Ask Your Relative

Dear Auntie Jane, will I ever stop feeling lonely?

Date added: 04/25/23

Hi there! Thanks for writing in. Let’s talk about loneliness and some follow up questions you might have Why do I feel like this? Loneliness is a starving for connection. Some people can be alone and not feel lonely while ...Read More

I don’t feel very feminine these days and so I am wondering if it would be disrespectful for a woman to wear a ribbon shirt as opposed to a ribbon skirt? I’m sure other folks might also wonder about the reverse. Would you have to identify as Two-spirit?

Date added: 01/18/23

Hi there, Thanks for writing in! For these types of questions, I want to be transparent in that I may not provide a traditional, straightforward answer, but instead be here as support and validation in you coming to that answer ...Read More

Dear Auntie Manda, I have recently started to seriously try to reconnect with my Choctaw culture. My Great-great Grandpa, was an enrolled member of Choctaw Nation. He was orphaned as a child and enrolled in 1903, signing the Dawes Roll and moving to Oklahoma. For some reason, his children we not enrolled, which meant neither was my Nana or my father. My mom is full white and my dad is mixed, which makes me look very ambiguous to people because of my lighter skin and freckles. I’m afraid of overstepping by reconnecting since I’ve been socialized as a white person. I’ve started learning Choctaw and Tribal history, but I’m afraid to openly claim my heritage as a part of my identity for fear of backlash, not just from people who don’t know me, but from people that do. A few times, I’ve had friends and even family ask me, “Why is this so important to you? Why now?” I can’t put it into words, but I’ve always felt so lost and have had no cultural connection to anything growing up. I don’t want to feel disconnected anymore. Also, another thing that complicates my existence is the fact that I’m transgender. Perhaps, this is another reason why I feel lost. Not only do I want to feel like a whole woman, I want to feel like a whole person. Anyway, do you have any advice?

Date added: 11/17/22

Hi there, Halito relative! Yakoke for writing in - I always get a lil extra excited when I see other Choctaws reach out 🙂 Let's see where I can support you! I definitely want to acknowledge what youv’e written, because ...Read More

What is 988?

Date added: 08/22/22

Hey there! It’s Auntie Manda! I wanted to let you know about a new resource that you can put into your mental health toolbox. It is called 988, which is the national Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (used to be called ...Read More

Hey Auntie, I keep hearing a lot of scary things about fentanyl. What’s the deal?

Date added: 06/7/22

Yes, everyone is talking about fentanyl and for good reason; it’s more common than most think and right now the rates of accidental overdoses is the leading cause of death for 18 to 45 year old’s. Fentanyl is a synthetic ...Read More

I’ve heard there might be actual nature spirits portrayed in Pokémon. Is this true?

Date added: 03/9/22

Hey there! Thanks for the question. I’m not exactly sure what ‘nature spirits’ are in this context but I’m certainly familiar with Pokémon. As Indigenous people, we believe that all things both inanimate and alive hold a lifeforce or energy, ...Read More

I’m an native elder (Pomo) my older grandchildren were given a Indian name and younger ones do not. I no longer know of spiritual person to do that. So would love to give my grandchildren a Indian name is it proper for me to have that privilege.

Date added: 03/7/22

Hello! Thank you for writing in! There are several bands of Pomo Indians that are Federally-recognized Indian Nations, many who have Culture & Heritage departments or tribal programs to provide individual, specific guidance on tribal naming traditions and protocols. Identity ...Read More

Is this like a suicide text thing?

see answer

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