The Native Blog

13 Days......

I ran in to a grandparent, Mary Jo,  of one of my last year students on Wednesday. She gave me her condolences and then I remembered she knows exactly how  I feel.  I looked at her and said "Oh my gawd,  you know how I feel."  I just had to hug her. She held me and said I know exactly.  And I told her this is the most awful I have ever felt.  She lost her husband when she was 32 years old.  Her husband died of a heart attack at the age of 33. She told me to this day  she still wonders if she could have done things differently.  Same as I have been thinking.  I don't know how many times a day I go through what could have been different? Should the Strongest antibiotic have been started right away when they found out about his pneumonia?  Then I think about his caregivers.  They worked so hard to get him well.  All the nurses who took care of him were so caring and loving.  I remember the Dr. in charge of the unit had a hard time talking to me when we decided to stop his suffering.  The man had tears in his eyes.  I felt so bad for him.  The nurses were there when he passed and they were crying with our family.
I am so grateful for all the support I received from the staff at the Hospital, From Family, and from Friends.   I have been supported through all this and my sons are even stepping up and helping me out.  We just cleaned the garage today in preparation for the cold and the snow that is expected in the next couple of days.
I have been having a hard time finding the paperwork I need.  My friend Hope was telling me to pray and it will come.  Well last night I broke down and cried and asked him to lead me to these papers.  I found more poems that he had written and read them.  I sat and cried awhile and then the next folder I picked up there was the papers I needed.  So I know he is still around trying to help out.  Some people don't know how well he really did take care of me.  He made me oatmeal in the mornings and packed my lunch.  Everyday I had a good breakfast and at lunch I would find good things to eat. In the evening I always tried to make something that he liked to eat.  He would always say ask the boys what they like.  I realize now how unselfish he could be. He put us first in his daily life. His  physical being is not here, but I felt him with me last night when I found the papers.  It is odd, but natural to have these things happen in this way.  Meeting Mary Jo again and sharing that loss we have experienced.  Mary Jo is a Grandparent now.  She is around to see her family continue on. I hope I have something as wonderful to look forward to.  Right now I am just hanging on because I have people that count on me. And I am not done teaching what needs to be taught to that next generation. For those who haven't picked up on it. I am a teacher.  I teach first grade. I teach little ones and it is such a blessing to work with our Native people.  These little ones are so wise in their comments to me. They even know Mr. Mitchell died.  They made me a big card and put it on the wall declaring their love for me. It was a great welcome back from such a hard time....

Ni Miigwechiwendan Bimadiziyan!!

Awhile back Larry had this package on the table. He told me to open it.  I opened it and I couldn't believe the beautiful Dentalium shell earrings that were inside with a matching beaded necklace. I asked him what those were for?  He said "someone sent them to you because you are my wife".  He said "some lady read my book and she sent these to you. "    So Thank You Michelle Robinson!!  I didn't get the opportunity before because Larry misplaced your e-mail in his tons of mail he would get. I wore them to work one day and everyone commented on how beautiful they were.  I told the story about how they came in to my possession.  They were all impressed that my Husband could move someone in that way to honor his wife.

In his book he makes me sound like this big savior.  It worked both ways.  I wanted a companion who was respectful and who treated me nice.  I got that many times over with him.  He was so easy to fall in love with. Lately I have been getting comments on how strong I have been through all this.  They don't see the tears I shed or how I curl up in a fetal position at night. And I know it is all in pity for myself.  When I think about how sick he was and how he suffered I am relieved he no longer has to go through all that.  I know his mother came to get him. And I know he died loving me. I find little notes around the house that he has written.  My sister Deedee said he loved me the same way as he did as when we first were together.  And that many people in life don't even have that once in their lives. So my title in Ojibwe means Thank you for this life!!
Katie Mitchell

Elaine K. Bond

Dear Katie,

I've read your two last posts, and wanted to tell you how much I'm thinking of you, fondly.
I like the idea of writing what you're doing and feeling via the Native Blog. I feel connected to you and I'm probably not the only one.
May I share with you one of the poems of Rene Char I have sent to Larry a couple of months ago coz he said that he was interested in french poetry, I do think that poetry is a good medecine aswell. Larry was a poet, I've been really touched by his words as much as  his silences.

<< Clouds are in the rivers, torrents course through the sky. Unpicked, the days run to seed, perish in the green. The time of famine and the time of harvest, one beneath the other in the tattered air, have wiped out their difference. They slip by together, they encamp! (Selected Poems 106-7)>>

Take care,
Elaine.

Thomas Wabnum....

Our prayers are with you and your family and with the Mitchell family for spiritual strength to overcome sad times but also the courage to celebrate many happy times that Larry brought to many lives.

As youth on the rez, we did many things and drinking was one of them.  Those times were similar because we felt safe, as our elders seem to be taking care of business.  The rez families fairing as best they could seem to add to our own happiness and enjoyment in what little we had.  The rez seemed so large and yet the feds felt we were so little and needed little attention but we remained on the losing end.  It all had to end as many were sent to boarding schools, Haskell and the Viet Nam conflict got into our way.

It seems the norm then as the federal governments relentless effort to break up the reservation and Indian lifestyle.  It also seems like yesterday but when you start talking about timely events, 25, 30, and 35 years have passed and we look at each other in surprise as we tell our age to each other.  Where did the time go?

As technology goes and blog sites grow, tribal politics remains the same.  In the Native blog, many more read about the politics faster then when meetings are over and the monthly newspaper.  That’s where Larry and I reconnected to discuss what we witnessed as teenagers a tribal government with growing pains and the will to understand it.  Today, our participation although far, is not because our hearts are still there at the home place.

We discussed consequences but he didn’t care because it had to be said.  He offered to pay for articles and I told him no and if he was willing to post it for tribal members to read, that was pay enough.  I also told him that every article I write would have my name on it.  Often times, we wondered how decisions were made and action was taken but without our actual involvement, we relied on local loyal members to take the lead.  It is comforting to know that the people will always prevail when there is doubt about some tribal council decisions.

Although the last we met was our teenager days who would have known we would never meet again until recently only by e-mail.  Our emails weren’t about boarding school, Haskell or our tours in Viet Nam service but tribal politics on the Internet.  Back then not many cared about the Nation without a Bingo or Casino.  Larry shared his personal feelings in his book as a healing to the world foiled by government programs and certainly a foreign war defending this Country.  A Country that can feel so grateful even after their cultural termination efforts of Larry’s Native Nation and others, that men like him will still rise to this Country’s call for military service.  For his service to our Native Nation and Country it could be said of Larry "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."

Shawnese, Migwetch

Mack taw zee (Thomas M. Wabnum)
Viet Nam Veteran, 1969-1973.

Cemetery Visit.

We visited the cemetery yesterday.  He has a marker with no engravings yet. Just a small temporary one.
I started the thank you cards last night.  I hope there are some that are readable through all the smudges of tears.
I'll have to finish them this evening.  I am going back to work.  The kids need me there.  I work with Native children and it is such a blessing to have this job right now.
Katie

I like that idea....

I like the idea of blogging to heal.  That was why Larry started this.  He ended up getting involved in tribal politics and feeling like he was contributing and helping out his tribe.  Even tho he did post things that hurt family members.  I didn't like that part and would tell him so.  He was so stubborn tho.  He felt all things should be put out there to be dealt with. 

Some people wonder how we ended up together?  Well in 1979 I attended Haskell Indian Nations University.  I entered fall semester.  I was doing well and enjoying my time away from home.  I ended up at a bar one night.  I had a thing with partying with the bands.  I grew up around music and many of my friends also enjoyed music .  I was wandering around and spotted a place to sit on this small stage.  And there was Larry right next to me.  We started talking and I remarked on his eyes.  I found his eyes to be very beautiful.  He had light brown eyes.  We didn't talk again because we never ran into each other.  I left school before the semester was over.  I grew homesick for Minnesota and my family. Larry developed a crush on me and he knew and felt I wasn't around anymore.  He found my home address and sent me a Yearbook.  He was attending school to be a Printer and had put the school yearbooks together as part of a class project.  He also sent me some poems he had written for me.  Larry also sent me an invitation to his Graduation.  He told me I was the only one he invited. I really like the poemsand yearbook,  but found myself overwhelmed and scared to receive such loving gifts from a person I really didn't know. I showed them to my Mother and Sister. My Mom  thought the gifts  were nice and suggested I send him a Thank You card.  It took me a few weeks to even get the courage up to go and buy that card. Well I did and it took him awhile to write back.  I really wasn't expecting anything back because I tried to make the card sound as platonic as I could.  Well Larry wasn't having any of that.  He wrote back after he returned to Mayetta from a trip back from Western Kansas.  He had gone to stay with his sister Sandy and her family for awhile. He wrote and told me that he wanted to come up and take me out to eat and a movie one day. As soon as he could get the money together. I wrote back and told him I was leading a sober life and wasn't interested in being with anyone who drank and did drugs.  He wrote back and said when he did come up he wouldn't be doing any of that.  We wrote back and forth for three years.  Once in awhile he would call me and we would talk on the phone.  During this time we both had relationships with other people.  I think it was that promise of what was to be that kept those letters going between us. He would write about what he was doing and tell me his wishes and dreams.  I would tell him what I wanted to do with my life.  I was only 18 years old when we started and he was 28.  He had already wandered the world and had many adventures that he would tell me about.
Mii Iw

Eight days since he's left.....

I wander our apartment  seeing all his books and belongings and I feel a great loss.  I have counted the days since his passing.  It reminded me of the time we were first married. Our first day I counted the hours and then it grew to a day.  Then it was two days and the days went by and we were celebrating our first wedding anniversary. And it seems 25 years just flew by. We never did nothing big.  Just being together was enough for us.
I would like to see his blog continue. And I will try and keep it going for as long as I can.  But, I could use some help as my days are spent at work in a classroom.  So I will have readers send me articles they would like to see posted.  Send to [email protected] and put FOR Native Blog in the RE: section. And I will try and post them in the evenings.
Katie

Larry Roy Mitchell

Larry Roy Mitchell “Shawnese” of the Prairie Band Potawatomi, 56 yrs, passed away on November 16, 2007. He joined his mother, Alberta Wamego, six years to the day.  Highly decorated Vietnam Veteran and Purple Heart recipient. Proud to be an Honored Veteran of his tribe. Author of Potawatomi Tracks. He will be greatly missed by his wife Kathryn (Katie) Mitchell, his two sons, friends and family.  Larry was a husband who helped to make his wife’s wishes and dreams come true.  Larry has two sons he dearly loved: Larry Jr. and Joseph. His Niizh Ode (1 spirit, 2 hearts/Twin) Gary Mitchell of Mayetta, Kansas. Other brothers: Eddie Joe Mitchell-Mayetta, Leo Mitchell-Valley Falls, Randy Mitchell-Mayetta. Father: Andrew Mitchell-Mayetta. Adopted brothers: John LeClere-Mayetta, Mando Evans-Mayetta. Adopted mother: Judy Wabaunsee-Topeka. Sisters: Jackie Mitchell, Shirlene Seymour, Sandy Mitchell, Lisa Wamego, Edie Wamego all of Mayetta. Mother and Father in Law: Lorraine and Allen Lufkins. Brother in laws: AJ, Nick and Jack. Sister in laws: Jane and Carrie.  82 Nieces and Nephews. Deceased brothers: Bubs Mitchell, Mike Wamego. Deceased mother: Alberta Wamego. Deceased step father: Algernon Wamego. Potawatomi Drum services will be held on November 18th and 19th at Potawatomi Dance Grounds in Mayetta, Kansas. Graveside services and Internment will be 11:00, Tuesday, November 20th at Fort Snelling National Cemetery, Bloomington, Minnesota.

Larry began his Journey

Larry left this world on November 16th. Exactly six years to the day his mother passed away.  He had pneumonia that he couldn't shake.  He developed multiple organ failures. He was surrounded by his family at the time of his passing and he went peacefully. Drum services will be held on his home reservation in Mayetta, Kansas on the 18th and 19th. He will be buried at Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis, MN. Leave a comment if you want.

Larry is still in Intensive Care.

Larry has Pneumonia and fever. He is on a Ventilator to help him breathe and clear out his congested lungs.  We don't know how long it will be before he is off the ventilator and able to talk.  He is also sedated for  his comfort. He opens his eyes and holds my hand when I am there.  His right side is a bit weak and he may require physical therapy when he is out of Intensive care.  Until then we are taking his recovery day by day.  He has been hospitalized for 10 days now. We all miss him at home and are hoping and anticipating his return home soon.  Most days we are there sitting with him in shifts. We are also extrememely tired and restless.  Prayers and ceremonies have been held for him by many all over the world and we really appreciate that.  It is very comforting to know those prayers are said on his behalf.  Chii Miigwech
Katie Mitchell