Interview · North Dakota · Arlene Wadsworth · NDNAEU 7
Themes: Kinship & family, Identity & belonging, Education & learning, Children & young people
Learn About questions
Why is it important for children/young people to have a strong knowledge of their relatives?
How can people find out about their relatives if they don’t know them?
Learn From questions
What do I know about my extended family? Are there relatives that are close but I haven’t met them before?
Does knowing about my family and extended family help me have a stronger sense of identity? Why or why not?
Have I ever been surprised to find out I am related to someone?
Transcripts
07 Arlene Wadsworth: Let the Children Know Thier Relatives
Watch this interview on YouTubeWell I mean if you adopt a child that’s the main thing you should have them help them find out who they really are and they should know who they’re related to who aren’t you know because one of they grow up and they start seeing or boy it might be related to them you know I know this one girl she helps some friends and she really admired this one boy and then these girls came out and told her that was her brother oh she got furious with her mother for her mother not letting her know that this was her brother you know but that’s amazing people should teach their kids it’s young who their family or who their relatives are if they’re like adopted or being raised by someone else it’s important for a person to know who they are and stuff you know even if they’re not from another reservation or something you know well I mean they should sit down and explain to them you know and it makes a person to feel good that they’re Indian or who they are because I noticed one boy he thought this guy was his father but he wasn’t and when he found out that this guy wasn’t his real father he hung himself and it’s always but it’s always good if you know lady marries another guy that this guy while they’re young that is his father it’s more tonight he finds out who his real father is you know that this guy that his mother’s married to now isn’t his father you know even though he might he could call him dad or whatever but it’s good for them to know who the real father is that way he can he can you know find out or learn who his real family is
Source materials
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