Page 43 - American Girl (January - February 2019)

My mother signed
The U.S. Government
me up for ballet and
banned traditional osage
Piano lessons when I
ceremonies so the ceremonies
I was born on
was three years old!
were held in secret. I sometimes
January 24, 1925, in
attended them with my father
Fairfax, Oklahoma.
and grandmother. There was a
lot of music and dancing.

I was a member of the Osage
Nation. Growing Up, My family
lived in a big brick house on

the Osage reservation.
I dreamed of
being a concert
pianist.

When I was eight, my family

moved to California. My
Mother wanted my sister

and me to become stars in
hOllywood Musicals.
Text: Andrea Debbink Illustrations: Julia Bereciartu

After arriving in

California I studied ballet,
Tap, acrobatics, and
spanish Dancing.

Turn the Page to discover Who I am!