Quote by Tommy Orange: “We didn’t know we were survivors. We just survived.”

This powerful quote illustrates that resilience isn't always a conscious choice, but often a sheer act of perseverance in the face of overwhelming hardship. It highlights that sometimes people endure simply out of necessity, only later realizing the strength they embodied.

This line from 'There There' speaks to the lived reality of Indigenous peoples who have faced generations of adversity, colonization, and violence. It underscores a deep, inherent resilience that operates beyond labels, particularly relevant in a period of increased awareness about intergenerational trauma.

American author and member of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma whose debut novel There There was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in 2019. His work brings Indigenous urban experience in America to the centre of contemporary literary fiction.