Washoe Tribe member's book discusses foster care

Some say, “God blocks things from your memory for a reason.” For Washoe Tribe member Dale Bennett, things happen for a reason.

In her book: “Together We Endured: A Washo Memoir of Foster Homes & Family,” Bennett recalls her childhood growing up in a native community in Dresslerville and shares the worst and most confusing day of her life that eventually shaped her future.

Published in February, “Together We Endured,” took Bennett a year to write after feeling inspired by a gentleman who came into the Stewart Indian School, where she volunteers.

“A man, who came in here, had experienced abuse at the school and he said he was trying to heal,” said Bennett. “He paused and looked around with sadness on his face, recalling I assume bad memories and he said ‘I can’t do it, this will be the last time I am here,’ and then he left.”

After that, Bennett knew as a Washoe, that there were others out there who had experienced similar stories, including her own.

Bennett was 5 years old when she was taken from her Woodfords home. Her sister Della was 7 and brother Rick was 9. Bennett and her siblings were placed in a children’s home in Carson City then endured six long years going from foster home to foster home, some more abusive then the last.

“It’s written for foster children,” said Bennett, “to not be afraid to speak up.”

Having experienced the foster care system, Bennett became a foster parent herself and fostered more than 50 children.

“I wanted to protect them, so they didn’t have to go through the same abuse that I did as a foster child,” she said.

Through her story, she wanted children to know that they don’t have to feel alone and afraid in foster care, that there are good people who will help.

What she didn’t expect, was for her story to touch adults too.

“So many adults have come up to me saying that my story really touched them, then they would pour their hearts out about the things they experienced,” she said.

She said the stories kept her up at night. She could not eat or think about much, but what people had shared with her.

“It was like that for two days,” she said. “But it was good, good to feel that and know that my story touched so many lives.”

Bennett said she looks beyond the struggles she and her siblings faced and knows that gifts came from them. She became an advocate for foster children, she learned to bead and continues to create including salt and pepper shakers, lamps, walking sticks and more. She also volunteers at the Stewart Indian School, where she can be found in the gift shop beading and chatting with anyone who comes in.

“I am always available to talk,” she said. “ I want people to know they can tell me their stories. We all go through different traumas and experiences and it’s good to share so others can hear them and not feel so alone and start to heal.”

Copies of “Together We Endured: A Washo Memoir of Foster Homes & Family” can be purchased at the Stewart Indian School located at 1 Jacobsen Way in Carson City or call Dale Bennett at 530-318-2886.