Nathan Solorio, bullied at school in Pennsylvania for his long hair, is now a mentor for other Indigenous teens in the area.
The 15-year-old is a descendant of the Roseau River Anishinabe First Nation and Brokenhead Ojibway First Nation. Solorio, a high school student in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, said his long braids represent his culture, ancestors, and inner strength.
Nathan told TODAY Parents in an interview that he wears his hair long because his ancestors were not allowed to when they were forced to go to residential schools. He spoke of a movement in the 19th century that ripped Indigenous kids from their homes, enrolling them in boarding schools that destroyed their culture through indoctrination and abuse.
Nathan suffered intense bullying in Pennsylvania
Nathan said the three strands of his braids represent his spirit, mind, and body. With no federally registered Indian tribes in Pennsylvania, Nathan and his 11-year-old brother Noah are the only Indigenous children at their school.
Nathan recalled that his classmates teased him about his hair, pushing him and even calling him a girl. He said they once threw a metal water bottle at him on the bus.
Because his dad is Mexican, the kids told Nathan that he is not Native and he is Hispanic. The students even called him slurs, with Nathan forced to cut his hair at one stage to cope with the bullying. He explained that from a young age, that hurts.
Nathan confided in his mother, Misty, who was also the victim of bullying while she attended a predominantly white school in central Pennsylvania. Misty said that she was ashamed of her black hair and how she looked many times growing up. She added that she used to wish for blond hair and blue eyes.
Misty eventually learned to value her long hair, which she still maintains today, after connecting with her roots. Her biological dad comes from Roseau River Anishinabe First Nation, while her biological mom is from Brokenhead Ojibway First Nation.
Misty and Nathan proud of their ancestors
She said she is so proud of her ancestors, community, and family. She added that she is the spiritual keeper for her sons, and her hair represents her strength, life experience, and knowledge.
When her sister died back in 2012, Misty breathed in her culture, as she had always done before. She explained that part of her healing journey was returning to the circle to dance. She started participating in a "Jingle Dress Dance" performance which originated from the Ojibwe people.
A family friend recently nominated Nathan for a "25 Under 25 Native Youth Leadership Program" award. The honor is given through the United National Indian Tribal Youth (UNITY), an Arizona-based leadership organization for Native Hawaiian, Alaska Native, and American Indian children.
