Help me get the truth out!! PLEASE READ!

[whitewave]

I am studying to be a preschool teacher majoring in Early Childhood Education with a minor in Race Relations. I noticed in all 3 of my diversity classes they seemed to cover just about every race problem in America EXCEPT Native Americans. I only remember one tiny chapter in one book that said anything about Native issues and even that didn't say much.
When I approached the teachers about this they would say they would like to do more but don’t know of a lot of resources to use.
When I visited my friend for her graduation from college I attended the "Senior Projects" and a pair of students did a documentary in AZ on the Navajo Rez. They did a pretty good job. I heard a lot of students talking after that about how they couldn't believe those conditions existed in America and that they knew nothing really of Native American culture or presence today. I thought to myself that they should see that this is not the only place, that so many reservations are plaugued as much, and even more with extreme poverty across the nation....and the general public has no idea...as we have all heard or said numerous times, “they don’t even know we exist!” and the media/government doesn’t want them to. Then, God forbid, today’s America may have some issues with her conscious. I want to bring a window to some understanding of the TRUE history, cultures, lifestyles, statistics, traditions, injustices and PRESENCE of the Native American People here in North America yesterday, today, and tomorrow.
I feel like its time. I want to DO something.

So originally I thought to do a documentary on Pine Ridge…but that has been done. I still will do it, but now I have expanded my project. A documentary on Pine Ridge would only show one way of life, one tribe, on Rez, one perspective in a way. I want to give a more broad perspective. My focus is: “What do you want non-Natives to know about Native People/culture/nations/history, etc.?” Once the final project has been chopped and screwed just how it should be I plan to send it out to many of the people involved in the project and once it has been edited and perfected and approved as 100% respectfully truthful, I will begin to distribute it to as many college diversity type programs as possible. Free if they will just show it! I don’t want to profit on this….just get the truth out.


I know that this is a big job, but I know the Creator and many ancestors are with me on this and with his help and the help of numerous others, this WILL happen.
The only way I can do this is with the help of as many dedicated individuals as possible. I am in great need of more Native people to interview from all walks of life most importantly….I don’t want it to be some cheesy looking unprofessional thing though. If you know anyone working with or studying cinematography, production, directing, anything or anyone that could possibly help or give advice please have them contact me. If you know of any organizations that could help with funding or ideas or anything that would help would be wonderful. I have someone to help me organize and with a place to stay in Pine Ridge when I go there, but if you want your reservation, your neighborhood, your specific story to be heard I will need your help as well. I will do this on my own with a home digital video camera over several years if that’s what it takes, but the more help I have, the better, and quicker this will be.

Thank you in advance for your love and support,
Love, Peace, and blessings like rain,
Jennie “Whitewave”

[superndngyrl]

it doesn't even have to all about reservations. Just living near downtown phoenix, there are so many homeless indians bumming for a dollar. Thats in a lot of major downtown areas.

In Oklahoma City, Linda Cavanaugh used to like to interview them for stories about what they thought about gambling etc. (what a joke)


There's another thread about what u want whites to know, is that yours?

Personally, its hard to lump us all in one group because we have different ways of growing up etc...

Maybe you could do a 10 week mini series but then that might not even cover all of the diversity. what a tough project.

[superndngyrl]

Something else to consider, what bout the affluential natives? My uncle Browning Pipestem was a humble but highly intelligent motivating attorney. He worked for many tribes helping them gain rights.

Kevin Gover was head of BIA.

The Echohawks in CO that run NARF. They also have a drum and many of them dance southern straight (pawnee way).

And on top of that what about the directors of your tribal organizations that have sought degrees and also continue in the traditional way? I'm sure u guys can name a few.

Soooo there's something else to consider as well. There are many lower income but then there are still the natives that are out there trying to make it on their own and sometimes make it better for others.

[whitewave]

it doesn't even have to all about reservations. Just living near downtown phoenix, there are so many homeless indians bumming for a dollar. Thats in a lot of major downtown areas.

In Oklahoma City, Linda Cavanaugh used to like to interview them for stories about what they thought about gambling etc. (what a joke)


There's another thread about what u want whites to know, is that yours?

Personally, its hard to lump us all in one group because we have different ways of growing up etc...

Maybe you could do a 10 week mini series but then that might not even cover all of the diversity. what a tough project.

No, that's not my thread. Just one that helped me develop my full plan.

And yes, I want more than just reservations....I want people in all walks of life.

I know there are so many different things to cover. I know I cant cover it all and I dont want anyone (including those who watch it) to think that it can be possible to cover everyone. Just the more I have the better it will be. There are videos all the time about different issues concerning black, latino, asian, nothing about natives (not in the classrooms I've been at least) and if so its often something that perpetuates certain stereotypes even more. Of course, I cannot interview every Native American in North America or get everyone's story.....but a glimpse of it, a glimpse into a great many cultures that America wants to believe are extinct, and some awareness that may cause watchers to dig deeper and find out more, and if nothing else, they come away with SOMETHING TRUTHFUL instead of a lil bit of half truth...

I know this is big but I am a big dreamer. The more help I can get the better

[whitewave]

Something else to consider, what bout the affluential natives? My uncle Browning Pipestem was a humble but highly intelligent motivating attorney. He worked for many tribes helping them gain rights.

Kevin Gover was head of BIA.

The Echohawks in CO that run NARF. They also have a drum and many of them dance southern straight (pawnee way).

And on top of that what about the directors of your tribal organizations that have sought degrees and also continue in the traditional way? I'm sure u guys can name a few.

Soooo there's something else to consider as well. There are many lower income but then there are still the natives that are out there trying to make it on their own and sometimes make it better for others.

Oh yes that too is included...Rich, poor, rez, city, suburbs, traditional, non-traditional, I want it all

[APACHEFIRE]

Dare To Dream

'... yes, I want more than just reservations....I want people in all walks of life.

I know there are so many different things to cover. I know I cant cover it all and I dont want anyone (including those who watch it) to think that it can be possible to cover everyone. Just the more I have the better it will be. There are videos all the time about different issues concerning black, latino, asian, nothing about natives (not in the classrooms I've been at least) and if so its often something that perpetuates certain stereotypes even more. Of course, I cannot interview every Native American in North America or get everyone's story.....but a glimpse of it, a glimpse into a great many cultures that America wants to believe are extinct, and some awareness that may cause watchers to dig deeper and find out more, and if nothing else, they come away with SOMETHING TRUTHFUL instead of a lil bit of half truth...

I know this is big but I am a big dreamer. The more help I can get the better[/QUOTE]

as i see it, to get as much as you would like to accomplish done, this just may turn out to be a life time dedication for you. seems to me, the best way to do this is making several shorter 'movies'. a series of movies. like the books in the libraries that cover some of our more familiar nations. try breaking your project down.pick a subject or question that needs to be answered.then depict that from the point of view of as many of our nations from low to high, that you can. as your reputation expands, so too will your credibility with our nations. that in turn will open up doors for you. i can see this media, presented in this way, used by teachers to show the young of this nation. i see these being used by libraries for the public to view and learn. i see these series of movies being shown on television....

[Furiously-Fancy]

Howard Rainer of the American Indian Services at Brigham Young University just finished a DVD that portrays outstanding individuals from throughout Indian Country. You ought to give him a call he would be an excellent resource and would provide guidance and support.

[whitewave]

'... yes, I want more than just reservations....I want people in all walks of life.

I know there are so many different things to cover. I know I cant cover it all and I dont want anyone (including those who watch it) to think that it can be possible to cover everyone. Just the more I have the better it will be. There are videos all the time about different issues concerning black, latino, asian, nothing about natives (not in the classrooms I've been at least) and if so its often something that perpetuates certain stereotypes even more. Of course, I cannot interview every Native American in North America or get everyone's story.....but a glimpse of it, a glimpse into a great many cultures that America wants to believe are extinct, and some awareness that may cause watchers to dig deeper and find out more, and if nothing else, they come away with SOMETHING TRUTHFUL instead of a lil bit of half truth...

I know this is big but I am a big dreamer. The more help I can get the better

as i see it, to get as much as you would like to accomplish done, this just may turn out to be a life time dedication for you. seems to me, the best way to do this is making several shorter 'movies'. a series of movies. like the books in the libraries that cover some of our more familiar nations. try breaking your project down.pick a subject or question that needs to be answered.then depict that from the point of view of as many of our nations from low to high, that you can. as your reputation expands, so too will your credibility with our nations. that in turn will open up doors for you. i can see this media, presented in this way, used by teachers to show the young of this nation. i see these being used by libraries for the public to view and learn. i see these series of movies being shown on television....[/QUOTE]

Yes....I see that this could very well be a lifetime project. I am willing to make this a lifetime project if that is what it takes. Thank you so much for the support and input. Keep it comin lol!

[whitewave]

Howard Rainer of the American Indian Services at Brigham Young University just finished a DVD that portrays outstanding individuals from throughout Indian Country. You ought to give him a call he would be an excellent resource and would provide guidance and support.

Thank you! I will look him up for sure!

[whitewave]

This project/idea keeps evolving and i know will continue to evolve over its course. I'm having a hard time deciding which direction togo with it. My focus never changes: to teach things to non-native students that will help my sweet native brothers and sisters in the future....that is what matters. But how? They don't need to know all the ceremonies and traditions or why they are there or anything like that...that wont do any good necessarily and its not my place anyway. They may WANT to know for their own curiosity, but I dont have time for curiosity on this project....not my job. They need a history lesson yes, but not from me that is for the history classes...not what I'm looking for.
I would like to include SOME history of course to make certain points....like the history/problem of alcohal in Native American society today. White folks wanna talk down about all the "drunk Indians" and what not, but they often have no idea that alcohal was brought by the white man as a means to destroy the very people that taught them how to survive here, blur their judgement and take everything away. This is just one of the MANY things I would like to cover. I want to focus more on Native Americans TODAY. IF a classroom even shows ANY kind of video on Native Americans they show elders speaking with flute music playing in the background and all that totally giving the impression that these are people that no longer exist....America WANTS to think that...it will ease her conscious while perpetuating white supremacy all at the same time! I dont want to let America believe these lies anymore. I want to include Leonard and his struggle that he is going through RIGHT NOW....along with others' stories. I want to include things that will show the impact Native Americans have on their lives TODAY....and the impact that white society has on Native Americans TODAY. The suicide rate and why. Health care issues and why. Diabeties....and why. While at the same time giving the students motivation and tools to help turn these things around or at LEAST turn around the attitudes involved.

Any more ideas/input?

Please excuse my rambling...I'm so very tierd almost time to go home...

[Foxmoon]

How most of the time education isnt even offered. How exciting this will be for so many. Thank you for your devotion!

[whitewave]

How most of the time education isnt even offered. How exciting this will be for so many. Thank you for your devotion!

Thank YOU for your encouragement.

[APACHEFIRE]

more thoughts....

in my travels, i have heard non-ndn people say how 'WE' are ALL getting rich from the casinos. i would like to point out that there are still people on the many reservations who do not have the means to heat or cool their homes. who may not have the means to have fresh running water or power in their homes 24/7. something the general population takes for granted. if we were free to used the land in balance, WE would be able to. let them know that people still die 'out there', for lack of what is taken for granted. another misconception i have learned, is non-ndn do not understand what most reservations are really like. they do not understand why we would still live there. they do not understand that we are still a persecuted people. while im at it, most would not understand why 'WE' can look around this country,this land, and weep at what we see....

[whitewave]

in my travels, i have heard non-ndn people say how 'WE' are ALL getting rich from the casinos. i would like to point out that there are still people on the many reservations who do not have the means to heat or cool their homes. who may not have the means to have fresh running water or power in their homes 24/7. something the general population takes for granted. if we were free to used the land in balance, WE would be able to. let them know that people still die 'out there', for lack of what is taken for granted. another misconception i have learned, is non-ndn do not understand what most reservations are really like. they do not understand why we would still live there. they do not understand that we are still a persecuted people. while im at it, most would not understand why 'WE' can look around this country,this land, and weep at what we see....

Thank you....and this is in my plan as well. I promise you this...that will be included....all of that. I think those are some VERY good points that need to be brought up, I agree.

[whitewave]

I want to make sure also that there is plenty of positive. Showing positives of the past and of today. For instance, the fire program a friend of mine is in is a big help for positive employment for young men, I'd like to talk to the Papago nation....if anyone knows any connections that would be helpful :) btw......about their switch to their original diet to combat diabeties....if anyone knows anyone, any community, any rez, any nation, that would like to be heard, please pm me...

I want the students that watch this/these film(s) to not only come away knowing what's going on but also I want them (non-natives) to come away with tools/inspiration to make a difference and with hope that others are making a difference....if nothing else just in the ways of thinking of future generations.