"My Name is Dovie" - Dovie Thomason

A Name Rooted in Heritage00:00:00

Dovie reflects on her childhood in 1950s Texas, where her indigenous name was challenged by school authorities. She recounts her deep bond with her Apache grandmother, who used storytelling and traditional wisdom to navigate the complexities of life.

Loss and Displacement00:13:31

After the passing of her grandmother, father, and mother, Dovie finds herself feeling like an orphan living in the foreign, green landscape of New England. She struggles with the profound grief of losing her primary connections to her heritage.

A New Beginning00:18:32

A dear friend from a New Mexico pueblo invites Dovie to visit during Christmas. Despite her initial hesitation and grief, she travels to the pueblo and undergoes a transformative experience, where she is symbolically reborn into a new, loving family.

Finding Home00:30:45

Dovie shares her realization that losing her parents in her 40s did not mean she was finished growing. By embracing her new family and their stories, she finds her way home, understanding that her grandmother named her well and that she is finally at peace.