The Spirits Called My Name: A Journey from One Culture to Another - Paperback

by Roberta Rosnik (Author)

At the age of forty-two, Roberta Rosnik discovered that her heritage was all a lie. Believing her family had German/Italian ancestry, she was shocked when her mother revealed she was adopted. She also learned that she was half Native American and a member of a tribe located in Washington State.

After researching the tribe online, she set out from Maryland to the reservation. While stopping by tribal headquarters and securing a permanent ID, she acquired the phone numbers of various family members. She managed to reach a cousin whose response was overwhelmingly positive. A family reunion was arranged for the next day. At that point, the author discovered she had a multitude of aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews who eagerly welcomed her back. However, she had to wait several years more to meet her biological mother. Her relationship with her biological mother gradually changed over several years.
The author also reunited with two sisters who were also given up for adoption. After frequent visits throughout the years, she developed relationships with family members and learned more about the Sinixt culture and traditions. However, she still felt like an outsider until her first Winter Dance, when extraordinary experiences changed her perspective, and she finally embraced her heritage. When the spirits called her name, she felt accepted by both her family and her ancestors.
Eventually, there was a transformation in the author's identity, and she began to look at key events in her past in a different light. She became actively involved in Native American causes, especially the issue of violence among Indigenous women.

Join Roberta on her voyage of discovery