Living In the Past?

"Just let go of the past"

How many of us have heard that when we were having a rough time with a bad break up, a bad fight, or whatever it may be.  Just let go of the past, leave it behind, simple right?

That's not what this guy thought as he writes about his encounters with non-Indian people who always ask him "Why do you live in the past?" and debate about American Indian events via his Facebook.

Not only is this a, for lack of better words, dumb question, but it's inconsiderate and Mike Taylor shoots back some pretty good comments: "Why don't you forget 9/11? Or the Holocaust?"

History creates you, it shapes you, every action has molded you to be who you are today.  For these people to say "Forget about the past" is a very high demand.  How are Native Americans, forced onto reservations, highest chronic diseases in the nation, highest teen pregnancies rates, crime rates, etc suppose to forget what has brought them here to their current state?  The past history is a reason that all these problems are occurring.

For Mike Taylor's reasoning for "They probably feel guilty and don't want to be reminded of the past", I'm not sure.  This may or may not be true, but it doesn't seem like the obvious answer.

Read more of his opinion piece, it's a good read.

Native American Supermodel?

Remember Mariah Watchman?  A contestant that appeared on America's Next Top Model and was singled out for her Native American background.

This beauty is no longer just a TV figure, but a household name on reservations ever since her appearance



In this interview by Indian Country Today, Watchman talks more about her Native American background and history and her new clothing line, N8TV.  Clever :) (Say it out loud now)

It's really good to see a rising Native American star who has hopes to improve the state of her nation and wants to continue to help as her career progress.  The best way to help out Indian Country is to bring awareness and that is exactly what she is doing!

As she says: "I wasn't respresenting myself, I was representing a nation"

Culture, tradition, importance to family, this girl has it going on!

I can only hope she can keep up the good work and continue to represent Indian Country! :)

Memes: No One Can Escape Them

Meme: an element of a culture or behavior that may be passed from one individual to another by nongenetic means, esp imitation.

If you're an avid internet user, you have seen memes! There's no way of escaping them!  Here an example:

This is Ridiculously Photogenic guy, this image just happened to be capture of a guy running a 10k (and he looks pretty good!) and there are MILLION of captions!  You get my jist.

So I saw this article in Indian Country Today and I'm thinking "Oh boy.. this can't be good".  But it actually turned out to be quite hilarious:

These are hilarious!!  I thought they would be extremely racist or not tasteful, but I actually found myself laughing at all these because it speaks about the social injustices that the Native Americans faced!  But in a clever, sarcastic way!

Do you find these funny? Offense?  Sound off!

WOW, it's been a while

Wanamaker Collections (that happened on March 14th) was amazing to see.

Although it was quite warm that day (And by warm, I mean boiling during the evening) seeing the pictures made Native Americans of the past more... real.

It is not like they were a myth before, but it was just sort of like a good story.  But seeing these pictures made me realize that there were people who truly use to dress, live, and act a certain way.  And I'm glad that there are these pictures because it preserves this culture, this way of life that was once lived.

Although the heat felt like it was going to boil me alive, I'm glad I was able to come out to the event.  It was a great opportunity to see and I hope to be able to see more history of other tribes and individual Native Americans.

Fashion Bit: Shopping Edition

Well, well well, Urban Outfitters is in trouble with the Navajo Nation!  All with this little trinket:

Apparently calling this a "Vintage 1930's Navajo pendent", U.O. violated the Indians Arts and Crafts Act.  They also have underwear and socks with the Navajo title too.  This caused an outrage and U.O. pulled these items to avoid controversy.  

This made me a little curious and I did my own search on Freepeople.com and the "Navajo" label definitely did not stop them.

This Magical Feather Bag has a "Metal Native American pendant hanging on a leather chord near the strap" .  Hmm... So if you call it 'Native American', can no one claim it? (I wouldn't either.. it's $400!)

Navajo - Legal case. Native American - nothing... that I know of.  I agree that U.O probably should have gotten permission to use the term Navajo in their advertising.  But yeesh.. it does sure feel like suing-slap happy.  But at least they took it off!  Freepeople.com also led me to this footwear company:

Manitobah Mukluks Trapper Moccasins. 98$. But the company name caught my curiosity and I googled them further.

The company is made up of the Metis, a group of Aboriginal people in Canada who can trace their roots back to First Nations and European heritage.  Their company punchline is to make footwear that is authentic to the style and materials according to tradition and the way their ancestors.  Production is close to home and they gain profit.  That's not bad right?  I think it is definitely a better alternative to smoking and casinos.

It's traditional, it's sort of affordable (to the working gal), and it's payment to the original people.  I'm for it!

What started off as an outrage to the mainstream clothing company turns out to be a happy ending for a local clothing company!  At least for me :D Yay!

If it's related to Native Americans.. give the tribes and ancestors some credit (and profit!)

Shop happy!

Person of the Day: Mariah Watchman

I use to be an avid America's Next Top Model fan.  It was fun and interesting and incredibly addicting.  But nowadays, Tyra Banks is legit crazy and the show is no fun.

Except they got a legit American Indian model on the show.  Previous models have been part Native American, but Mariah Watchman is the first one to actually have grown on a reservation.  Interesting!  She embraces her identity in her photographs:

On the left: Mariah pictured as Pocahontas

Not really sure what this photoshoot was about..

Either way, I think it's a nice mainstream exposure of Native American reservation-ness to a TV audience.  But who knows how they will paint her and what her image will be like.. ANTM isn't exactly known for being fair bout that.  Maybe I'll have to watch... maybe you'll have to watch!

Happy March! (Casino time?)

First post of March! Got to make it epic!  How about we visit a familiar topic: Casinos in Michigan.

Building one in Lansing?  The capital of the Dead Auto Industry?  Sure!  But building 22?!  In the lower part of Michigan? I'm not sure I can support this.

This article in the Detroit Free Press says there's a plan to build 22 new casinos in Michigan.  One in Oakland, Wayne, and Macomb and more counties.  One in dead pan Flint (no offense)... plenty all over! -_- Not a good idea.

Yes, it would bring tons of employment and wealth to the Native Americans and their reservations and tribes..but can we try to keep in mind that gambling happens at casinos?  And as much as gambling can be a fun venture.. gambling is associated with addiction and greed and all that stuff.  This may be a personal opinion of mine, but I think putting 22 new casinos is a horrible idea.  

Why must we be the new Las Vegas of the Midwest?  We're the autoindustry state, not the new Sin City!  What happens in Vegas, should stay in Vegas.  All of it.

Yay or Nay for gambling?

New York Times Tidbit

For my ISS 320, we have to read the newspaper every day.  Mainly related to the Middle East, but of course I browse the other headlines when one caught my eye: Tribes, in Tax Fight, Make Their Own Cigarettes.  

The article is about how the Oneida tribe of New York (One of 8 federally recognized tribes in NY) have started their own cigarette company to bring in some money.  Some people complain that it is a way to avoid getting taxes, but I think the whole thing is sort of ironic.

Native Americans are known for the highest tobacco, alcohol, chronic disease, obesity, etc rates.  Is it a good idea to establish a cigarette business just to bring in more money?  I guess if there's no other way... I just don't know how I feel about it.  It's not about the money.  From a health perspective, if as a nation, Native Americans want to improve their health standing, selling cigarettes isn't exactly the way to go.  I mean, it's not like they can go and manufacturer exercise equipment (Which would be pretty cool actually), but.. I still think this is a questionable quandary.  

What do you think? Sound off.

pow... WOW!!

I forgot to write about this, but I went to the powwow last weekend!  And can I say... WOW!  

I didn't know what I was expecting really, anyone I told I was going to a powwow, they asked "wow, what goes on there?".  And honestly.. I had no idea.  I grabbed a friend and entered the gymanisum, and.. WOW!  The immediate sound of the music, the traditional singing, hit me and all I saw was booths set up and dancing and it was just wonderful.  I sat in the bleachers and took some videos and pictures:

Women's dance, I loooooved it!

The traditional wear is just so.. impressive.  I was in awe.

I think I sat and watched for a good 20 minutes.  I loved every second of it, I loved watching everyone interact with everyone else with such familiarness.  I know all tribes are different from each other, but they all felt like a huge family.  It was such a warm feeling.  Everyone's dancing, eating, laughing, dressed up all proud,  whoever said the Native American culture is extinct... they are so 100% wrong!  

I ended up buying a necklace from the "Two Stoners" booth which I've been wearing every single day since actually.  I just wanted to know more, go to more of these, and just watch and listen.  It was such a great experience and I want to go to many more of these,  I just hope there's many more to go to :).  I absolutely loved it.  Maybe next time I'll just go by myself, strike up a conversation with someone there with the powwow and ask more questions.  =] I just hope there's an opportunity!

It was really great, I wish more people would go! And learn!  I'm definitely inviting my friends to more of these events!

A Fail Book: Dear American, My Heart Is on the Ground

After learning about the boarding school experience in class, I realized I had a Dear America book about it!  If you're not familiar with the Dear America series, it's always written from a young child or teenager (usually female, but there are a few male) from a certain period of time and their perspective of things.  They were really interesting when I was a little kid.  I didn't remember how the book went, so when I went to reread this weekend... I was completely shocked.

This book is nothing, even close to the real experience of Indian boarding schools.  The worst thing this child went through was scouring pots and pans til her hands were tired.  But apparently, the tribes wanted to send their children and the chiefs came to visit occasionally and everyone wanted to "learn the white man ways" to make their tribe proud.... what?!

According to this book, they were taught by sometimes kind, but good teachers and were allowed to go on outings and swimming and often ate delicious foods during celebrations.. what?  The most realistic thing about this book is the fact they discouraged the students from talking in their language, but apparently when a new student comes "it's alright for now".  I don't know what boarding school this was (Carlisle Indian School, PA, 1880), but every Native American should have gone there!  

I don't know what fairytale this is, but it's ridiculous because a young child (what level this book is written for) will be easily influenced by this and thinking that Native American children had an extremely positive experience..... wrong.  Obviously, young children shouldn't know the actual ongoings.. but still.. why even write it in the first place?  That actually disappoints me.  =[  

Point of this: If you want your child to know Native Americans... don't give them this book.  It's 99.9% inaccurate.

Eta Carine Explosion

You know what's awesome?  If anyone ever tries to tell you that Native Americans aren't scientific and their traditions and knowledge is silly, you can tell them WRONG!

This is the Eta Carine, one of the stars in the Milky Way, that exploded 7,500 years ago and has been observed since the 1800s, but only now are scientists really able to study this with their fancy equipment.  But the Boorong aboriginal people in Australia saw it in 1800s and predicted it first! 

So not technically Native American, but still probably put in the same genre.  Either way, it proves that indigenous people are not just about spiritual things.  They had their own way about measuring science and just because it's not the modern way, doesn't mean it's wrong! :) Different methods are great, so ha! (Incas? 2012? Eeks, we'll see)

Thought that was interesting, not necessarily related to Native Americans! Oh well!

Toodles

Right at Home: Lansing Casino Proposal Rejected

Here I am on Valentine's Day, perusing Turtle Talk when the word "Lansing" struck my eye.

Gov. Synder/AG Schuette Opposes Lansing Casino Proposal

Say whaaa?

The Chippewa Indians, which we've heard much about in my class, sent a proposal for building a casino in Lansing but Gov. Syner and Attorney General Schuette turned it down.  And not very nicely.  They said they'd advise against it and the tribe should "proceed at their own risk".  Yikes. That is not friendly.

Considering what I've read and heard about Governor Synder, I am not surprised.  But I'm annoyed.  I can see why there is an issue because there are already 3 casinos off reservation.. but what are they suppose to do?  I don't like how this article portrayed this, it almost makes it sound that the tribe is being greedy.

1.  The tribe probably has very small amount of land compare what they use to have before the federal government took over and manipulated them.

2.  The tribe has the lowest income and unemployment rates of the state and probably need this extra income to help out their situation.  If building another casino will help out with that, then so be it!

This makes me pretty mad actually, not going to lie.  There are so many forms, approvals, committees that the tribe has to go through.  I feel like if any other American wanted to build a business on some land, it'd be done boom, just like that.  But because Native Americans are trying to build a business for themselves... they  have to go through so much red tape!  It's obnoxious!  And seeing how Governor Synder isn't exactly known for being all about fairness and diversity, it's frustrating that there is no other say. 

Hopefully there is another way for the Chippewa Indians to obtain permission from the federal government.

Until next time folks!

Powerful Message Against Domestic Violence

I was pursuing the interwebz (mainly on Turtle Talk) and I found this video.  A very strong powerful message about domestic violence against Native American women.

It's interesting because it's written from the man's, the abuser's, point of view.  I feel like a lot of poems/artistic representation would be taken from the women's.  But this is from the man's, and he is aware and he is apologizing and he wants to raise awareness.

How this was filmed and how the poem is read made an impact on me, I don't think I'll forget this video ever.  It shows real indigenous women, the poem is not just a story, but real situations and issues that happen to these women. 

It's a voice coming from the abuser not to just the Native American reservation, but to the President, to senators, to the nation.  We are all a part of this.  

"For the restraining order that is as strong as the paper it's made from"

It's not enough

"I dare you to protect them Mr. President"

"I dare you to try to stop me tribal leaders"

It's not just a reservation issue

"This war is at home"

This is a really well written powerful message that manages to just sum everything up in a poem, in a very impacting video.

Please watch and share.  Awareness is not enough, doing something is.

Sidenote: This video was just posted yesterday, that's probably why it hasn't gotten a lot of views. But I'm really glad I found it.

Groovy Paper!

So this is amusing!

Indian Country Today featured a fun little tidbit of an artist Steven Judd who decided to draw some bills of his own on the behalf of the Indian Americans!

Andrew Jackson.. oh the irony :P

This is pretty ironic that most of these Presidents are Founding Fathers or men who changed our nation.  And yet here they are.. looking pretty snazzy as Native Americans if you ask me!  Native Americans were the real founding people of this nation, it's only fair to give them credit!  In the most creative way possible :P

I think that would be pretty cool actually.  To make a bill that represented that Native Americans.  They're definitely part of the American history, but I can see how people would oppose that.  Of course -_- Give people credit where credit is due!

Sovereignty much? ;)

That's all for now folks!

Good night!

MSU Museum Trip!

What did I do on my Friday afternoon?  Something kind of nice actually!  Went to the MSU Museum by myself and just sort of explored :) Got to check out the Susan Applegate Krouse Native American Collection!

Ohhh. Aaah!

The pictures were stunning. Absolutely stunning, really powerful pictures.  Although the guy who set up the photos did ask for the people of the tribe to dress up in feathers and traditional headdress and whatnot.  But it still comes off very powerful.  I stared a while at these pictures and wondered who they really were beyond the stereotypical image.  It was a really great experience.

This photo they don't know his name or who he was really.  Just a photo.  No other information, it is almost haunting in a way to think that someone can disappear into history like that.

This picture is up for debate whether this is a staged home or a real one.  Did the photographer make it this way or is this the natural way of the tribe?  I guess we'll never really know eh?

To be honest, it was a lot of information to absorb all at once, but I'm glad I went.  The Native Americans are a part of our history that we don't know much about at all and the stories they share are probably incredible and something we haven't really heard before.  These are not just stereotypical images, these are actual people whose lives transformed and sometimes I truly wish we could see how they were before it became transformed and before the US government tried to erase them from history.  I'm glad they've made a comeback, but still.. I wish we could know more.

Groundhog Day! (No, not the movie!)

Feb. 2 is known as Groundhog Day!!!

You remember Groundhog Day from when you were little!  It's what they teach you in elementary school, you would celebrate it and draw pictures of groundhogs and whatnot.

Cute!

Anyways, the legend goes that if the groundhog sees his shadow, we got 6 more weeks of winter.  No shadow and it's an early spring!  Funny how this little American holiday actually has some Native roots too it.

First off.. I never knew the groundhog's name:  Punxsutawney Phil. (Gesundheit.. just kidding :P)  Not exactly your average Joe name!  The name is actually taken from the former inhabitants of the Appalachian Plateau.  Not only that, but the fur of the groundhog was used the soles of moccasins!

Even the Wabanaki tribes had a mythological woodchuck in their legends, Grandmother Woodchuck who was a wise elder who taught many lessons.

I honestly never knew that the groundhog has such an extensive native background!  I sort of wish they taught that in elementary school or at least put more emphasize on it!  A little emphasize would be really awesome actually, American and Native Americans.. UNITE!

I am pretty tired.. whoops. Sleep!

Goodnight everyone!

Native Americans and DPP!

One of the links in my anthropology classes I found on the class website is an American Indian Health link!  ::nerd out:: Health, Native Americans, what a perfect website for me! ^_^

I started to explore the website and I stumbled upon an article from Health for Native Life about DPP (Diabetes Prevention Program) on a reservation in the southwest. 

The article talks about teaching the community on the reservation a 'lifestyle change' about the way they eat, portion control, and how to lower the chance of getting diabetes.  It would seem like common sense to the rest of us, but it should be known fact that Native American communities have higher rates of diabetes, cholesterol, heart disease, you name it.  Clearly there is something going on there that's different from the rest of the American population.  No doubt the stressful past history and learning how to deal with it has something to do with the bad eating habits and lack of exercise.  Comfort food.. is well, comfort.

Regardless of this information, this article proves that it's not impossible to teach an old dog a new trick!  The DPP taught the participants how food and diabetes are related, how much fat is actually in those to-go comfort foods, and how they can slowly change this.  It's not like the Native American members were not unwilling!  They just didn't know!  How can you change something if you don't even have the resources to do so? 

Swapping chips for fruit and boiling things in water vs. lard, it's no wonder the members of the DPP began to lose weight quickly and it spreads throughout the family.  But losing weight and being healthy isn't the part of this article that made me smile, it was the part that said members felt they had control and a new feeling of discipline.  How's that for sovereignty eh?  Feeling empowered and in control can definitely  improve the morale of the community and I think this program is really really important to have on all reservations!

It makes me wonder:  Are these programs available widespread through all reservations countrywide?  How effective was this program with the entire community and not just these certain participants?

Hmm... oh so many questions that make me wanna do.. MORE RESEARCH :D

Anyways, back to the grind! 

Toodles!

Serious Turtle Talk Time: Native American Girls & Sex Trafficking

I decided to peruse some articles through my anthropology class's website today and one article caught my eye.  Not in a good way mind you, but in a horrific way.

Article's title?

Sex Trafficking Rampant in Indian Country; Pimps on Prowl for Native Girls

(The article is actually from Indian Country Today but I found through Turtle Talk)

Sex trafficking. Kinda of horrific for anyone, doesn't matter who or where, it's bad.  But it's happening at a higher rate for these young girls on the reservations than in the general US population.  And talking about this on the reservation isn't easy!  There's taboo and a stigma in the culture that would bring shame to any family that admitted their daughter was a prostitute.

And it sickens me that these pimps are the outlook for native women because they look more exotic, therefore, selling better to "customers". Ugh.  And these girls can start as young as 11.

Yes this is a problem for tons of girls, especially homeless, all over the country, but awareness has not been brought to the Portland, Washington reservation.  People aren't even aware that this is a problem, a growing problem, a common problem for women.  In an area and for a cultural group that already has an unstable economy, high rates of unemployment, depression, and unequal educational opportunities, prostitution is the perfect storm for young women.  That is scary and sad for them, to think that they may think they don't have any other choice and if they say anything, they will bring shame upon themselves and their family.  Yikes, that's a tough situation.

It's just sad cause these young girls don't have the same opportunities that the average American woman does.  Do they think they don't have a bright future ahead of them and they don't have any other choice?  I can't 100% say for sure, but all women of this country should have equal treatment.  Just because these women are on reservation with their own self government should not mean we should ignore their problems!  We should help, not intervene, but assist!

The future for all young Native American girls in the sex trafficking is not hopeless.

Sundvall-Williams was a prostitute til she realized she could get out and do better for her children and her life.  She now speaks against this sexual violence and for those women who are too scared to say anything.  I think she is extremely brave, not just because she is Native American but because she is a woman fighting for a cause she believes in.  She wants to give other girls the same courage she gathered to quit the life and move on to something better.

I hope to see better laws and more action in this area =\.  This is really too unfortunate, but it is nice to know that there is some people there fighting for the cause.

Toodles for now!

Welcome to my Journal! (Is something fishy going on?)

Welcome to my new blog!  This is my reflective journal for my ANP 433 class (Contemporary American Indian Community)!  What is better way for me to harness my creativity than blogging!?
But this blog is not just about an introduction!  I've been exploring the news websites posted in the class and came across a very interesting article about salmon. 
What bout it? (Some of you may ask)

Apparently the governor of Washington wants a "1.5$ million transfer from the Department of Fish and Wildlife to protect salmon production at several hatcheries".  So what? What is that piece of information got to do with the Indian Americans?
Millions actually.
The Indian American tribes in Washington produce more 30 million salmon at their hatcheries a  year.  And this will be drastically cut down if this transfer does not happen causing even more economic instability in the Indian American community (if you don't know already.. the economy in those reservations is way behind average US city economies).  This salmon isn't just beneficial to the Indian Americans, everyone harvest the benefits!  Both Indian Americans and non Indian Americans use the fish and those specific hatcheries effect all fisheries nationwide!  Cut the budgets, lose some fish, destabilize an economy furthermore, and effecting fisheries everywhere else... yeah, that doesn't sound good!
And I can't say it any better than the article about how it would affect the community more than just economically:

This is not just an economic issue, this is a government treaty issue too!  As citizens of the United States, the government needs to uphold and respect these treaties with the Indian American community!  It's all about the basic rights and the Indian American community deserve theirs to be put to practice.
That's all I got for tonight, I'm pretty tired.
Night everyone!