Because when we aren't part of the conversation, when we're not seated at that table, others can pass off lies about us as gospel.
I am learning a great deal by being back in school, but I am also counting down the months til I am done in-class work because I am so damned tired boss.

I work with some amazing academics (both Native and non-Native), so I'm not saying all "experts" are like this. But I think it exemplifies why you need diversity in any field, and why individuals from all communities need to be given the opportunity to study, care for, and represent their own.

If you can so blatantly ignore and even lie about documented atrocities because you are not a safe person (or one worth re-traumatizing oneself for) to divulge lived experiences to then how can anything else you claim in your work be believed?

He spoke of whippings, the beating of hands sometimes til they bled, and being made to kneel on corn/rice as boogey man stories. Yet, even other non-local grad students who've actually taken the time to participate and embrace the community they now live within have heard first person accounts.

@sanders.senate.gov @altnps.bsky.social it's a long shot that y'all see this but if ever there was a flash campaign to push may I humbly suggest this is it.

Yakuke