Do you think American Indians are push overs?

[~Journey~]

WOW! This thread and others like it are exactly why I continue to be a part of Powwows.com. As a Native Mother, I am constantly learning and teaching. So thank you everyone. We never know when we will be able to "break into" the change agents, but we got to keep trying!

Wow.. this is what I thought while reading... this is a great thread. We have such great intellect and wisdom here at pws.com.. One of the reasons I am part of this site!

[Jammer]

I like to hear people that know how to speak their minds. Its the **** that we keep building up inside us that ends up making us sick and then eventually killing us. A few years ago I was talking on another site, and I ended up bringing up issues dealing with out people and that stuff that still goes on day to day. I would say 90% or so of the so called skins on that site went off the deep end. Speaking about how they didn't want to be surrounding with negativity and that the time spend there was a time for fellowship and peace. Thats major horse ****! Show me one native family that lives a fairy tell life and is still connected to who they are. There is no way in hell you can be connected to who you are and live life like its a bowl of cherries. How can a person forget about the past and what still goes on in the present? They say you must forgive but you don't have to forget. Well I choose not to forgive. Why the hell would I want to forgive a people that killed and tortured my people? Women, children and the oldones? Those that took our lands, our homes, making up forget or loose some of our traditions and ceremonies and now our tongues. People that are afriad to speak out, that are afraid they might go to jail or loose their per caps is messed up big time. Nothing ever comes for free, we have to be the firstt to help ourselfs, to make it known to not just this country but to the world that times have changed. That we are no longer afraid to stand for what we believe in and demand to have what is rightfully ours. I'd have to agree that 1. One of the problems is unity. We are so caught up on comparing each other to ourselfs and our own nations. We use our fight and our spirits to put some much **** down instead of saving it up and using it for something that might eventually help all of us instead of just our families. And 2. I think its high time that we have an AIM of the new millenium. There are so many of us out there now that have degrees, have money, and know how to use the system. We have the resources from west coast to the east coast from the north pole to the southern tip of South America.

[AngelFeather]

Wow.. this is what I thought while reading... this is a great thread. We have such great intellect and wisdom here at pws.com.. One of the reasons I am part of this site!

I too appreciate the people here on Pws.com, I have learned from alot of people here and thier thoughts and ideas.

[La + * Mom]

Way to Go Jammer...

I like to hear people that know how to speak their minds. Its the **** that we keep building up inside us that ends up making us sick and then eventually killing us. A few years ago I was talking on another site, and I ended up bringing up issues dealing with out people and that stuff that still goes on day to day. I would say 90% or so of the so called skins on that site went off the deep end. Speaking about how they didn't want to be surrounding with negativity and that the time spend there was a time for fellowship and peace. Thats major horse ****! Show me one native family that lives a fairy tell life and is still connected to who they are. There is no way in hell you can be connected to who you are and live life like its a bowl of cherries. How can a person forget about the past and what still goes on in the present? They say you must forgive but you don't have to forget. Well I choose not to forgive. Why the hell would I want to forgive a people that killed and tortured my people? Women, children and the oldones? Those that took our lands, our homes, making up forget or loose some of our traditions and ceremonies and now our tongues. People that are afriad to speak out, that are afraid they might go to jail or loose their per caps is messed up big time. Nothing ever comes for free, we have to be the firstt to help ourselfs, to make it known to not just this country but to the world that times have changed. That we are no longer afraid to stand for what we believe in and demand to have what is rightfully ours. I'd have to agree that 1. One of the problems is unity. We are so caught up on comparing each other to ourselfs and our own nations. We use our fight and our spirits to put some much **** down instead of saving it up and using it for something that might eventually help all of us instead of just our families. And 2. I think its high time that we have an AIM of the new millenium. There are so many of us out there now that have degrees, have money, and know how to use the system. We have the resources from west coast to the east coast from the north pole to the southern tip of South America.

...man that's straight-up...and my sentiments exactly although we have to maintain 'adult decorum' in our everyday poise...I would love to go right off on one those "my great grandmother was a cherokee princess types." I once told a princess heir that my great grandfather was an african chief and she didn't believe me. (!) On our rez it also seems that we are our own worse enemies...and still no one to advocate or stick up for the native kids when they refuse to stand and say the pledge of alligence in school...

[crazywolf]

I walk a fine line

Boozhoo niji,

I have very little NDN blood in my veins, not enough to get enrolled but enough to boil when I read stuff like this. It gets me hyped up. I feel like what a lot of these people are posting, get all fired up and condemn the whites and everything they do.

BUT... I cannot bite the hand that feeds me. I gotta have a job, like other white people, work for a white person, so I can put food on my table or even buy enough gas to try and go to a pow wow. Hell the price of gas is going up to 2.50 a gallon this summer, and its gonna be so friggin expensive I am having to cancel my annual trip from Florida to White Earth. I aint too happy about that.

Honestly... I wish the hell I could figure some way to make a lot of money, I would buy up all the land surrounding the reservations, and then give it to them. I cant seem to figure a way to use their system to get back what was taken from us inthe first place. What is worse, they breed like rabbits, and this land is quickly becomming overrun with them so badly that I fear soon enough we wont even be able to make enough food to support everyone.

I would like to support the old ways as much as possible, hunting and gathering, its how we had survived for thousands of years and in those comming times its probably how we are going to survive again. I say let them do what they will do, but when they go starving and are on deaths door, you think our children and grand children will remember how their ancestors were treated when they fed the immigrants? I think they will.

Let em starve to death!

Derek

[woggs]

I wish we could just all get up and make a stand for our people..maybe someday we all will.....
I heard of a walk out on April 13..anyone know about it?? All I know is that it's for Natives to become more recognized..something like that...

[lakota_mami303]

i think it was here in colorado im not sure but a baseball team decided to turn the tables around and came up with the name " Fighting Whiteys"....i thought it was good lol

[crazywolf]

getting smart with ignorant whites

Boozhoo niji,

I am just getting home from a long show that I danced at in St Pete. Over there we had to deal with a lot of people taking pictures, and asking stupid questions. The worst was when they come up and say HOW!!! I invented a new solution to this, see if you like it.

When they come to you and say how, look at them like you are really confused, then ask... "What happened to day yall?"

They will probably say "What?"

Then you reply, in your best red neck imitation, "I thought the way you said hello to people was Howday yall. Did you shorten it or somethin?"

Derek

[suzyq]

Devil's Tower in Wyoming is a scared site but yet climbers continue to climb it regularly. This is where Sitting Bull, Gall, Spotted Tail, Red Cloud went to pray etc. This is where they have sundances in June. The Plan, created by the Park Service provided a voluntary closure of climbing of the Tower in June in order to respect Indian ceremonies. Four climbers filed a lawsuit againist this "plan". I mean, why is that even an issue?

I have yet to understand why the Park Service has "ownership" if you will on sites such as these. Why is it not given or even sold to the tribe by the owner of the land? My husband and I deer hunted just outside of Del Rio, Texas on a river and climbers apparently found a couple of caves with Indian artifacts in them and the Park Service took it over as well. The climbers were told it was off limits to them as well and they raised a rucus about it too and still kept sneaking out there to climb.


If we think it's sacred, that should be enough, it should be off limits. Is it because we're American Indian our believes aren't as important as any other cultures?

Believe it or not, there are some of us "whites" out here that know what sacred means, especially to an American Indian. I personally, strongly believe that the American Indian is the only nationality that can honestly tell you who he/she is - inside and out at any age. I also believe that your culture is more important than any other because you are more about being you and not someone else or trying to keep up with the Jones'.

My entire life I have always regarded an American Indian Chief, Warrior or Elder in the highest regard, more than any political figure in our government and I will always feel that way.

To be honest with you, I never realized until Geronimo (the movie) came out and started watching other Indian related programs on the History Channel, how horribly wrong my teachings in school were about the Indians. I was so pi$$ed after Geronimo because everything I was ever taught was wrong.

I hate America's lack of knowledge about the people that were here first, about the REAL history of this country. I know some people didn't agree with AIM but they made sure some of problems were known to the non Indian community, They brought awareness to others of our plight. I would like to see a modern AIM were we can educate the ignorant. A voice to tell everyone it's not okay anymore to think Indian's aren't important.

Being Indian myself, I have tried to educate to make people realize that we're living people. We don't dance around fires in loin clothes (I had someone asked if I knew people who did this!), live in teepees, or hunt buffalo for all our meals. Is it because the lack of education of the non Indians that make them think it's okay still to treat Indians this way? I HIGHLY doubt the NAACP would allow non blacks to disregard their believes on a everyday occurance.

I am re-educating myself and others as well!
Outstanding post.

I don't always understand the white man - I was just born one.

[AngelFeather]

Devil's Tower in Wyoming is a scared site but yet climbers continue to climb it regularly. This is where Sitting Bull, Gall, Spotted Tail, Red Cloud went to pray etc. This is where they have sundances in June. The Plan, created by the Park Service provided a voluntary closure of climbing of the Tower in June in order to respect Indian ceremonies. Four climbers filed a lawsuit againist this "plan". I mean, why is that even an issue?

I have yet to understand why the Park Service has "ownership" if you will on sites such as these. Why is it not given or even sold to the tribe by the owner of the land? My husband and I deer hunted just outside of Del Rio, Texas on a river and climbers apparently found a couple of caves with Indian artifacts in them and the Park Service took it over as well. The climbers were told it was off limits to them as well and they raised a rucus about it too and still kept sneaking out there to climb.


If we think it's sacred, that should be enough, it should be off limits. Is it because we're American Indian our believes aren't as important as any other cultures?

Something similar to this happend in our area.. the one side of the mountain fell.. People only then got the message that was told to them by our elders for many years before concerning sacred lands... seems they only listen when its too late.
Seems No matter what signs mother earth gives us we still turn our heads... and think itll never happen But when ya look at the Tsunami.. when the first wave came in... the Natives of those tribes KNEW from the signs of the dead fish washin upon shore what was gonna happen .. they survived...
that says alot... No?...Why do we stand thier and just watch things happen.. people just sat there...

Dont get me wrong.. I feel for them and thier families the loss.... I just dont understand why we do that... just stand there... when signs are right in our faces....And we call ourselves the smarter species..

[DeusExMachina]

I am a rock climber, i like to do it because it relaxes me, but being native I am constantly butting heads wit everyone else in the climbing community. Not even three weeks ago i had a facedown with another climber who was talking about all of the stuff going on at bear butte. And everyone knows I'm not shy about expressing myself or backing up my argument with my fists. I almost came to blows that day, because of his ignorant azz.
It just pisses me off the cowboy ididot attitude some of these guys have, and how whiny they are about most chit.
I will only clean climb, meaning i never use spikes or anything that will damage the rock in any way, and I will only climb on faces that I know aren't special to anybody. But some of the guys that have climbed with me start complaining as soon as they find out they're not going to be able to use spikes or anchors. I tell them that these rocks have been around since the beginning of the earth, and that they have been in their unspoiled condition for that long. And how dare we, as pitiful little creatures whose life is only a blink of an eye, presume to damage or alter something so old.
Some accept my view, the ones that don't get a long walk back to their vehicles.

[AngelFeather]

I am a rock climber, i like to do it because it relaxes me, but being native I am constantly butting heads wit everyone else in the climbing community. Not even three weeks ago i had a facedown with another climber who was talking about all of the stuff going on at bear butte. And everyone knows I'm not shy about expressing myself or backing up my argument with my fists. I almost came to blows that day, because of his ignorant azz.
It just pisses me off the cowboy ididot attitude some of these guys have, and how whiny they are about most chit.
I will only clean climb, meaning i never use spikes or anything that will damage the rock in any way, and I will only climb on faces that I know aren't special to anybody. But some of the guys that have climbed with me start complaining as soon as they find out they're not going to be able to use spikes or anchors. I tell them that these rocks have been around since the beginning of the earth, and that they have been in their unspoiled condition for that long. And how dare we, as pitiful little creatures whose life is only a blink of an eye, presume to damage or alter something so old.
Some accept my view, the ones that don't get a long walk back to their vehicles.

Good fer you Dues... any small action to preserve of wht little of natural nature we have left is good...

[Historian]

...The worst was when they come up and say HOW!!!...

Actually, when non-NDNs use this gross stereotype, there is actually a basis of truth to it. The Lakota word for "hello" or it's equivalent is Hau. When the general public went to see the Wild West Shows in the late 1800s and early 1900s like the Miller Brothers 101 Ranch Show, Pawnee Bill's Wild West Show, and Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show, just to name a few, they saw many tribal members, including Lakotas, doing exhibitions and re-enactments. One of the things they saw was when two or more NDNs met, they raised the right open hand, to show that there was no weapon being carried and were not a threat, in other words, a sign of friendship and peace. Then the Lakota's would say Hau Kola or "hello friend".

Later, as NDNs were used in early Western movies in the 1930s the greeting with the hand raised and saying Hau or "hello," became a universally used scene, whether the actors were Lakota or not. It then developed into a tired old stereotype from there, and people started thinking that the NDN actors were saying "how" instead of hau.

If someone greets me with "how," when I am at a Pow-Wow or something, I just say, "I know how, the question I want to know is when?"

[AngelFeather]

If someone greets me with "how," when I am at a Pow-Wow or something, I just say, "I know how, the question I want to know is when?"

LOL Goot 1

[woggs]

"How (did you get here)"
and when are you leaving...that's what the ndns told the pilgrims!