Gina Williams

Dear Invader

The Native American assimilation era officially began in 1819, when the U.S. Congress passed The Civilization Fund Act. From 1860 to 1978, Native American boarding schools were run by Christian missionaries and the federal government across 30 states. In addition to forced labor, and religious conversion, severe punishments were inflicted upon students for speaking native languages and participating in cultural practices, such as sacred dance.


Past midnight, when Father O.
goes from bunk to bunk in stockinged feet
silent as the grave, looking for little boys //

We hold our breath,
disappear ourselves in hopes
he’ll pass by //

silent until waawasskone giizis,
a May Flower Moon climbs from beneath
cloud blankets, lights our sacred meadow

with her sweet coneflower breath and
starry promise of release,
a way back from taken, loss, abuse.

An owl calls a distant warning
yet we dare sneak out of those dank halls,
to dance, jingles secretly sewn

by girls onto ceremonial dresses,
stashed in forest cairns, rhythmed on
by boys with hide drums, thrum // thrum // thrum.

costumed bodies sing like soft rain
as healing beats rebuild our hearts, our strength,
draw tree and animal spirits for protection.

Caught, the nuns force us to kneel on marbles for hours,
lock us in basements, beat us with knotted ropes,
force rotten food, dank water from poisoned wells.

Past midnight, still unconquerable,
we dance ourselves

a place             in this world.

Gina Williams lives, writes, and dreams near Portland, Oregon. She is the author of An Unwavering Horizon, a full-length collection of poetry, published by Finishing Line Press in 2020. Gina is a freelance journalist, professional gardener, and visual artist. She loves spoiling her granddaughter, going on road trips without a map, and winning Scrabble games against her husband & best friend, fellow poet Brad G. Garber. Learn more about her and her work at http://www.ginamariewilliams.com