The Resilience of the Native American People | Lorraine Davis | TEDxUMary

Lorraine Davis shares her message to enhance Native Americans’ capability to improve life for themselves and their families through cultural preservation and social-economic education and supportive services.

When Lorraine Davis, a Sisseton-Wahpeton Dakota, moved to the Bismarck metro area from the Sisseton-Wahpeton Sioux reservation over 15 years ago, she came as a single parent without a college degree, and with addiction and economic challenges in search of a better life for herself and her son.
Today, as an urban Indian leader, advocate for Native American needs and an educator of cultural competency, she initiated the 2016 Proclamation of First Nations Day for the city of Bismarck, which holds the largest urban Native American population in ND. She is the founder and Executive Director of the Native American Development Center, a 501c3 nonprofit corporation launched in January of 2014 to better serve Native Americans in North Dakota. She wants to enhance Native Americans’ capability to improve life for themselves and their families through cultural preservation and social-economic education and supportive services.

[amp]

You have come a long way on your Lakota journey and you will go much further. Your people are very fortunate to have a woman as wise as you to guide them through their lives!!! You are so right, we don't all start at the SAME place!!!!

[frankkillsright]

It takes strength to own up to it.she is a warrior and yes "going against the grain.many of our people have a misconception of what a warrior really is "keep on keepin' on".

[jacksonmuller]

Made me so emotional, after all the trauma you chose to still love and put in action

[greyhound]

I give thanks to this beautiful and wise woman for telling her story and showing all of us that it IS possible to remake your life; even when it seems impossible. Her description of running on that circular track, remembering her real self was so symbolic.. the circle was part of her healing...; she will help and inspire many. AHO!

[keelodazbmk]

I am Oglala Lakota (Sioux) Native American, and it is true, alot of my people are drunks, but the thing is, it is no ones fault, but themselves. It is true alot of my people have to move off the rez to avoid the negative aspects. Once they become positive people of society then come back to the rez, and actually spread positive aspects. There should be a program to move natives out of the rez from the negative aspects, and then they come back once they are inspirational people. Believe me that will fix alot of reservations.

[katieterrito]

You are so right. I hope people understand this some day. Too much judgment