The world is ignorant

Of a nation here from birth

Full of culture, tradition, and history

Thriving in the threshold of tribal family

And stripped of all they knew.

 

The world is ignorant

Of the history of our country

When our leaders raided and murdered

Pushing the nation to desolate land

And igniting their culture ablaze.

 

The world is ignorant

Of the lost nation today

Where drugs and drink run rampant

Breaking families like glass

And failing any futures.

 

The world is ignorant

Of a boy two-hundred years later

Who almost died from his brother

An accident unknown by his mother

Because alcohol is far more important.

 

The world is ignorant

Of this boy more likely to fight

Than to cry or to laugh

From generational pain

Of a nation forgotten.

 

The world is ignorant

Of economic issues

Family trauma

Substance abuse

Dropout rates

Common suicide

Gang behavior

And shortened life.

As the world ignorantly watches

Redskins on television

Tonto in movies

Pocahontas in fairy tales:

An inaccurate reality of our first neighbors.

 

The world ignorant

Of a nation here from birth

Once full of culture, tradition, and history

Once thriving in the threshold of tribal family

Once stripped of all they knew

But once I was ignorant too.