ᎤᎾᏰᎯᏍᏗ ᏕᎬᎦᏆᏂᏍᎨ Ross ᏃᎴ Ridge, ᏂᏛᏓᎴᏂᏍᎬ ᏣᎳᎩᏱ ᎠᏰᎵ ᏙᏰ ᎠᏁᎯ ᎠᏂᏴᏫᏯ ᏕᏥᏍᏕᎵᏍᎬ, ᎠᏆᏁᎸᏓᎾ ᎣᎦᎵᎪᏗ ᎣᏥᏰᎵᏒ, ᎢᏧᎳ ᎠᏂᏍᎦᏯ ᎬᏇᏯᏔᏅ ᏤᏍᏗ ᏌᏬᏛᎭ ᎠᎹ ᏱᏂᏨᏁᎴᏍᏗ ᎤᏍᏗ ᎠᎦᏎᏍᏙᏗ ᎯᏰᎵᏒ.
Both Ross and Ridge viewed me with a great deal of wariness, since I represented Indians living outside the Nation, and when I tried to suggest we join ranks in our efforts, each man let me know I was on my own and warned me not to muddy their waters with my little problems.