Confessions of an Iyeska

By: Viola Burnette

Narrated by: Anneliese Rennie

In this autobiography, Viola Burnette braids the history of the Lakota people with the story of her own life as an Iyeska, or mixed-race Indian. Bringing together her years growing up on a reservation, her work as a lawyer and legal advocate for Native peoples, and her woman’s perspective, she draws the listener into an intelligent and intimate conversation.

The Fort Laramie treaties of 1851 and 1868 changed everything for the Sioux. When Burnette was born on the Rosebud Indian Reservation in the late 1930's, her people were still striving to make sense of how to live under the impoverished conditions created by the imposed land restrictions. Like most Native children at that time, she was forced by federal law to attend boarding school and assimilate into white culture. Her story reveals the resulting internal conflict that she and her people faced in embracing their own identity in a world where those in authority taught that speaking Lakota and being Indian were wrong. After a difficult jump into adulthood, Burnette emerged from an abusive marriage and, while raising four children, enrolled in junior college in her 30's and law school in her 40's. She went on to become an advocate for women subjected to domestic violence and the first attorney general for the Rosebud Sioux Tribe.

Borne out under the far-reaching effects of the government-enforced restructuring of her people, Burnette’s inspiring narrative of strength and determination makes clear the importance of understanding history from a Native standpoint.

“I am an Iyeska and I am assimilated, but on my own terms. I choose when, where, and how I use the knowledge and skills I have learned. As long as we continue to teach our children and grandchildren the language, values, and traditions of the Lakota people, we will survive”.

©2018 University of Utah Press (P)2020 University of Utah Press

story about Native American woman in her life history

But I like the most about this story was her courage and how she got back up and brush yourself off and started over again.

Inspiring story

An inspiring story of a mixed-race Lakota women who overcame many struggles including racism, intimate partner violence, and chronic illness to make substantial contributions to her community. The author is an excellent storyteller and weavers her personal history with details of Lakota history in a way that stimulated my thinking and expanded my compassion.

A treasure

I loved the writing and was caught up in the story telling before I realized how fascinating and full of history lessons it had. The kindness and brilliance of the writer comes through.

Valuable history

Viola is a historian of little known parts of modern American history. Her woman perspective is rarely found. Her strength is profound in the face of the violence and racism she experienced. Her victories are so much more joyful because of how she was able to succeed. Wish her life had been easier but so happy she shared it with us.

Moving

This book really makes you pull for the author. You feel for her as a child, and you want her to do well as an adult. It talks about how the government has tried to separate Native Americans from their heritage for so long.