Nathan Latka

Ms. Townley
Composition period 1
22 September 2015
Reversing the effects of Injustice
People can discover a sense of belonging and purpose in their lives through persistence
and hard work regardless of circumstances. Everyone wants his or her life to have a purpose and
meaning, however many people never achieve this feat. There are often hurdles to be overcome
and countless hours to be spent on self-improvement in order to discover purpose. Sometimes
people struggle with this goal because they feel they have no one to rely on for help. Others
aren't blessed with the right opportunities to discover their purpose. Some people end up feeling
alienated and cut off from the rest of the world. This phenomenon is especially common among
Native Americans who feel as if they are separate from everyday society on reservations. Many
struggle with alcoholism, live in poverty, or are unemployed. In a nation where many see a bleak
future, Mary Lee Johns sees opportunity.
Mary Lee Johns grew up on the Cheyenne River Reservation during the 1940s and 1950s.
She lived in an old log house with her mother, grandmother, her grandmother's two sisters, her
cousins, and her aunt and uncle. When she was seven, Mary was put in a boarding school for one
year. During this period she could only see family members once a week and was not allowed to
speak her native Lakota language. She also had to sleep alone, which was something she was not
used to. Mary explained how this was a very traumatic experience for her. Although the
dormitories at the boarding school had heat and AC, Mary would still rather have been with her
family. She felt as if she had been abandoned. Thankfully Mary's time in the boarding school

passed and she returned home. Mary has had a strong sense of belonging with her family and
culture. From a very young age, Mary was told stories that have been passed down through
generations among her Lakota tribe."I was raised to be a Lakota with all of the traditions and
cultural knowledge normally taught to a child....I was raised to be very proud of being a Lakota
and who my family was. We came from a great warrior tradition with knowledge of our history
so I was never allowed to feel ashamed with the stories I learned,"Mary said. By having her
family around to care for her and instruct her, Mary was led onto the right path.
Mary had many wonderful opportunities, however she had several difficulties to overcome
as well. She witnessed favoritism of lighter-skinned children over darker skinned children when
she was only seven years old. Mary was very attached to her family, which is why the death of
her mother when Mary was sixteen was so difficult for her. Mary said, "this was the most
difficult thing for me to overcome."
Mary Lee didn't let her struggles get the best of her. She continued to learn and better
herself and her future. After graduating high school, she decided to attend San Francisco State
University. She earned a bachelor's degree in sociology, and human resources. It was now the
1960s and as Mary was becoming more educated, and her perspective of what had happened to
her people was changing. "I became angry, militant, and ready to create change in a more
revolutionary manner," Mary said. This theme of protest and change was very present
throughout the 1960s and was perhaps the reason for what Mary's feelings at that time. Luckily,
Mary did not act on her anger. Mary found work in affairs concerning Native Americans. Mary
said, "learning about Wounded Knee and the killing of innocent people, and the loss of the Black
Hills and the rest of our lands. This helped me to become who I am today and why I work to help
my people." She has learned about so many of her people's suffering that she has dedicated

herself to working for the betterment of her people. Mary identifies herself as Lakota, and she
feels obligated to do whatever she can for the betterment of her tribe, and all Native Americans.
Mary's purpose is to use her talents and gifts to help a nation to whish she feels a strong sense of
belonging.
Mary has worked as a Tribal Consultation Specialist, as an International Company, as a
Senior Analysis for Tribal Government for North America, as an Executive Director running our
Tribes Health Department, as a Director of Youth Programs, and as a Director of a Program
working with Infants and their mothers. She worked at the National level dealing with American
Indian issues and did Lobbying in Congress. Mary has done all of these amazing things in a
selfless effort for her people, because that is who she is passionate about. She has learned about
the injustices done to her people and has done everything in her power to reverse the effects of
the injustice. Mary talks about what it means to be a Lakota, "I believe it has to do with my
knowledge of history, how I was raised, and how I choose to live my life. I cant be anything
else. I am a Lakota by the way I see the world, the way I think, the way I speak, and the way I
am culturally. I can not be anything else." Mary identifies so strongly with who she belongs, and
therefore finds purpose in fighting for her people. Her favorite job she ever had was being the
Executive Director of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe's Health Department because of the direct
impact she had on young people's lives. "We solved problems," she said. One problem included
saving 1.5 million acres of Native American land.
Mary Lee Johns is a perfect example of how being passionate about something leads to
amazing accomplishments. Facing racism, poverty, and loss didn't stop Mary from becoming a
Native American hero. She felt a sense of belonging to a nation which faced many problems.
Mary saw the need for her leadership and drive and she accepted the challenge because she cares

about her people. Today she is pursuing a master's degree in Lakota tribal leadership and
Management, and plans to write several books.