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05 Wolakota Project Video Transcripts and URLs.docx · WP-0149. Imported source record; individual Elder status and tribal affiliation are not inferred.
Reviewed JAG competency and OSEU connections
No reviewed JAG–OSEU–interview connection is published for this record. Search matches alone do not establish an alignment.
Interview transcript
I was able to follow in the footsteps of my grandfather. So I’m now the oldest member of this tribe…I’ll be 96 in December. When I was born, there was no sign of life. There was a flu epidemic all over the world. That epidemic killed more people than all of the casualties of the first world war. My grandmother acted as a midwife and delivered me. Can’t do that anymore. You have to be certified. But in those days, we did what we had to do. She told grandfather, “We have a new grandson, but there is no sign of life. Pray for him.” He took this little bottle and held it up and he prayed…made an impassioned plea. There was a pitiful cry. Grandmother got all excited, “He’s alive. He’s alive.” They took that little blanket…receiving blanket…and saw a skinny little boy. They knew I wasn’t going to make it. So she said, “At least he ought to have a name.” So again, grandfather held me up and he baptized me. Grandfather’s prayers were answered. I’ve outlived all of my relatives. I’ve followed in his footsteps.