Family Oral History
How has this helped you reconnect?
Connecting with generational African American and (distant, distant) Sioux heritage.
My grandmother shared this oral history from her aunt, in which this aunt describes her recollections of our ancestors, namely my Great Great grandmother Susie Tolbert Atterbury and my Great Great grandfather Clayborn Atterbury. In the story, she recalls "Grandpa Clayborn was a minister of God. He took great pride in his Native American heritage; Grandpa prepared medicine from roots and herbs, in which he use for healing the soul." Throughout my life I've learned a great deal about plant medicine, and I grow a garden to deepen my connection to the land. Though the specific medicinal practices that he engaged with weren't passed down to my grandparents, I like to think of the medicine picking up where it left off through my own curiosity, that I'm recovering the knowledge that he and his ancestors left for me. When I spend time on the land and with my medicines, I feel my ancestors guiding my hands, deepening my connections with my body and plant kinfolk too.
Submitted by: Kenia Hale
Connecting with generational African American and (distant, distant) Sioux heritage.
My grandmother shared this oral history from her aunt, in which this aunt describes her recollections of our ancestors, namely my Great Great grandmother Susie Tolbert Atterbury and my Great Great grandfather Clayborn Atterbury. In the story, she recalls "Grandpa Clayborn was a minister of God. He took great pride in his Native American heritage; Grandpa prepared medicine from roots and herbs, in which he use for healing the soul." Throughout my life I've learned a great deal about plant medicine, and I grow a garden to deepen my connection to the land. Though the specific medicinal practices that he engaged with weren't passed down to my grandparents, I like to think of the medicine picking up where it left off through my own curiosity, that I'm recovering the knowledge that he and his ancestors left for me. When I spend time on the land and with my medicines, I feel my ancestors guiding my hands, deepening my connections with my body and plant kinfolk too.
Submitted by: Kenia Hale