Tatonka

From Lillooet, where I met this lovely lady, “Roxanne” and Tatonka the cat. The cat has a home. Roxy is one of the many I have interviewed who does not. Roxy told me that the red handprints on the mural she is sitting in front of- (Red handprints are in many places we have traveled in Canada). Each little red handprint represent a missing child. Mostly First Nation (Indigenous) children. Mostly girls.

I won't show the picture of the other girl sitting behind me in this pic (as requested). Both women and a quiet man named Peter told me stories. All three asked me to tell stories beyond the classroom. Stuff we don't learn about in school. "Say her name." is a slogan I am becoming sadly familiar with.

I.School is learning beyond the classroom.

Taking time and listening to stories from all sorts of folks can be exciting. Exciting, funny and Heartbreaking.

“You get all the best stories when you talk to us homeless.” And I listened to their stories for an hour that morning. I learned a lot and feel as helpless as the homeless.

“Tell our stories. There is one side, the other side and then there is the truth.” Rhonda

On to Kamloops.