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Wife, Sister, Mom, Friend, and Leader
A Message From Husband Ali El-Issa
To the Journey of the Sacred Hoop, 2002
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| Ingrid's
family |
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What
you are doing is a big honor for us. It's not only an honor
for Ingrid but it's a big honor for all of us--Ingrid's family,
her friends and all the communities she worked for. Since
Ingrid's death we've seen more and more people become involved
in the struggle for a better life for Indigenous people. This
includes the youth, men, woman and Elders. We are happy when
we see people keeping the real faith of indigenous people
through spirituality and culture. To see more people become
involved and go back to their roots in their culture, language,
and healing makes us feel really happy and more optimistic
about the future.
Last
week, as we were attending the Permanent Forum of Indigenous
People at the United Nations in New York, I found out there
were six people there who named their children after Ingrid.
Your
work with healing from drugs and alcohol in Indian Country
was one of Ingrid's concerns. I can remember that she would
talk to many, many people on the telephone and I would see
her crying because she was talking to a friend in an Indian
community about something that happened where alcohol was
involved, like drunken driving, youth pregnancies, and many
other tragedies.
We
support your work with the 100 Eagle Feather Hoop. I know
what Eagles mean to Indigenous people. It's a big honor to
see people remember my wife and try to do something for my
wife. Doing something for my wife means you will not forget
Ingrid's people, the communities and reservations in this
country. What you are doing makes us all really stronger.
Thank
you for what you doing for your sister Ingrid, who gave her
life for the justice and sovereignty of the Indigenous peoples.
Thank you for your honoring and the remembrance of Ingrid
as an Indigenous Sister, Mom, Friend and Leader. Thank you
one more time.
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