Everyday Elder Conversations of the Past and Present

This year, I started a book with a grant I received from the Arrowhead Regional Arts Council (ARAC). I applied as an elder, Native American woman, with a handicap. I fit 3 categories. How could I lose? It is to be completed in June of 2026. Should be no problem, right?

Well, I was gung-ho and got a nice start by interviewing three elders. I used a tape recorder, then had it transcribed into a word processing program. There was the work of correcting all the mistakes the dictation made. There were the regular errors, and then the program failed to accommodate cultural differences.

You don't realize how many 'you knows', and 'okay's', and 'and's', and how many repeats are used until you are correcting errors within the dictation of the book. Yes, I am now calling it a book. Even though there will be many edits beyond the initial computer dictation edits.

The next two interviewees were exactly as I expected and planned. One started out knowing and loving being Native American ('Indian', she grew up with) and later being told, "I want you to understand, we are not Indian..." by her father, whom she attended powwows and heard sing powwow music with her uncles.

Then the next interview was with my sister-friend, who was told at 16 or 17 years old that she was Native American, from her great uncle. He told her that her grandmother was from White Earth. She is the youngest of my interviewees at age 66. I have known her for over 45 years now.

At this time, I am up to five interviews of the ten I expected for this book, which I now think may be too many. I guess we will see. In the month of November, I am used to typing 50,000 words. Why not continue that habit even without NaNoWriMo or National Novel Writing Month?

I will continue my editing of the dictation in November and count those words to apply to the 50,000-word total. Then I will continue to interview based on how many words I have at the end of November.

The plan at this point is to comment on what I have learned from the interviews in general and the specifics from each interviewee. I am unsure of whether that will be as an added part to the particular interview or in a separate chapter.

It surprises me to learn what I have in the interview process. Even with the women I have known for over 40 years.

My sister friend commented, "I thought this was an art project?" I told her it will include art. Photos of the women, as well as any art they have for display as a part of the event that is planned for June or sooner in 2026. I then told her that I applied for an art grant, as writing is considered art.

It sounded funny saying that or explaining that, but I'm sure it can be confusing. Mary and her son work with birchbark and create beautiful baskets as well as other birchbark art. She learned that from her adopted mother and her husband. She will have some pieces to display. Probably not for sale.

After starting this project, I realized my plan for my doctoral thesis was to interview Native American women in higher positions in education, as my doctoral program was in Education Administration and Leadership through the Leadership Academy at the University of Minnesota.

I didn't finish that goal. I was at ABD or all but the dissertation. Perhaps this can help me to feel like I completed that goal, even though I won't have the credentials. These women have all been leaders in their field and communities.

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Author's Note: Stay tuned for further updates on my art project!