I am a dedicated individual willing to serve if elected.
I am feeling the strategic pull of this election and it’s disheartening. Ally means friendship and working together. The reality is, I didn’t know most of you when I was a struggling mother. Sitka is full of struggling families.
As for working towards a greater good, do you donate money? Share posts, write letters to the Editor, write letters to your Congressman or Senator? After all of that, do you put on your Patagonia jacket and then go live your life?
How many Indigenous people do you know? Out of your Indigenous friends, how many of them are considered leaders? Do you only know the most assimilated Indigenous? Do you only know the leaders? Are they part of your circle of friends or is that separate?
For all of this talk of needing change for Sitka, it is my observation that there are groups of people that talk of change but after the meetings are over, after the vigils and petitions are done, they go home and live their lives. All the while, they post, donate money and write letters and have friendships with others who do the same. The outcome is never seeing actual change.
I’m tired of being the Indigenous person that you know. In reality, I’ve worked to become socially acceptable within your societal bubble. For the few actual friends that I’ve made along my journey, thank you for being genuine. I wouldn’t be running for office if it hadn’t been for your love and support.
Life is more than who’s in office, or who you’ve helped get into office. I am Indigenous and my life’s work is more than your need to feel good about yourself.
These words are strong but I feel it is my platform to be true to myself. This is why I’m running for the Sitka School Board.
Updated on September 21, 2020, 6:30 p.m.
