Winona M Drift-lineberger

Anowara: Dancing Turtle: a Native American Child's Journey from Reservation to Revelation Winona M Drift-lineberger

Anowara, (= "Turtle") is a child of the Turtle clan of the Haudenosaunee First Nation, or Mohawk people, journeys on life's trail with her spirit helper, Pei Pei Turtle. Together they survive a wrenching divorce, leaving their beloved reservation life; and alienation in mainstream city culture. Tragically, Anowara is severely abused for seven long years. Throughout, she feels abandoned by her despairing mother, Moonlight-on-the-Lake. The child holds tightly to Manitou (God) throughout her experiences of abuse, discrimination, desperation and finally, the struggle for a fine education, liberation and dignity. Somehow she discovers both humor and the power of forgiveness. Anowara (Turtle) dances with God, and revels in her spiritual growth. Anowara becomes a nun for forty-five years, and she delights in sharing precious memories in writing. At age sixty-seven, the missionary nun finds her priceless pearl in the Baha'i Faith, wherein she discovers Manitou, with Christ and Baha'u'llah as His Manifestations. She has found the culmination of human spirituality. Sometimes a fictionalized Pei Pei takes up the narrative of this autobiography, in which certain names are changed. Finally, the Dance goes on, at the great Forever Long House, welcoming all to join.