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November 21, 2024
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A memoria: G. Janet “Gertsy” Spotted Bear — Mom

Jodi Rave Spotted Bear
by
jodi@imfreedomalliance.org https://twitter.com/JodiRave
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Brianna Bragg, left, and Shilo George explore themes such as Indigequeer identity, Two-Spiritness, disability, boundaries, survivance. Photo illustration by Jarrette Werk and Shilo George
"Medicine Moon," Gertsy Spotted Bear's Hidatsa name
"Medicine Moon," Gertsy Spotted Bear's Hidatsa name
Today is a special day, it’s the seventh year marking the death of my mother, G. Janet Gunderson, a lot of people know her by her maiden name, Gertsy Spotted Bear. She was born July 14, 1942. She died July 14, 2003. Her death changed the lives for me, my siblings and all friends because she had such a powerful impact and influence on all our lives. That’s because she was a good woman. She had deep compassion for children, women and families. Mom was the director the Three Affiliated Tribes Social Services Department in New Town, N.D. She died in a car accident as she was returning to her home out at Shell Creek on the Fort Berthold Reservation. That was her home when she worked in New Town, otherwise, her heart was in Twin Buttes.

It would have been nearly impossible to breathe during the time of her death. I am still thankful for all the people who showed my family tremendous support. If not for all the love that was so evident from her friends, I might have died of a broken heart. Her death exposed me to a rare moment in life where I experienced pure, unconditional love from hundreds of people — all at once. I’ve always felt absolutely blessed to be my mother’s child. She was my greatest support when I felt like crying. Most of all, she was there to embrace me when life was good. She helped me believe in myself. She did that not only for me, but for all her friends, all her children and all the kids who called her grandma. I’m always meeting people who mention Mom. Good memories, all.

We miss Gertsy.

Love, Jodi, friends and family

 

 

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Jodi Rave Spotted Bear
jodi@imfreedomalliance.org https://twitter.com/JodiRave

Jodi Rave Spotted Bear is the founder and director of the Indigenous Media Freedom Alliance, a 501-C-3 nonprofit organization with offices in Bismarck, N.D. and the Fort Berthold Reservation. Jodi spent 15 years reporting for the mainstream press. She's been awarded prestigious Nieman and John S. Knight journalism fellowships at Harvard and Stanford, respectively. She also an MIT Knight Science Journalism Project fellow. Her writing is featured in "The Authentic Voice: The Best Reporting on Race and Ethnicity," published by Columbia University Press. Jodi currently serves as a Society of Professional Journalists at-large board member, an SPJ Foundation board member, and she chairs the SPJ Freedom of Information Committee. Jodi has won top journalism awards from mainstream and Native press organizations. She earned her journalism degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder.

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