My guest today is Debra Beal. Debra was one of the women featured in Lisa Levart’s photography exhibit “Women of the Ramapough Lenape Nation”. Debra shares her own assimilation experience of how her parents initially downplayed their Native American culture when she was a child, only to pursue and embrace a relationship with her Lenape tribe when she was a young teenager. As her father’s bumper sticker read “I was Indian before it was cool to be Indian”.
Debra has recently retired from her 33 year career in NY State’s Office of Mental Health and is exploring the ongoing delicate balance to integrate the fullness of who she truly is. Her Indian name “Walela” translates as Hummingbird, which symbolizes Debra’s desire to create harmony in the world, by building genuine, compassionate relationships, helping people and being a conduit for healing.
Check out the show notes for links to see Debra featured in Lisa’s photography exhibit at Bergen Community College, opened through November 24th, as well as in Myles Aronowitz's documentary. I hope this inspires you to learn of the Native people of your land; let’s make Thanksgiving more meaningful, by educating ourselves and our extended family of our true history with American Indians. Enjoy the podcast!
Links:
Women of the Ramapough Lenape Nation
Bergen Community College Gallery Exhibit
IG: @goddessonearth
IG: @debra.powell.7587
