According to Akan language of Ghana, there is a term, Sankofa, which means we must go back to reclaim our past so we can move forward; so we understand why
and how we came to be who we are today. Let us take from the past what is needed to move forward as a nation and as a country. The one great example of this the United States Constitution. We use it--or try when Congress shows some back bone--to this very day; but cherry picking the parts we like or agree with leaves us a poorer nation.  If we fail to understand or choose to ignore where we have been how can we ever be sure that we have made any progress? We might want to jump around a bit to the of the middle of the journey but it is a precarious perch from which to begin. Sometimes the journey is perilous. It exposes us to a harsh but necesary truth. A truth that needs examination so that we may proceed with the process of becoming a more perfect union.

In this vein, Traces of the Trade by Katrina Browne attempts to take us to one starting point. She choose a very personal story. Her story is about her family's history. Her family's history is a story is about the history of how America came into existence. Through the use of genealogy she examines something painful and yet revealing about her, her family and us. Her genealogy is very fascinating and opens the door for conversation, a jumping off point from which we can honestly discuss these issues without recriminations. I appreciate her effort because she is earnestly trying to talk about what is most painful--almost taboo-- in the United States.

Canada apologizes to its' Native population for removing the children from their homes.  As I listened to the apology on C-SPAN,  I wondered how an apology from the American government would sound to Native Americans?