00:00Good morning, Diamond Path. This is Mr. Nelson coming to you with another Read Aloud.
00:04This one is the first for Native American Heritage Month 2025, where we honor the cultures,
00:09traditions, and languages of those of Native American and Alaska Native heritage.
00:14This week's book is My Powerful Hair by Carol Lindstrom, who is Anishinaabe and is enrolled
00:20as a citizen of the Turtle Mountain Band of Ojibwe. It is illustrated by Steph Littlebird,
00:26an indigenous artist and member of Oregon's Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde.
00:33I can't wait for my hair to grow.
00:38Mom never had long hair. She was told hers was too wild.
00:45Nokomis couldn't have long hair. Hers was taken.
00:51Our ancestors say, our hair is our memories, our source of strength, an extension of us.
01:01When Nimishumis taught me how to fish for the first time, my hair was at my ears.
01:08His stories and the memories of that day are woven into my hair.
01:14Our ancestors say, we grow our hair long to be close to Mother Earth.
01:21My baby brother was born, my hair touched my shoulders.
01:27The gift of welcoming him into the world is woven into my hair.
01:33Our ancestors say, our hair carries energies and power.
01:37It is a celebration of our lives.
01:42When my cousins taught me how to make moccasins, my hair was past my shoulders.
01:48All of the laughter and stories from that day are woven into my hair.
01:55Our ancestors say, when a loved one braids your hair, it reinforces the sacredness of your relationship.
02:03When my hair reached the middle of my back, Auntie Delia braided it so that I could dance at Pow
02:08Wow.
02:11All of her teachings and prayers are woven into my hair.
02:16Our ancestors say, our hair is our medicine.
02:22The vibrancy of our culture and our connections to the earth and to each other are woven through our hair.
02:30When Nimishumas journeyed on to the spirit world, my hair was past my waist.
02:35I cut it. I sent it into the spirit world with him so that he could have my energies.
02:42I'm growing my hair long again. Mom says she wants to grow hers too.
02:46We'll do it together.
02:49Native or indigenous peoples believe that hair holds strength and power.
02:53Some tribes may be different in how they wear their hair or in the specific traditions they honor,
02:58but a common thread across many indigenous cultures is the importance of hair.
03:02Hair is a physical manifestation of the spirit.
03:05Cutting, burying, and burning hair carries strong significance and meaning.
03:10In some tribes, it is a tradition to cut your hair and bury it with a loved one for them
03:14to bring energies along on their spirit journey.
03:17Hair is an extension of native peoples and holds dreams, memories, joys, trials, tribulations, and triumphs.
03:24Hair is a living scrapbook, always carried with us, giving strength and courage.
03:29We'll be able to bring our family together each other.
03:29We'll be able to bring our family together.
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