Generated with AI and edited by Lea Wetzel, Family Peer Supporter
February 13, 2024
In the rich tapestry of Native American traditions, storytelling stands as a sacred gift, a conduit for the transfer of wisdom, healing, and positive energies. Our Blackfoot people have a deep-rooted connection to tradition.
I share my life experiences and provide a compelling narrative as a Blackfoot woman in recovery. My story is not just a personal account; it's a gift from Creator. There is a transformative power of sharing experiences, bridging the metaphysical and physical worlds by preserving true history for future generations. In the intricate dance between the past and the present, my journey unfolds, offering insights into the resilience that storytelling can foster.
Through living out my passions, being open to my Elders's teachings, and reconnecting to my Blackfoot ways, I am on a journey of learning the true empowerment of being a Blackfoot woman. I am on a lifelong journey of reconnecting to who I was meant to be and remembering through these same traditional teachings that true freedom is staying in humility and being someone who wants to be a humble human being.
In our culture teachings and lessons are shared through storytelling. This is how we get our names as well as the root and meaning of our ceremonial ways. We are not only storytellers but a living example of the resilience that can emerge from the depths of adversity.
In my traditions, the act of sharing stories is not merely a recounting of events but a sacred exchange that carries the collective wisdom of a community and nation.
Having spent over two decades entangled in the criminal justice system and battling addiction, my journey is a journey of challenges and triumphs. My narrative serves as a poignant reminder that even in the darkest times, we can stand in our power, be with Creator, hold ourselves with integrity, and that there is a path to recovery and healing. My commitment to sharing my story is a living testament that our culture is prevention and there is healing through recovery and a life of wellness for my people and all Relatives.
My favorite moments are when I actively participate in ceremony, visit with family, learn, and always pass this on to the next generation, with my two beautiful children. During this, we can have a profound connection between the metaphysical and physical worlds by Elders sharing knowledge through storytelling. Ceremony serves as a bridge, allowing us to take in wisdom imparted by Elders, and in return do our best to live out the wisdom through our actions and sharing what we can to help others. Ceremony provides a unique space where tangible aspects of existence converge, fostering a deep understanding of cultural heritage and personal identity.
Within storytelling, Elders and wisdom holders play a pivotal role.
My family and I’s engagement in ceremony ensures the preservation of true history, not as a mere chronicle of events but as a living, breathing narrative that holds the essence of our people. The stories shared in these ceremonies are vessels of positive energy, capable of transforming lives.
When we live out and up to who Creator intended us to be, we actively contribute to a legacy of healing, empowerment, and cultural continuity.
Having been in the criminal justice system and addiction for over 20 years, I realize the absence of culture, self-care, and actionable goals in my life caused me and my loved ones lots of heartache. Having this identity and the gift to share not only about my culture but the power of it through my actions, and own storytelling. My challenges of turning dreams into aspirations speak to the importance of taking deliberate action in the recovery journey. That makes my narrative a powerful call to action, urging others to learn from my experiences and embrace the transformative potential of incorporating culture, self-care, and actionable goals in our lives.
In the symphony of our peoples' storytelling, my narrative emerges as a poignant melody, resonating with the themes of healing, hope, and resilience. Through anyone’s journey from adversity to recovery, which embodies the transformative power of sharing hardships and the profound impact of engaging others.
As a storyteller, we become a keeper of true history, actively participating in the transfer of positive energies that ripple through the spaces we empower.
I hope that my reflection on my past serves as a compelling invitation for others to embark on their journey of recovery, armed with the knowledge of self-care and actionable goals that can transform dreams into lived aspirations.
In the end, the art of my people's storytelling is not just a tradition; it's a living, breathing testament to the enduring strength of the human spirit.