DrWhiteBuffalo’s Profile

I grew up on the Lower Brule Sioux Indian Reservation in South Dakota, went to college to become a special education teacher (for learning disabilites, blind/deaf, developmentally delayed, and students with emotional issues=my major emphasis :), returned to the rez and taught 15 years, obtained my masters/doc in special education, and headed north to Alaska. I've taught here for going on 16 years and absolutely love it. The Natives here have also seen there lands taken by big "bad" oil and big "bad" gold mine companies and it breaks my heart. I continue to be an advocate for those that have trouble finding "their" voice. I encourage my students to "write" the words that are imprinted in their hearts. One of my favorite poets is Langston Hughes, and I quote "Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, Life is a broken-winged bird that cannot fly." I am also fighting for the rights of the so called "mentally ill" that have been wrongly diagnosed by our current medical system. I support the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill as a means to get the message out that if you truly are "Mentally Ill", you too have the right to be treated with dignity and respect. Sometimes people are classified "mentally ill" and they really may have an underlying medical condition that could be treated by listening to the soul.