Growing up as a young girl in Concho on tribal land, I never imagined the journey my life would take me on. My childhood was filled with simple joys like playing on hay bales, fishing at Concho Lake where I caught my first perch, teasing tarantulas, climbing trees and running from snakes.

I remember walking to the BIA white building to buy a Coke or a candy bar. At that time, the world felt safe. I had never heard of anyone missing or murdered.

That changed years later.