traumatic and full of unnecessary suffering.
This isn't because of an inherent flaw in our People: it's our punishment for existing in a world that desperately wants us to disappear.
"The Outside Circle" a book Written by Patti LaBoucane-Benson, a Metís Native from Canada, is a story about a First Nation Man's journey of overcoming his anger and trauma, ending the cycle of abuse that is all too common in Native American families.
Here's a couple statistics that help explain this idea:
57% of First Nations children are in Low income families. Over half of our children can't even afford basic living.
35% of these families only have one parent. There is no balance in our families because of this
27% of First Nations Mothers are women between the ages of 15 and 24 years old.
Between the poverty, single household and the youth of over a quarter of our mothers, how can we expect First Nations children to be prepared to face the world?
The Protagonist of our Story, a Cree First Nation Man named Pete, is a perfect example of the result of such a traumatic upbringing. Between gang violence, drugs and unstable living, he makes many bad decisions that contribute to his family falling more apart than it was before.
As much responsibility as Pete has in our story, it's made very clear that he is a product of his environment. It's easy to dismiss Native American/Indigenous people as inherently violent, misguided and unintelligent, but the reality is far more straightforward:
Pete is the result of hundreds of years of oppression. Many Native Americans feel just like him. I know I do.
My own journey of overcoming the anger that stems from trauma is one that I go through as I write this, a journey that will last a lifetime.
Every indigenous person on earth is tied to this sad reality, but our future doesn't have to be as grim as our past has been.
Patti LaBoucane-Benson does a beautiful job at expressing this reality in a way that is not only relatable, but In a way that offers tangible, real hope that extends past the pages themselves.
Within every indigenous person is the capacity to grow past the trauma, accepting its place In our reality while refusing to be consumed by it.
By the end of the story, Pete had successfully confronted the inner demons that he unfortunately had no choice of manifesting. He then uses his own power to help encourage other troubled First Nations men, with the help of a program called "In Search of Your Warrior"
"In Search of Your Warrior" is a real program that serves to give First Nation men in Canadian prisons an opportunity to reconnect to their heritage, heal from their trauma and build resilience within themselves.
This great program gives incarcerated Native American men an opportunity that they wouldn't have been able to receive from the outside world, as their being in prison is a direct result of the lack of support given to First Nations communities.
Did you know 68% of children on welfare in Canada are First Nations children?
This truth speaks to the reality the change is NECESSARY.
To heal, we as indigenous people must cultivate our connection to the culture that the white world has taken from us, instill pride in our men, women and children, and overcome the issues that effect us all.
I thank Patti for writing this book, as it's impact on my own journey is difficult to put into words.
To all Native Americans out there; you are worth it. You are valued. Stand tall, and don't be afraid to reconnect to your heritage. Our ancestors will always be with us, and we will always have each other.
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