When Michelle Bender was just a month old, her mother realized she couldn't take care

of her, so she went down to Tulsa County DHS and signed adoption papers, relinquishing

her parental rights.

Michelle was placed in foster care.

The first foster placement complained that Michelle, who was still an infant, was a problem

child and cried too much.

But her second foster family became devoted to her, quickly and forever.

I was the youngest, sibling of four children, and I was the most spoiled because I was the

baby.

Michelle was two years old when Susan and Charles Robertson adopted her.

My parents are non-native.

Throughout this interview, I will refer to them as my parents because they are my parents.

They're the ones that loved me, nurtured me and raised me.

Despite the love and support she got from her family, Michelle always felt like there

was something missing.

I always had a sense of belonging within the walls of my home, but when I came to outside

of the walls of the home, the reality of my race really became an issue.

As a native kid, Michelle wasn't accepted by white students.

As a child, I had made attempts to associate with children that looked like my family members,

but I was never allowed to go play with them outside of school.

But growing up removed from her culture and tribe, she didn't fit in with native kids either.

When I attempted to make friends with children that I looked like, I was also rejected.

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