In response to Carol Becker's comment that no "gay men persons of color" are
running for City Council:
For the record, I am an enrolled member of the White Earth Indian Reservation
(Ojibwe). This heritage comes through my father, Chuck Lilligren. He had a
long career in the public eye and used his position to be a vocal supporter
of Native American rights.
My grandmother, Helen Beaulieu Lilligren, was from the generation forced to
assimilate into Euro-american culture. As a very young child she, like so
many others, was removed from her home on the reservation and taken to
"English School". There she was forced to learn English and to despise her
Native ways. Then she was returned to the res. to flaunt her new language,
promote her new "superior" culture, and unwittingly advance an anti-Indian
agenda.
My father is part of a movement to preserve and restore Ojibwe customs and
language. He recently told me a story of a very young Native American boy
whose parents learned Ojibwe and spoke it to him from the cradle. It is very
possible that he is the first native Ojibwe speaker raised in Minnesota in
almost a century. I don't know this boy, or even his name. In my heart I
call him "Hope".
Though my varied ethnic backgroud and sexual orientation are important parts
of my charater, I want people to vote for me because of my record of
activism, my abilities, and qualifications for the office.
Mi'igwech,
Robert Lilligren
8th Ward Candidate
Phillips West
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