Born and raised in Michigan with deep family roots, Michigan Native Americans and my family history wove together creating my family tapestry. After the Civil War, my great, great, grandpa settled on some land in the southwestern side of the state. At the time, an Ottawa tribe was living on the land he purchased. He hated the way the government treated the native people and was tired from the war. Refusing to make them leave, saying the land was theirs first. He was sure they could teach him a thing or two about living. His wife and the chief's wife became fast friends, relationships developed. My grt, grt gram learned about gardening and healing herbs from the chief's wife. Gramp learned about the land and how to live again. Both practical and spiritual knowledge has passed through the generations.
Great-great Grandma, Agatha Snyder
Local Native Americans influenced my life early on. I spent my summers at Coldwater Lake with Gram. "Indian Dave" lived next door and worked for Central Michigan University. He was also an active member of his Chippewa tribe. He and friends would tour grade schools to present programs on local history. My favorite moments were when he'd visit my uncle and end up teaching my cousins and me a dance or thrilling us with a legend. I would often argue, in the way a ten year old would, with him on which animal was my spirit guide.
Native American's have always held and still hold a special place in my heart. There is a little Blackfoot and Seminole in my family tree. It hurts to hear of the pain the Navajo Nation is currently experiencing during this troubling time.
Spanning portions of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah, the 27,000-square-mile Navajo Nation is home to 180,000 people served by just 13 grocery stores and four hospitals. An estimated 40 percent of reservation households are without running water and/or electricity. Before COVID-19 arrived, Native Americans were already at a distinct disadvantage. According to a recent report by the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, broken treaties with the federal government have “left many reservations without adequate access to clean water, plumbing, electricity, internet, cellular service, roads, public transportation, housing, hospitals, and schools.”
The first case of the coronavirus in the Navajo Nation was reported on March 17. Within days the number was well over 100. By mid-May the rate of infection on the reservation had surpassed that of New York and New Jersey, known as the epicenter of the pandemic. The Navajo people, already saddled with high rates of disease, poverty and unemployment, were ill-equipped to contain a highly infectious virus.
Taken from an article written by David Kidd, Photojournalist and Storyteller, July 16, 2020.
View full article HERE
Some romance authors were inspired to help and when I heard about their project I wanted to help share it. Created with love, authors S.E. Smith, Elle Boon, Trinity Blacio, Jamie K. Schmidt, Stephanie Burke, Wendi Zwaduk, Lia Violet, Kate Richards, L. Loren, and Barb Shuler have teamed up to support The Navajo Nation fundraising efforts in their fight against COVID-19. These ten unique Paranormal and Futuristic Romance stories are filled with diverse characters you can’t help but fall in love with from a Navajo god to futuristic tales of romance The Glittering World Charity Anthology has a story for everyone.
RELEASE DAY IS TOMORROW!OR
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All the proceeds from this anthology will be donated to The Navajo Nation COVID-19 Fund.
Come join the fun, sassy and sometimes heated worlds today and find a new hero or heroine to fall in love while helping a fantastic charity that benefits the Navajo Nation!
