SAN DIEGO — A revered tribal elder in the Native American community has a message for all of San Diego. In this Zevely Zone, I profile a voice so strong even Oprah shared his message.
Bankers Hill may be the last place you'd expect to receive a history lesson, but it is where Native American customs and traditions are still alive. With every song, the Red Warrior drum group remembers Native American history. "A lot of people don't even know about Native Americans anymore and they think we have disappeared," said tribal elder Randy Edmonds.
In the early 1950's, Mr. Edmonds was relocated by the U.S. government to California. "They wanted us to be white, speak English, learn English, read English books, learn about English history," said Mr. Edmonds. The 88-year-old elder was taught in history class as a child that Native Americans were savages. His family also found injustice in the healthcare system. "This is my mother. She passed away from tuberculosis at the age of 23," said Mr. Edmonds while showing me pictures from his childhood.
Mr. Edmonds is hoping we can still learn from our past. He feels it is a shame that he lost his mother at such a young age. "Yes, she could have been healed probably if we had the health services for her," said Mr. Edmonds. Since his relocation to California, Mr. Edmonds has become one of the state's most revered elders. He showed me a picture of him standing next to two famous celebrities. "You are going to have to explain this to me because it looks like you are standing next to Oprah Winfrey," I said. Mr. Edmonds smiled and said, "That is her."
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