I’d like to introduce you to my biological father, Butch. He was leaving a ceremony on January 2nd and was in a bad car accident and didn’t make it. He’s invited me to this ceremony every year for the last 20 years, I never made it out once. My relationship with my father was a little different. I didn’t really get to know him until I was 9 or 10 - when I was a kid he was homeless and I was pretty ashamed of him - he moved to memphis in 1990 I believe, I’ve been coming to visit him here since then.. he took me to Sundance at Big Mountain one summer and introduced me to parts of my heritage I didn’t know too much about - I got to dance with him and he took me to my first peyote ceremony - we didn’t get together all that often but when it was it was mostly likely in front of that fireplace. When I was diagnosed with cancer he called me crying and said he felt so helpless as my dad as he couldn’t do anything to help me - I asked him to put together a ceremony for me, which he did. I only weighed maybe 140 lbs cause I was undergoing so much chemotherapy at the time, my oncologist told me not to go but I went anyway - the medicine he gave me is why I’m still here today writing this caption. He was a huge advocate for native rights and fought hard for our way of life - he left me with a beautiful sister, brother and my second mom Caroline. As I sit in his room in memphis writing this and looking at all your things and smelling your T-shirt’s I’m at peace with your descent, you’re home with your ancestors now. I regret not calling him as much as I should have, so maybe you should check on your loved ones tonight. I’ve never called him Dad before, I only called him Butch but I’m gonna try today. Rest In Paradise Dad - I’ll love ya forever 💙