Jesse Thistle

“Mom used to think I was mute, but I could speak fine, I just chose not to. My words belonged to me, they were the only thing I had that were mine, and I didn’t trust anyone enough to share them.”
― Jesse Thistle, From the Ashes: My Story of Being Métis, Homeless, and Finding My Way

“I longed to be part of something again. To be known and accepted. To hear my name. No one ever said my name anymore. I never told anyone who I was for fear of being found out. For what? I didn’t know. I had forgotten years ago. I slumped forward on the bench and held my head in my hands, trying to remember how my name sounded. I spelled it aloud to myself. J-E-S-S-E. Jesse.”
― Jesse Thistle, From the Ashes: My Story of Being Métis, Homeless, and Finding My Way