thriving

Jo says her son is now thriving, and she is optimistic about his transition to secondary school next year.

“It proves that as Indigenous people, we have been thriving on this land long enough to share the wealth with others.”

Instilling a strong camaraderie, and seeing her group thriving as a result, is a source of great satisfaction for Keothavong.

“He switched from being silent and quiet to active and alive and thriving.”

It eventually grew into a thriving community with homes, mobile homes, restaurants and churches, according to the nonprofit Section 14 Survivors.