Thompson Bridget

Article by Samantha McMillon-Wilkinson
Indian Time Vol 31#30
August 1, 2013

"I' m on my own healing path," Bridget Thompson told me . And on that path, in a surprising turn, she has written four children's books. They are called, "You're Perfect Just the Way You Are," "Love Doesn't Hurt," "This is My Body" and "Drugs Aren't Fun."

Bridget started writing, the books about five months ago. She wrote, all four and illustrated them herself too. She said they came so easy to her. From the titles, you can tell they are about the many abuses like drug and physical abuses. Bridget said, "I just want to let kids know they are not alone, it happens more than they think."

After much research, Bridget has chosen Tate Publishing, but they require $4,000 to publish the four books. She has received partial funding from the Tribe's Sponsorship Fund . In Bridget's attempt to get funding, she has received almost a dozen letters of support. Some from agencies who believe her book would benefit their clients, like Three Sisters, IPP, the Adolescent Treatment Center and even the Akwesasne Mohawk School.
Some programs would use her books on a regular basis for awareness and prevention .

Bridget's mission: ''If I could just help one kid to know that they are not alone, that people will listen to them. It would be worth it, '' she said.

Eventually she would like to go into the schools and read the books. She also plans to get them translated into Mohawk. Contact Bridget to order at 315-296-8795. Bridget will keep people posted on hr progress on hr Facebook page.

Update Indian time Vol 32#36
September 11, 2014

Since publishing, Bridget has been busy bringing her books all over hoping to help children have the courage to come forward if they are abused. She has visited the Children's Treatment Center in Cornwall, Kateri School in Kahnawake, and she will be meeting with the Social Services Department in Oka. Locally Bridget has been to the Partridge House, Group Home and the Akwesasne Library.

Bridget is working on getting her books in schools and has met with the AMBEBoard.

She said, "It's all good. Just want to keep going. I'm excited." She hopes to donate 5% of the proceeds from book sales to program like the Three Sisters. Her books are also available at the Nation Bookstore.