Episode 10 - India

Episode 10 of 24. A reading from the book Policies of Exclusion, Poverty & Health: Stories from the front. Compiled, with Introduction and Reports by Chrystal Ocean. Copyright 2005. Your culture gives you a sense of belonging and home. It's something we all need. But far too many Métis, and native or First Nations people have been deprived of - more often, torn from - their land, their family and their ancestral roots.

I'm still searching spiritually. My spiritual faith right now is with the Baha'i but I'm also attending the Anglican Church. A lot of times they conflict. It bothers me. I need my sweats, I need my smudges, I need that close association with cultural roots... I'm being pulled apart. I want to be with First Nations people.

India is Métis. In addition to the struggle to reconnect with her native roots, India faces barriers which include a background of abuse, poverty and addiction, which began with her placement into foster care at the age of five. After listening to this episode, PLEASE RATE and comment. (To do this, you must have the episode window open and scripting must be enabled. If you are reading this from the channel's homepage, click on the episode title to open the new window.) You'll see a comment form at the bottom of the page. To rate, pass your mouse over the stars and click the star representing your choice. Podcast channels with the highest ranking and number of ratings attract more listeners! Regarding comments, I'd be delighted to participate in discussions on the stories, whether on this podcast site or as part of an academic course.