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Father And Daughter Discuss Catholic Influence And Abuse On The Wind River Reservation

Flickr Creative Commons/Jimmy Emerson

Earlier this month, the Jesuit order of the Catholic Church released a list of priests who have credible accusations of sexual abuse against them. Two of the priests—Paul Pilgram and Anthony Short—served at Saint Stephens Mission on the Wind River Reservation in the 1970s and 80s. 

Until 1939, St. Stephens was an Indian boarding school and after that a day school. But the news of priest abuse isn't a surprise to many tribal members. Wyoming Public Radio's Melodie Edwards spoke with 71-year-old Northern Arapaho tribal member Ernie Whiteman and his daughter Missy about the Catholic Church's role on the Wind River Reservation.

Melodie Edwards is the host and producer of WPM's award-winning podcast The Modern West. Her Ghost Town(ing) series looks at rural despair and resilience through the lens of her hometown of Walden, Colorado. She has been a radio reporter at WPM since 2013, covering topics from wildlife to Native American issues to agriculture.
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