I DIDN’T RUN AWAY
by Josh Dueck
I grew up in southern Manitoba, mostly in adoptive care, and some foster care. Where I grew up there were no other Indigenous people, except for other kids who were in adoptive or foster care.
One year in elementary school our class was practising for a Thanksgiving play. Some kids were supposed to be sailors, some pilgrims, and some Indians. When I volunteered to be an Indian, one of the kids across the room pointed at me and said, “Hey, he’s already an Indian!”
I still laugh every time I think about that. In reality I found it hard to feel like I belonged anywhere …
