Glory of the Morning: Betrayal of GOM

Glory of the Morning: Betrayal of GOM: Today was a particularly difficult day.  The feeling of being alone is palpable.  I worked so hard to have an Indian Education Program her...

Betrayal of GOM

Today was a particularly difficult day.  The feeling of being alone is palpable.  I worked so hard to have an Indian Education Program here in Rochester.  I tussled with the superintendent, I was lied to by the district for 9 years, listened to them tell me that we had to have more Indian kids and then 20 parents, such humiliation.  Yet, nothing compares to today.  With my help, the Rochester Public Schools received 45K in Dayton monies and there will be more to follow once we get title  VII monies.  Once the district hired an Indian Student Liaison, Guthrie C., and that was it.  The bylaws I wrote were ignored, we couldn't hold elections, and I ended up signing an agreement that stated I approved of all that the district was doing.  After today, I feel duped.

I think I now know how my ancestors felt by signing a treaty, not fully realizing what lie ahead.  I have been betrayed.  

How?  The Indian Student Liaison failed to invite my family to the first celebration of our Indian kids in Rochester.  He invited all of the other families, except mine.  There was a news story in the paper with Betty and Shirley's picture in the paper, along with Guthrie, celebrating the student event that I had longed to see.  Their pictures were there as if they  had done all of the work to get the program started.  As if they made all of the sacrifices, took all of the heat, was yelled at by the super, lied to by the assist super and numerous other admins., contacted the state legislators and got the money for our kids.  Such betrayal.

I think I have a small inkling of how GOM felt when up to 1/2 the tribe left for the Lake Pepin area, because the General Council made her their peace Chief.  That must have been hard to live through.  It must have been lonely and scary to watch her tribe fight.  Today, even the clans that supported her have stopped talking about her.  It is as if they are ashamed of her.  They hide her legacy even though she is the most sought out woman at the Wisconsin Historical Society.  

I will try to take heart that she was bold enough to step up and assume the position she was asked to take.