Posted by Sandra Bercier on Nov 20 2007 1:44PM - Dawn Slocum uses the name Charging against the wishes of the Charging Family, into which I am honored to be adopted. Dawn is non-Indian and therefore cannot qualify as a "tribal" spokesperson. She may be a spokesperson for the Tribe. Semantics yes, but this wording would make it clear that she is not "tribal".

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Posted by Yeh! on Nov 25 2007 10:49AM - Dawn Charging will not get my vote next fall.

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Posted by Dawn Charging on Dec 7 2007 9:56PM - Dear Sandra Bercier,
You are in fact correct that my maiden name proudly is Slocum. But you are poorly informed, as I am an enrolled member of the Federal Recognized Tribe - Three Affiliated Tribes. My father, the late Jim Slocum served our Tribe as a Tribal councilman.
I will pray for you and all who wish hateful thoughts onto others.
As with most North Dakotans, I work hard and love my Tribe and State. So much so, that I have dedicated my career to communications; photography and writing. The name Dawn Charging is my legal divorced name, that is true. I am not the first nor last woman on this great earth that maintained a single identity. No disrespect to anyone. I too am adopted into the Charging family, a large and loving family, and I honor them respectfully.
Serving the North Dakota Legislature as District 4 State Representative is also an honor; where I have worked hard to make our State a better place to work and live.
Merry Christmas,
Sincerely,
Dawn (Slocum) Charging
And furthermore I find your comment challenging my tribal affiliation/membership abusive and racist and the only reason that I have chose to respond at all.

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Posted by Shawn Lisa Charging on Dec 25 2007 10:27PM - Dear Ms. Charging,
As a representative of the state legislature and Three Affiliated Tribes it is your moral responsibility to state the truth about your identity. You stated that you respect the Charging family although you continue to use your ex husbands name against his and his immediate familys consent. If you proudly uphold your father's name why don't you use it?

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Posted by charge on Dec 25 2007 10:52PM - Dawn, Do you have no moral statutes! Why is using the Charging
name such an obsession to you when obviously they oppose to it.
You say your proud of your father's name so why not go back to
using his name? I would be so embarassed and humiliated if my ex-inlaws had asked me to change my name back, I would respect the families wishes and also do you think you're a movie star that you need a status name??

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Posted by Sandra Bercier on Jan 26 2008 11:28PM - My bad, I assumed you were non-Native, that is the impression I've been under for a long time. I apologize for that, and that only.

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Posted by Sandra Bercier on Jan 28 2008 10:44AM - I called one of my sisters to ask her how it was that I could be wrong about Dawn Slocum's background. Why did I assume she was non-Indian, ever since she married my brother? I then found out that yes, Dawn is enrolled. The blood quantum requirement at Fort Berthold was not as it stands now, which requires at least 1/4. Hence, prior to around 1986, a person with a 1/8 quantum for example, could be enrolled. I also want to make it clear that my adopted family is the Arnie and Cleo Charging Family. They are my parents and I am well aware of the wishes of this family as far as their family name goes. This name story gets even crazier because I remember that Dawn kept the Charging name when she married another man. Does the fact that it is her "legal" right to keep the name make keeping it right? I love and deeply respect my folks and my family, I don't like it when anything makes them in the least bit unhappy.

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