ecovlke's Diaryland Diary ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 2: Way Down Yonder In The Indian Nation Chapter 2: Way Down Yonder In The Indian Nation I came into this world, so I am told, in January of 1963. Unlike my siblings who were born at the IHS (Indian Health Service) hospital, I was born at home. Delivered by my grandmother at our tiny farm in the southwest corner of the Mvskoke Creek Nation in Oklahoma. I do not know the time of day, my weight, length, or any of the usual delivery data that most births are famous for. Every body present at the time of my birth has passed on. My mother died 11 1/2 months after my birth when at the age of 27 she was involved in a fatal automobile wreck with a semi-truck. She left behind seven children of which I was the youngest. During the brief few months that I had with my mother, I do have some foggy memories of my first year. I remember eating off an old wood floor in which there was only a single square of tile. This square was kept very clean for it was used as a plate since there was not a lot of room at my grandparents' tiny dinner table. Off this tile I remember myself and some other children being feed biscuits and grape jelly. I lived with my grandparents, and they spoke little English so I heard nothing but my native language for almost the first year of my life. My mother was a drinker and often she could be found in town at one of the local taverns. My father, who was Osage, was not present so my grandparents took care of me. I was adopted shortly before my mother's death by a non-Indian couple. They were in town for Christmas to visit what was to become my new father's family. Also visiting my soon to be father's family was a local Indian man who was accompanied by a little boy. My soon to be mother could not have children of her own, but had a deep affection for kids. As she played with the little boy, the old man asked her if she liked little Indian boys. She replied that she did, and he told her where she might be able to get one. My mother's name was mentioned, and the man who was to be my new father knew her and her family. The old man told them which bar to find her in. When they found her she agreed to let them have me, and that after they had picked me up, she wanted to be brought back to the bar. My older sisters said they knew that when they saw them, that these white people had came for me, and they tried to hide me from them. The old farm only had two rooms with a door that seperated the rooms. Because they did not want me to go, they tried to hide with me behind this door. This was Christmas Eve of 1963. 7:22 p.m. - 2001-09-06 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
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