About the Author: Sarah Sunshine Manning

Shoshone-Paiute writer, educator, social justice activist. Telling the stories of Indian Country in an honest, responsible, and hopeful way. Bio Greetings, all! Here is a little bit about me: I am a proud member of the Shoshone and Paiute tribes, which together, are situated on the Duck Valley Indian Reservation in southern Idaho and northern Nevada. This is also where I grew up, with my mom, dad, and four older sisters. I am also a very proud descendent of the Chippewa-Cree tribe of Rocky Boy, Montana. My identity as an indigenous woman, sister, daughter, relative, and mother, has indefinitely shaped my experience and understanding of the world we live in. From the lens of an indigenous woman, I see a world in which we now suffer from a disconnection from the Earth, a disconnection from traditions, and spiritual ways which, in the past, grounded our ancestors in powerful ways. Today, indigenous communities suffer because of colonization, and our resulting disconnection from all that promoted our health and wellbeing. My work, as both a writer and educator, continues to be fueled by this reality, as well a hope that we can reconnect to the life ways that once sustained us. It is my hope that we regain an overall sense of wellbeing all throughout Indian Country, through shared healing. I strive to write stories of hope, resilience, and truth. Naturally, some of those truths are difficult to hear, but we must hear them in order to heal. This is what I sincerely believe. We cannot heal, unless we recognize our wounds. But healing- healing is the journey in which I hope to assist in. I hope to walk along side relatives and friends as we reconnect to who we once were, as a spiritually healthy people. We are already on that journey together. ♥ http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/tags/sarah-sunshine-manning

  • In So Many Ways, We Have Already Won

    By Published On: August 30, 2016

    Colonization tragically forced many indigenous people to forget and forsake our innate connection to Earth. But many of us today are beginning to remember. What is taking place in Standing Rock is awakening what once lied dormant in so many of our people: the Earth is our Mother, and Water is Life. It was late at night when I drove into the conjoined Oceti Sakowin and Red Warrior camp in Standing Rock. I set up camp in the rain with my sisters, crawled into bed, and eagerly anticipated waking up wrapped in the energy of unity that next morning. That is exactly what happened.