Dear Chrissi Nimmo,

Dear Chrissi Nimmo,

As I have  watched the Baby Veronica case unfold, I have been overwhelmed with emotions. From the time I saw bumper stickers and perfume being sold to solicit money in this precious baby girls name, I couldn’t walk away. She didn’t need saved from her family, she was saved and brought back home to her family, because of you, and because of ICWA.

Tomorrow is the biggest day to come. The day it all is finally decided in front of the Supreme Court of the United States of America. The rights and sovereignty of first nations as well as the rights of our children are at stake. In our culture, we all know we don’t have one momma, we have tribes full of them.

I am reminded this morning of an Indian story. I want to share it:

“There were two warring tribes in the Andes, one that lived in the lowlands and the other high in the mountains. The mountain people invaded the lowlanders one day, and as part of their plundering of the people, they kidnapped a baby of one of the lowlander families and took the infant with them back up into the mountains. The lowlanders didn't know how to climb the mountain. They didn't know any of the trails that the mountain people used, and they didn't know where to find the mountain people or how to track them in the steep terrain. Even so, they sent out their best party of fighting men to climb the mountain and bring the baby home. The men tried first one method of climbing and then another. They tried one trail and then another. After several days of effort, however, they had climbed only several hundred feet. Feeling hopeless and helpless, the lowlander men decided that the cause was lost, and they prepared to return to their village below. As they were packing their gear for the descent, they saw the baby's mother walking toward them. They realized that she was coming down the mountain that they hadn't figured out how to climb. And then they saw that she had the baby strapped to her back. How could that be? One man greeted her and said, "We couldn't climb this mountain. How did you do this when we, the strongest and most able men in the village, couldn't do it?" She shrugged her shoulders and said, "It wasn't your baby."

Tomorrow Chrissi, you are THE momma of many tribes, climbing the mountains and doing what no one else could do. I firmly believe nothing is born out of time. You were chosen for this day, for this time, for this purpose. Just as Veronica (Little Star) was chosen for the same purpose. Because of both of you, the rights and well beings of tribes across this great nation will remain in place.

I pray for the Great Spirit that I call God to surround you, hold you up, to guide your words and your actions. You have already brought her home, now just stand firm on that mountain and know that over 500 tribes are standing behind you!

May God Speed and Justice Prevail,
Johnna Payne-Hurt