Faith, love and support
I was at Maria’s Gas Bar with a friend when I received a call. They told me that my dad was helping my brother pass but was in distress and that my brother needed someone to talk to our dad in our language, to provide support during this difficult time.
A Child’s Mind
I believe I was given a ring for my communion. It was a nice ring, I liked it. One day, when I was wearing it, I showed it to my mom. I told her, “Mom, the ring is hurting me.”
Life in Coney Island
My older brother, Steve, was really my guardian; I was not allowed to go no place, no place, no place, unless he was with me.
The other incident
On our way home in the car, I was daydreaming, it wasn’t even me that was driving. I was just on autopilot.
The story of how we met
I didn’t want to go home early, especially not on a Sunday night. So, he gave me a ride home and then we kind of made it a habit. Whenever I’d see him, I’d say, “Can you give me a ride home?”
Resilience and recovery
Back in May of 2023, I underwent a significant operation on my legs due to a blockage in one of my veins.
Giving thanks
When I was growing up, my parents always made me go to kindergarten and church. My mother was a teacher, and she would take me with her.
Wanting to learn
To discuss in our language what we can do for the community would be wonderful. That's where I see our younger people who have learned the language stepping forward and taking over leadership.
Keeping warm
My grandfather was born during the civil war, 1862 I think. He was born before Wounded Knee. He did a lot of travelling around the country. In those days there was no welfare, they couldn’t get money to eat. So, they had to work.
Train collection
I’ve got sets and sets and sets of trains. I’ve got buildings, I’ve got cars, buses. I bought them in Montreal, Massachusetts, New York City. My wife didn’t understand how much I liked trains, but she didn’t stop me. It’s my hobby.
Passing Knowledge Along
The first time I got introduced to medicine, I was a kid. I used to go pick wildflowers for my mother. I remember picking violets. They were so pretty. I picked a whole bunch of them.
Memories in the Garden
Being outside in the garden all the time, strange things happen that wouldn't ordinarily happen if you’re just sitting in your kitchen.
Go on for miles
We had a few horses, a few cows, some chickens, and pigs. In the fall just before Christmas, they would butcher a pig and a chicken for a big supper.
Where I feel at home
The Pines or Onen’tó:kon, has always been a sacred place and one of refuge for the generations of my grandparents who sought peace in the Pines when the Sulpicians were harassing and brutalizing the people. They wanted us all to leave for Wáhta, but in the end, we have won because we are still here and we’re not going anywhere.
detach with love
I would have a lot of quiet talks with my mother on her back deck by the pool. My birth mother helped me a lot. She told me my father’s name and helped my children and I get status. I remember we went to some office, she spoke Mohawk for about five minutes, and within a month I had my status.
The only thing Indian was the students
My grandparents raised all six of us. I was six months old when my father passed away. I was told that the Indian Agency came into the house here and tried to take my brothers away. My grandparents told them to leave. If they would have succeeded, maybe today I wouldn’t have any nieces or nephews around. Who knows what would’ve happened.
Best driver
Some said I was the best driver, but I never put myself out there saying I’m the best, better than my friends. I firmly believe that the best one is the Creator, not the one who boasts about it.
You’ll never hear me shooting my mouth off, claiming that I’m better than anyone else.
I could drive anything
I quit driving trucks because I was fed up with it. From there, I transitioned to school bus driving. I did that for 17 years. That’s where I took my pension, in 2008. I said to myself, I think it’s about time.