Performing a Giveaway Ceremony
Abstract
In Homing In, I refer to myself as the Giveaway Girl. The ritual of the Giveaway allowed me to transcend my adoption. It also provided me with a way to connect with higher meaning through the Native American tradition, rising above the adoption as well as the pain of separation that giving up a child entails. The Giveaway ceremony in Native American cultures is a sacred act of generosity, a ritual where individuals give away personal belongings as a sign of gratitude and connection to the community. This ceremony holds a deep resonance with my own life, as I have referred to myself as the Giveaway Girl, given away in adoption.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Autobiographical and Biographical Writing
Indigenous Cultures and History
Child Welfare and Adoption
Publication details
- Journal / source
- IGI Global eBooks
- Pages
- 423–434
- Publication date
- 5 March 2026
- Language
- NG
- Document type
- Book chapter