Carol A. Hand
Fieldnotes and boarding schools
Both tools of colonial control
One freezes culture
The other freezes soul
Emotions come to the surface
As I travel through the past
Perhaps sharing these stories
Will unburden me at last
But there are so many more stories
That still need to be told
As my fingers click the keyboard
Past suffering and resilience unfold
My task is just the telling
Sometimes using colonial tools
They form the foundation
Of the things we teach in schools
May we learn to value life
In its many wondrous expressions
May the words I write today touch hearts
And leave lasting impressions
Listening with loving intention
Can help heal broken hearts
Peace and joy are possible
Knowledge and compassion are the place where it starts
Photo: My Mother (After Attending Boarding School) – Lac du Flambeau Ojibwe reservation
***
Voices from the Margins 
Powerful opening lines, Carol. I look forward to reading your memoir. Keep writing through the tears and pain.
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I appreciate your thoughtful comments and encouragement, Rosaliene. Please forgive my delay responding – writing everyday makes it difficult for me to keep up even though comments (and posts) like yours are often what keep me inspired.
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Thanks for this Carol, always real and powerful!
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Thank you for your kind words, Lynz ❤
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Hi Carol I always love to read what you have to say!!
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The feeling is mutual , Lynz 🙂
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🙂
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Very beautiful, Carol.
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It’s such a pleasure to hear from you, Lucile. Thank you for your lovely comments.
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My pleasure, Carol. I should come more often. All the best.
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Excellent!
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Thank you, Tubularsock 🙂
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Brilliant Carol. – No words but Thank you!
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Thank you so much, Hector 🙂
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Yes, Carol, you have named our task. I do hope I can get better at it.
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I appreciate your thoughtful comments, Michael – it is a never ending task. The posts you write on these issues are poignant and powerful – always a pleasure to read.
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As Derick Jensen reminds us in Endgame, the only way Europeans can steal the resources of indigenous societies is to destroy their culture.
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Well-said, Stuart. They’re still at it around the globe…
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A prairie sunset
Ground squirrels call it a day
Dream of tomorrow
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Thank you for sharing such lovely and important thoughts, Ashi.
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