BD's Story

"I was born into disconnection, a Native American girl raised in the inner city of Philadelphia, far from my tribe and culture. My parents battled addiction and mental illness, and from a young age, survival became second nature. As the first grandchild and firstborn, I carried an unspoken assignment: end the curses that haunted us.

I became the first in my family to get a college degree and then to earn a master’s degree. I joined the military, not just to serve my country (not to serve my country at all ),  to find structure, belonging, pride and to get out. Every milestone was a quiet rebellion against the odds. While I broke through cycles of poverty, trauma, addiction, teenage pregnancy, illiteracy ... .etc, I was never taught how to protect my spirit in relationships, how to recognize red flags disguised as stability, or how to honor my needs without guilt.

I entered a marriage that looked good on paper: security, stability, financial comfort.  It came at the cost of myself. When I left, I wasn’t leaving wealth behind; I was leaving a pattern (addiction, abuse,  and mental illness). I walked away with no roadmap, no backup plan just myself (and my kids and dogs). And that became enough.

Walking away wasn’t the end of my story though, it was the beginning of my healing. I’ve learned that breaking generational curses isn’t just about survival; it’s about returning to authenticity. It’s remembering the strength of my ancestors and creating a new blueprint for my children, one built on emotional literacy, balance, and peace.

My story is not about tragedy; that's important to me. I have no shame, it’s about transmutation. It’s about how a Native- woman-veteran, displaced and determined, learned to mother herself, serve her community, and stand as living proof that healing is the most radical act of resistance."