Excerpt from Reflective Esssay #1 for Tribal Critical Race Theory.

In thinking about these ideas of decolonization, indigenization, and reclaiming indigenous cultural identity I was happily surprised to read about my father’s freedom of religion case referred to in the reading. I reminisced about my child hood growing up during the decade of this case, Al Smith vs. Oregon (1980’s). It only makes sense for my own critical thinking process to reflect upon the context of how Deloria Jr. was discussing this in regards to the larger viewpoint of the first amendment and Indian Religious Freedom Act. Growing up, I remember listening to my dad talk about this case to students and the public and I also recall when he would get threatening phone call’s from other Native American Church members living in states where they were already protected under the law, pleading with him to drop the case. Being an aboriginal of Oregon, my father as many Natives didn’t have any protection at the time in most states and his participation in ceremony and taking peyote medicine was illegal. I was a little girl and remember going with our family and friends to Washington D.C. and visited the inside of the Supreme Court, I had the choice to stay 3 minutes, or the duration of the trial, I chose to stay for 3 minutes. My other childhood memories are songs, smells, and prayers from teepee meetings, sweat lodges, and sun dances. I am proud that I was able to grow up freely smelling, living and praying this way thanks to my father’s incorrigible warrior’ Ness! This trial shook Indian Country, U.S Freedom of Religion Law, and shaped my life and understanding of what indigenous people must fight for to be free like white people and how complicated it is to be Native and what protection by the U.S. government’s policies really extends to. I learned the trials and tribulations our ancestors diligently and relentlessly fought for so that our S? aaMaks (relations) and I can go to ceremony and sing songs on our sacred homelands. I remind myself in writing this to never take for granted the wisdom and strength of my people, I have grown up as a bridge between two world-views, paradigms and this continues to shape my identity and educational experiences. This case and writings of Vine Deloria Jr. are important influences for the next indigenous generations creative voices that continuously evolve our vibrant, brilliant cultures. We speak in so many different voices, I aim to speak through color, form and paint, and writing like this aids my continued visual expression.