picture a young poor native girl sing she’s a single parent of an 8 year old
she’s a single parent of an 8 year old
she’s a single parent of an 8 year old boy living on the streets of Bismarck
boy living on the streets of Bismarck
boy living on the streets of Bismarck soon she becomes addicted to alcohol
soon she becomes addicted to alcohol
soon she becomes addicted to alcohol finally she finds herself behind the
finally she finds herself behind the
finally she finds herself behind the bars of the State Penitentiary hello my
bars of the State Penitentiary hello my
bars of the State Penitentiary hello my name is Lorraine Davis I am the founder
name is Lorraine Davis I am the founder
name is Lorraine Davis I am the founder of the Native American Development
of the Native American Development
of the Native American Development Center I am enrolled member of the
Center I am enrolled member of the
Center I am enrolled member of the sisseton-wahpeton Dakota Sioux tribe
sisseton-wahpeton Dakota Sioux tribe
sisseton-wahpeton Dakota Sioux tribe I’ve been married for 13 years with 4
I’ve been married for 13 years with 4
I’ve been married for 13 years with 4 children today I am pursuing a doctorate
children today I am pursuing a doctorate
children today I am pursuing a doctorate degree in educational leadership to help
degree in educational leadership to help
degree in educational leadership to help Native Americans rebuild their lives and
Native Americans rebuild their lives and
Native Americans rebuild their lives and families this young woman I described
families this young woman I described
families this young woman I described was me 14 years ago this presentation is
was me 14 years ago this presentation is
was me 14 years ago this presentation is the initiation of what I hope to be an
the initiation of what I hope to be an
the initiation of what I hope to be an open and honest dialogue to deter the
open and honest dialogue to deter the
open and honest dialogue to deter the stereotypes about Native Americans I
stereotypes about Native Americans I
stereotypes about Native Americans I hope to formulate understanding about
hope to formulate understanding about
hope to formulate understanding about Native Americans by sharing my journey
Native Americans by sharing my journey
Native Americans by sharing my journey with you all today I’d like to begin by
with you all today I’d like to begin by
with you all today I’d like to begin by saying that my story is not unique for
saying that my story is not unique for
saying that my story is not unique for Native Americans and do not represent
Native Americans and do not represent
Native Americans and do not represent all Native Americans today however
all Native Americans today however
all Native Americans today however throughout history Native Americans have
throughout history Native Americans have
throughout history Native Americans have struggled with many of these same issues
struggled with many of these same issues
struggled with many of these same issues according to research from Indian
according to research from Indian
according to research from Indian country today there are higher rates of
country today there are higher rates of
country today there are higher rates of addiction suicide mental health illness
addiction suicide mental health illness
addiction suicide mental health illness sexual violence and other ills among
sexual violence and other ills among
sexual violence and other ills among Native people at least in part
Native people at least in part
Native people at least in part influenced by historical trauma stating
influenced by historical trauma stating
influenced by historical trauma stating that many present-day health disparities
that many present-day health disparities
that many present-day health disparities can be traced back through epigenetics
can be traced back through epigenetics
can be traced back through epigenetics to a colonial health deficit the result
to a colonial health deficit the result
to a colonial health deficit the result of colonization and it’s aftermath
of colonization and it’s aftermath
of colonization and it’s aftermath according to another researcher in this
according to another researcher in this
according to another researcher in this report epigenetics is beginning to
report epigenetics is beginning to
report epigenetics is beginning to uncover scientific proof that the
uncover scientific proof that the
uncover scientific proof that the intergenerational trauma is real
intergenerational trauma is real
intergenerational trauma is real historical trauma therefore can be seen
historical trauma therefore can be seen
historical trauma therefore can be seen as a contributing cause in the
as a contributing cause in the
as a contributing cause in the development of illnesses such as PTSD
development of illnesses such as PTSD
development of illnesses such as PTSD depression and type 2 diabetes commonly
depression and type 2 diabetes commonly
depression and type 2 diabetes commonly impacting Native Americans
impacting Native Americans
impacting Native Americans epidemic rates Native Americans are
epidemic rates Native Americans are
epidemic rates Native Americans are historically nomadic people for reasons
historically nomadic people for reasons
historically nomadic people for reasons that stem from survival today we are
that stem from survival today we are
that stem from survival today we are nomadic for the same reasons we are
nomadic for the same reasons we are
nomadic for the same reasons we are trying to survive in a society that is
trying to survive in a society that is
trying to survive in a society that is based on economics in urban areas rather
based on economics in urban areas rather
based on economics in urban areas rather than based on family on the reservation
than based on family on the reservation
than based on family on the reservation we want access to community resources
we want access to community resources
we want access to community resources and services higher education housing
and services higher education housing
and services higher education housing and jobs within a thriving economy
and jobs within a thriving economy
and jobs within a thriving economy however it is difficult to get a job and
however it is difficult to get a job and
however it is difficult to get a job and access affordable housing within the
access affordable housing within the
access affordable housing within the urban areas slowly bounce back and forth
urban areas slowly bounce back and forth
urban areas slowly bounce back and forth for some of us we have to move off the
for some of us we have to move off the
for some of us we have to move off the reservation because the environment is
reservation because the environment is
reservation because the environment is toxic for us on the reservation we may
toxic for us on the reservation we may
toxic for us on the reservation we may have bands to calmed with alcohol and
have bands to calmed with alcohol and
have bands to calmed with alcohol and drug addiction for many of us it is
drug addiction for many of us it is
drug addiction for many of us it is difficult to make the economic
difficult to make the economic
difficult to make the economic transition from the reservation to the
transition from the reservation to the
transition from the reservation to the urban area because we lack consumer
urban area because we lack consumer
urban area because we lack consumer education most times we don’t have a
education most times we don’t have a
education most times we don’t have a high enough credit score or no credit
high enough credit score or no credit
high enough credit score or no credit score or we are we are restricted
score or we are we are restricted
score or we are we are restricted because of a criminal history a past
because of a criminal history a past
because of a criminal history a past mistake in my case it’s all that and the
mistake in my case it’s all that and the
mistake in my case it’s all that and the result of addiction it led to my
result of addiction it led to my
result of addiction it led to my incarceration homelessness and even the
incarceration homelessness and even the
incarceration homelessness and even the loss of my custody of my son when I was
loss of my custody of my son when I was
loss of my custody of my son when I was 28 years old I found myself in the State
28 years old I found myself in the State
28 years old I found myself in the State Penitentiary running around the track
Penitentiary running around the track
Penitentiary running around the track during recreation trying to understand
during recreation trying to understand
during recreation trying to understand who I was at that point in my life I
realized I was having an identity crisis
realized I was having an identity crisis I found myself asking Who am I what have
I found myself asking Who am I what have
I found myself asking Who am I what have I become this is how I was raised I was
I become this is how I was raised I was
I become this is how I was raised I was ashamed I felt guilty and going to
ashamed I felt guilty and going to
ashamed I felt guilty and going to prison was my breaking point but it was
prison was my breaking point but it was
prison was my breaking point but it was also a blessing in disguise I seen God
also a blessing in disguise I seen God
also a blessing in disguise I seen God just put me in there to let me see that
just put me in there to let me see that
just put me in there to let me see that that is where my life was going it was a
that is where my life was going it was a
that is where my life was going it was a blessing
blessing
blessing because I didn’t have a felony see I
because I didn’t have a felony see I
because I didn’t have a felony see I asked to go and I asked the judge to
asked to go and I asked the judge to
asked to go and I asked the judge to send me to treatment to get help
send me to treatment to get help
send me to treatment to get help and he sent me to prison without
and he sent me to prison without
and he sent me to prison without realizing I don’t think that when you’re
realizing I don’t think that when you’re
realizing I don’t think that when you’re sentenced for 90 days not a felony that
sentenced for 90 days not a felony that
sentenced for 90 days not a felony that you actually don’t even get to see
you actually don’t even get to see
you actually don’t even get to see treatment see so I sat in prison and
treatment see so I sat in prison and
treatment see so I sat in prison and what I did in that time because I wanted
what I did in that time because I wanted
what I did in that time because I wanted help I told him I wanted help but I sat
help I told him I wanted help but I sat
help I told him I wanted help but I sat in prison and I made the best out of it
in prison and I made the best out of it
in prison and I made the best out of it and I evaluated myself I humbled myself
and I evaluated myself I humbled myself
and I evaluated myself I humbled myself I took ownership of where I was so I use
I took ownership of where I was so I use
I took ownership of where I was so I use this experience to help others I made a
this experience to help others I made a
this experience to help others I made a conscious decision to admit that I
conscious decision to admit that I
conscious decision to admit that I cannot run my life on my own and that I
cannot run my life on my own and that I
cannot run my life on my own and that I needed God just days before my release
needed God just days before my release
needed God just days before my release during that time period I was running
during that time period I was running
during that time period I was running around the track
around the track
around the track I experienced a revelation in Jamestown
I experienced a revelation in Jamestown
I experienced a revelation in Jamestown Correctional Center when they had women
Correctional Center when they had women
Correctional Center when they had women there they had us out on recreation and
there they had us out on recreation and
there they had us out on recreation and I could see the interstate there was a
I could see the interstate there was a
I could see the interstate there was a hot summer day out and during the summer
hot summer day out and during the summer
hot summer day out and during the summer time in my youth years I used to dance I
time in my youth years I used to dance I
time in my youth years I used to dance I used to fancy dance
used to fancy dance
used to fancy dance and there’s a pride in that for us when
and there’s a pride in that for us when
and there’s a pride in that for us when we dance that’s our heart when you hear
we dance that’s our heart when you hear
we dance that’s our heart when you hear the drum beating it’s it’s the heart of
the drum beating it’s it’s the heart of
the drum beating it’s it’s the heart of our it’s a heartbeat and there’s pride
our it’s a heartbeat and there’s pride
our it’s a heartbeat and there’s pride in there and it’s spiritual for us and I
in there and it’s spiritual for us and I
in there and it’s spiritual for us and I never lost that I had desired that and I
never lost that I had desired that and I
never lost that I had desired that and I had desire to go back to that someday
had desire to go back to that someday
had desire to go back to that someday and see so when we walked the streets
and see so when we walked the streets
and see so when we walked the streets when we’re homeless when we’re getting
when we’re homeless when we’re getting
when we’re homeless when we’re getting rejected because we don’t have anything
rejected because we don’t have anything
rejected because we don’t have anything to offer but we just need that little
to offer but we just need that little
to offer but we just need that little bit of hope we just need that little bit
bit of hope we just need that little bit
bit of hope we just need that little bit of encouragement we need that little bit
of encouragement we need that little bit
of encouragement we need that little bit of assistance to get to the next step
of assistance to get to the next step
of assistance to get to the next step where prosperity and opportunity can
where prosperity and opportunity can
where prosperity and opportunity can actually come we can’t judge the person
actually come we can’t judge the person
actually come we can’t judge the person by looking afar and looking at them
by looking afar and looking at them
by looking afar and looking at them because you don’t know what’s inside
because you don’t know what’s inside
because you don’t know what’s inside that soul although I wholeheartedly had
that soul although I wholeheartedly had
that soul although I wholeheartedly had a desire and intention of succeeding pom
a desire and intention of succeeding pom
a desire and intention of succeeding pom I release when I got out of prison I had
I release when I got out of prison I had
I release when I got out of prison I had nowhere to go
nowhere to go
nowhere to go but during that revelation what I had I
but during that revelation what I had I
but during that revelation what I had I was looking on and I was looking and I
was looking on and I was looking and I
was looking on and I was looking and I was seeing cars going back and forth and
was seeing cars going back and forth and
was seeing cars going back and forth and I can still see it vividly and during
I can still see it vividly and during
I can still see it vividly and during that time I was saying I should be going
that time I was saying I should be going
that time I was saying I should be going to a powwow right now I should be going
to a powwow right now I should be going
to a powwow right now I should be going with my son and it was just me and my
with my son and it was just me and my
with my son and it was just me and my son at that time and I had already went
son at that time and I had already went
son at that time and I had already went through tremendous addiction trauma and
through tremendous addiction trauma and
through tremendous addiction trauma and homelessness already at the age 25 I had
homelessness already at the age 25 I had
homelessness already at the age 25 I had done that so going back at 28 again when
done that so going back at 28 again when
done that so going back at 28 again when I thought I was going to college and
I thought I was going to college and
I thought I was going to college and going forward this was a failure so I
going forward this was a failure so I
going forward this was a failure so I was reassessed my life again and I
was reassessed my life again and I
was reassessed my life again and I promised I wouldn’t go backwards and so
promised I wouldn’t go backwards and so
promised I wouldn’t go backwards and so I’m looking at that and I’m saying
I’m looking at that and I’m saying
I’m looking at that and I’m saying that’s I’m failing my son not only
that’s I’m failing my son not only
that’s I’m failing my son not only myself my son my family and so that was
myself my son my family and so that was
myself my son my family and so that was revelation and that was my identity see
revelation and that was my identity see
revelation and that was my identity see when we go to prison we lose our
when we go to prison we lose our
when we go to prison we lose our identity we feel remorseful and we start
identity we feel remorseful and we start
identity we feel remorseful and we start assessing who we are and that’s we start
assessing who we are and that’s we start
assessing who we are and that’s we start taking that new identity as our self and
taking that new identity as our self and
taking that new identity as our self and it shouldn’t be somebody needs to be
it shouldn’t be somebody needs to be
it shouldn’t be somebody needs to be speaking to them that that’s not them
speaking to them that that’s not them
speaking to them that that’s not them but society doesn’t allow us to do that
but society doesn’t allow us to do that
but society doesn’t allow us to do that Society keeps that brand on them for the
Society keeps that brand on them for the
Society keeps that brand on them for the rest of their life there’s something
rest of their life there’s something
rest of their life there’s something wrong with that because it’s biblical in
wrong with that because it’s biblical in
wrong with that because it’s biblical in the Bible it says that you are forgiven
the Bible it says that you are forgiven
the Bible it says that you are forgiven but society’s loss doesn’t say so so
but society’s loss doesn’t say so so
but society’s loss doesn’t say so so being that I am I realized a time ago
being that I am I realized a time ago
being that I am I realized a time ago that I am against the grain and I chose
that I am against the grain and I chose
that I am against the grain and I chose to do that because my faith was to
to do that because my faith was to
to do that because my faith was to another level and I kept it all that
another level and I kept it all that
another level and I kept it all that whole time from that day on and as I was
whole time from that day on and as I was
whole time from that day on and as I was running around that track I was
running around that track I was
running around that track I was counteracting those thoughts of of that
counteracting those thoughts of of that
counteracting those thoughts of of that your prisoner now that you’re it’s over
your prisoner now that you’re it’s over
your prisoner now that you’re it’s over it’s it’s different now in a negative
it’s it’s different now in a negative
it’s it’s different now in a negative light and instead I turned it into no
light and instead I turned it into no
light and instead I turned it into no that’s not who I am this is how I was
that’s not who I am this is how I was
that’s not who I am this is how I was raised I had I was taught values I was
raised I had I was taught values I was
raised I had I was taught values I was how to dance I had a goal all the way
how to dance I had a goal all the way
how to dance I had a goal all the way back and try to remember I couldn’t
back and try to remember I couldn’t
back and try to remember I couldn’t remember the goodness of myself and I
remember the goodness of myself and I
remember the goodness of myself and I was back to dancing that’s who I was and
was back to dancing that’s who I was and
was back to dancing that’s who I was and I was good at it I danced and I and I
I was good at it I danced and I and I
I was good at it I danced and I and I was good in school I excelled in school
was good in school I excelled in school
was good in school I excelled in school I was competitive that way so during
I was competitive that way so during
I was competitive that way so during that time and I went and I escalated
that time and I went and I escalated
that time and I went and I escalated with spiritual I was running four miles
with spiritual I was running four miles
with spiritual I was running four miles a day by that point and I didn’t feel
a day by that point and I didn’t feel
a day by that point and I didn’t feel nothing it wasn’t even as if I was it
nothing it wasn’t even as if I was it
nothing it wasn’t even as if I was it feel like I was running it was so
feel like I was running it was so
feel like I was running it was so spiritual and I was up here and I was
spiritual and I was up here and I was
spiritual and I was up here and I was looking and I said I started bit like in
looking and I said I started bit like in
looking and I said I started bit like in conviction I said I’m going to come back
conviction I said I’m going to come back
conviction I said I’m going to come back here and I want to tell them that they
here and I want to tell them that they
here and I want to tell them that they don’t need to live like this I’m going
don’t need to live like this I’m going
don’t need to live like this I’m going to tell them I’m going to be that
to tell them I’m going to be that
to tell them I’m going to be that inspiration I’m going to lead something
inspiration I’m going to lead something
inspiration I’m going to lead something like that but when you re-enter many
like that but when you re-enter many
like that but when you re-enter many times you don’t have family that
times you don’t have family that
times you don’t have family that supportive environment such as myself
supportive environment such as myself
supportive environment such as myself see my mom died when I was 21 my mom
see my mom died when I was 21 my mom
see my mom died when I was 21 my mom left my father-in-law from Los Angeles
left my father-in-law from Los Angeles
left my father-in-law from Los Angeles when I was 8 grandma and grandpa are
when I was 8 grandma and grandpa are
when I was 8 grandma and grandpa are gone my homelands are in on the
gone my homelands are in on the
gone my homelands are in on the reservation so I reinterred back into
reservation so I reinterred back into
reservation so I reinterred back into Bismarck with the clothes on my back
Bismarck with the clothes on my back
Bismarck with the clothes on my back without a home to go to and unresolved
without a home to go to and unresolved
without a home to go to and unresolved addiction problem in a child custody
addiction problem in a child custody
addiction problem in a child custody battle as a native inmate who lost
battle as a native inmate who lost
battle as a native inmate who lost everything I was still faced with the
everything I was still faced with the
everything I was still faced with the choice of either moving back to the
choice of either moving back to the
choice of either moving back to the reservation or back to the urban area
reservation or back to the urban area
reservation or back to the urban area that I came from or any urban area for
that I came from or any urban area for
that I came from or any urban area for that matter I chose not to give up so I
that matter I chose not to give up so I
that matter I chose not to give up so I move back to Bismarck to continue
move back to Bismarck to continue
move back to Bismarck to continue pursuing my education I would not accept
pursuing my education I would not accept
pursuing my education I would not accept failure I knew this was a key to
failure I knew this was a key to
failure I knew this was a key to breaking the cycle of poverty I went
breaking the cycle of poverty I went
breaking the cycle of poverty I went back to United tribes Technical College
back to United tribes Technical College
back to United tribes Technical College as a homeless person during the first
as a homeless person during the first
as a homeless person during the first year met someone fell in love got a home
year met someone fell in love got a home
year met someone fell in love got a home thanks to public housing got a job
thanks to public housing got a job
thanks to public housing got a job thanks to the employment temp agency I
thanks to the employment temp agency I
thanks to the employment temp agency I got my son back I got pregnant by year 2
got my son back I got pregnant by year 2
got my son back I got pregnant by year 2 and I had a family although this sounds
and I had a family although this sounds
and I had a family although this sounds like a happy ending and it is
like a happy ending and it is
like a happy ending and it is it was extremely hard to stay on a path
it was extremely hard to stay on a path
it was extremely hard to stay on a path of education without economic stability
of education without economic stability
of education without economic stability without faith it would be impossible to
without faith it would be impossible to
without faith it would be impossible to be where I am today this was the
be where I am today this was the
be where I am today this was the beginning of a new beginning for me
beginning of a new beginning for me
beginning of a new beginning for me through these hardships I discovered new
through these hardships I discovered new
through these hardships I discovered new purpose for my life I founded the Native
purpose for my life I founded the Native
purpose for my life I founded the Native American Development Center in 2012 and
American Development Center in 2012 and
American Development Center in 2012 and I’m currently pursuing this doctorate
I’m currently pursuing this doctorate
I’m currently pursuing this doctorate degree in education to help our native
degree in education to help our native
degree in education to help our native people rebuild their lives through life
people rebuild their lives through life
people rebuild their lives through life skills development and support services
skills development and support services
skills development and support services we provide support groups for Native
we provide support groups for Native
we provide support groups for Native Americans who are re-entering the
Americans who are re-entering the
Americans who are re-entering the community after being incarcerated the
community after being incarcerated the
community after being incarcerated the stems from my own transition of not
stems from my own transition of not
stems from my own transition of not having a safe environment where I could
having a safe environment where I could
having a safe environment where I could build healthy and sober relationships I
build healthy and sober relationships I
build healthy and sober relationships I hope to be able to often steam and
hope to be able to often steam and
hope to be able to often steam and empower independence through education
empower independence through education
empower independence through education our foundation is cultural identity and
our foundation is cultural identity and
our foundation is cultural identity and spirituality we put God at the forefront
spirituality we put God at the forefront
spirituality we put God at the forefront of our lives leading ourselves and our
of our lives leading ourselves and our
of our lives leading ourselves and our families I hope that after this
families I hope that after this
families I hope that after this presentation you will understand that we
presentation you will understand that we
presentation you will understand that we don’t all start from the same place and
don’t all start from the same place and
don’t all start from the same place and when you see that person walking that’s
when you see that person walking that’s
when you see that person walking that’s homeless or even intoxicated that you
homeless or even intoxicated that you
homeless or even intoxicated that you don’t say he should just get a job
don’t say he should just get a job
don’t say he should just get a job historical trauma is real folks and we
historical trauma is real folks and we
historical trauma is real folks and we don’t start at that same place and that
don’t start at that same place and that
don’t start at that same place and that Native Americans don’t want to be in
Native Americans don’t want to be in
Native Americans don’t want to be in poverty homeless jobless uneducated
poverty homeless jobless uneducated
poverty homeless jobless uneducated addicted incarcerated or parentless we
addicted incarcerated or parentless we
addicted incarcerated or parentless we need generational Hille
need generational Hille
need generational Hille hope and faith and we need truth someone
hope and faith and we need truth someone
hope and faith and we need truth someone to believe in us a society that doesn’t
to believe in us a society that doesn’t
to believe in us a society that doesn’t look down upon us is critical and we
look down upon us is critical and we
look down upon us is critical and we need opportunities Native Americans are
need opportunities Native Americans are
need opportunities Native Americans are resilient people who are making a
resilient people who are making a
resilient people who are making a comeback to become strong healthy
comeback to become strong healthy
comeback to become strong healthy educated and contributing members of
educated and contributing members of
educated and contributing members of society thank you
society thank you
society thank you you
”
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