By Melarie Pretty Paint-Conway (Deaxkaash Biia – Eagle Woman)
2024-2025 Indigenous Visionaries: Women’s Leadership Program
My name is Melarie Pretty Paint-Conway. My Indian name is Deaxkaash Biia — Eagle Woman. I am an enrolled member of the Crow Tribe of Montana. I currently work at United Tribes Technical College (UTTC) as the Student Health Coordinator. I am also an alumna of UTTC, where I graduated in 2017 with an Associate of Science in Practical Nursing. I continued my education and earned my Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2022 at Presentation College in Aberdeen, SD.
My mother was the biggest influence in my life. She always pushed me and my two younger sisters to pursue our education and reach our goals. Through her struggles and triumphs, my mother demonstrated strength and resiliency. Watching her face hardships with determination became a driving force in my own life.
Melarie’s mother Dorcus, middle sister Keirsten, herself and little sister Kerrera at Two Leggins near the Big Horn River in St. Xavier, Montana.
Mental health has always been an area of deep concern for me. As Native people, we often struggle with mental health issues but are hesitant to seek help. For some, asking for support is seen as a sign of weakness. When you look at our history—what our ancestors endured, the historical trauma, and the generational pain—you can understand why so many of us still suffer silently. My mother was one of the silent sufferers before she decided she needed to break the cycle for herself and her three girls. This is the story of my mother’s mental health journey and how she decided to be the change for her children.
Melarie Pretty Paint’s graduation photo at Presentation College on May 6, 2023
“My personal struggles with mental health began in my late teens. I married young and had three beautiful daughters, but after only two years, my marriage ended in divorce. As a single parent, I juggled multiple jobs while attending school, doing everything I could to provide for my girls. It was a daily struggle—mentally, emotionally, and physically. For years, I kept everything bottled up. I isolated myself, focusing only on my children and my work. But over time, my mental health declined. Anxiety and depression overwhelmed me, to the point where I couldn’t continue working. Growing up, I often heard from my grandmother that talking about personal problems would bring shame to the family. That belief made me hesitant to seek help. But as my mental health worsened, I realized I had no choice—I needed help not just for myself, but for my children. Despite my fears, I decided to try counseling. And I am so thankful that I did. Counseling gave me the tools to heal, to cope, and to regain control of my life. As I worked on my mental health, I was able to return to work, rebuild my strength, and start living again. Today, I work at a recovery center, helping individuals who are struggling with addiction and mental health challenges. I share my story with them, letting them know they are not alone. Many of them, like me, have unaddressed trauma from their youth. I remind them that healing is possible—and that seeking help is not a weakness; it is a powerful act of courage. Mental health is just as important as physical health.
I still deal with anxiety, but today, I have the tools to manage it. Counseling continues to be part of my journey, and I encourage anyone who is struggling to reach out for help. You are not alone, and healing is possible. As Native people, we carry the strength and wisdom of our ancestors, but we also carry wounds that need healing. It’s time to break the stigma surrounding mental health in our communities. Seeking help is not a betrayal of our traditions or our strength—it is an act of honoring ourselves, our families, and our future generations. Healing begins when we acknowledge our struggles and open the door for others to do the same.”
By talking about mental health openly, we reclaim our resilience in a new way—ensuring that our communities not only survive but truly thrive. Breaking the stigma around mental health in Native communities is an act of strength. Seeking help does not make us weak, it makes us warriors of healing for ourselves and future generations. By speaking up, we create space for resilience, hope, and true healing to take root.
Healing is strength. By breaking the silence around mental health, we honor our ancestors and protect future generations.
