Letter to the Editor: Language not for him

As some of you are aware, I was taken by CAS child welfare and put into white-run foster care.  At the time, I spoke my language quite fluently.  In the foster home and several homes thereafter, no one spoke my language.  In due time, I did not use my language.  Today, I kinda speak a bit of the language but I sure ain’t fluent.

Even my fellow band members on my reserve tell me I should speak it.  I guess you can say, since I am not that fluent I chose not to use it as I feel people will ridicule me (raised in a shame-based culture) on how I try to speak it.  Today, I ask myself:  “Where has my language helped me — a job, education, everyday use in the towns or cities?”  Personally, I really don’t see how it will help me and I certainly do not plan to live on my reserve anytime soon, if ever.  My home is out here in the real world where I feel the most comfortable, feel supported and safe.  I feel I don’t have any connection to my reserve, with the exception of my two younger siblings and my nieces and nephews.

I hope I don’t offend the people who do speak the language but right now I feel otherwise and I don’t teach my kids the language for the reasons listed above.

I imagine it’s great for the people back home to speak the language; it’s their connection to themselves and the community.

By the way, spirits can hear you in any language and it doesn’t make me any less Native if I do not speak my language.