As facilitators, we often step into spaces where honesty, nuance, and courage are needed. Our latest book, Bad Indians, was the perfect topic for a book club gathering. Our first Strategic Earth Book Club focused on the gift of reciprocity. The second book chosen by Teresa Romero, our Director of Native Nations Engagement, invited us into a deeper exploration of generational wounds, strength, and the lived experiences of California Native people.
Bad Indians: A Tribal Memoir was written by Deborah Miranda, who is Ohlone Costanoan Esselen with Chumash and Jewish ancestry. This powerful memoir blends poetry, archival materials, recollections, and oral histories to create an intimate and layered narrative about her family and community.
Miranda’s writing is unfiltered, yet tender. Many of us noted how her openness created a sense of trust, inviting us into a narrative that holds both pain and resilience. Her willingness to share difficult truths felt like an offering, one that asked only for presence and care.
A significant part of our team’s conversation centered on the contrast between the “mission project” widely taught in California schools and the realities experienced by California Natives. Her work encouraged us to acknowledge a more accurate understanding of colonization, forced assimilation, and the long-term impacts these systems have carried into present-day family structures. Teresa shared pieces of her own family’s story, including how her grandmother and great-aunts were placed in an orphanage, grounding our conversation in lived experience rather than distant history.
We also spent time reflecting on family dynamics and how siblings can hold different truths about the same environment. Miranda’s differing memories from her sister sparked thoughtful reflection about empathy, perspective, and the many ways families navigate both closeness and distance.
Language preservation and cultural continuity also came forward in meaningful ways. We talked about the importance of elders’ knowledge, the gaps created by incomplete or altered records, and the ongoing work to revitalize Native languages. The evolution of language — especially as new technologies and ideas emerge — felt like a powerful expression of cultural strength.
By the end of the Bad Indians book club, many of us found ourselves thinking about our own family stories. The difficult parts, the strength that remains, and the pieces we may never fully know. Bad Indians reminded us that storytelling is more than remembering; it’s a way to honor truth, deepen understanding, and build empathy across experiences.
This conversation also reinforced a core belief in our facilitation work: every person carries their own lineage of experiences, including the joys, wounds, wisdom, and light. It is our responsibility to make room for these layers and support thoughtful dialogue grounded in respect and clarity.
📚 Interested in reading along? We encourage you to borrow Bad Indians: A Tribal Memoir from your local library or purchase it from an independent bookstore.
✨ Up Next: Our next book club selection is Love Medicine by Louise Erdrich. This was her debut novel and is a powerful exploration of family, connection, and identity.