You Better Go See Geri: An Odawa Elder's Life of Recovery and Resilience

Born into an Odawa family in Michigan in 1932, Frances "Geri" Roossien lived a life that was both ordinary and instructive. As a child, she attended Holy Childhood Boarding School; as an adult, she coped with her trauma through substance abuse; and in recovery she became a respected elder who developed tribally centered programs for addiction and family health, including the first Native American Recovery Group.

While a graduate student, Andrea Riley Mukavetz was invited into Geri's home to listen to her stories and assist in compiling and publishing a memoir. Geri wanted her stories to serve as a resource, form of support, and affirmation that Indigenous people can be proud of who they are and overcome trauma. Geri hoped to be a model to present and future generations, and she believed strongly that more Indigenous people should become substance abuse counselors and work with their communities in tribally specific ways.

Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: Oregon State University Press
Published: 12/06/2021
ISBN: 9780870711602
Pages: 128