Difficulty in Native Leadership

[reocurringdream]

Most American Indians fear change because they believe it will make them non-Indian. That's sad as, if what you do changes who you are, you have just made an intrinsic value extrinsic.

To wit, if every Native person, en masse, decided we were going to shave our heads, dye ourselves blue and live in geodesic domes we stepped out of every ten years we would STILL be Native people.

It's a good point. But I then wonder what the fear about 'what makes one's identity?' is from. Is it something you choose, your bloodline, is it told to you (i.e. your parents), how you look, how you are perceived by others,...? Could a white person choose to be nDn and be just as valid as a "real" nDn? How is identity determined?
For example, I have mixed race black friends, and they say they are black, irrespective of the other race. I get the feeling they think it has a lot to do with how they are perceived by others. In school, growing up, I remember how there was an argument about how one person said they were black, but other blacks didn't see him as black. He was lighter skinned, and was mainly accused of not 'acting' black. Now it seems "acting" black means rejecting white. You're black if you say you are black, have black blood, and reject the white.

[Spiritflight]

Most American Indians fear change because they believe it will make them non-Indian. That's sad as, if what you do changes who you are, you have just made an intrinsic value extrinsic.

To wit, if every Native person, en masse, decided we were going to shave our heads, dye ourselves blue and live in geodesic domes we stepped out of every ten years we would STILL be Native people.

But no...

Instead, we wander in metaphorical desert like the Israelites, fail to enter Canaan (our potential future), and pretend this is who we are.

B-U-L-L-S-H-I-T.

Yo

[Zeke]

Do they fear NDN's or do NDN's fear them?

Most American Indians fear change because they believe it will make them non-Indian. That's sad as, if what you do changes who you are, you have just made an intrinsic value extrinsic.

To wit, if every Native person, en masse, decided we were going to shave our heads, dye ourselves blue and live in geodesic domes we stepped out of every ten years we would STILL be Native people.

But no...

Instead, we wander in metaphorical desert like the Israelites, fail to enter Canaan (our potential future), and pretend this is who we are.

B-U-L-L-S-H-I-T.

[Spiritflight]

Do they fear NDN's or do NDN's fear them?

[Zeke]

What do you think holds NA's back?

Distilled?

"Fear."

[Spiritflight]

Diane E. Benson - Tlingit

http://www.nativenewstoday.com/2013/...rn-1954-is-an/

[Spiritflight]

Blacks have a strong voice and are included in every issue coming out of DC and Hispanics are a steadily growing voice as well.

What do we need to do to get our voices heard?

Just had a thought - maybe that is because they do not practize their culture as their people back in history did in Africa - so they took on more white men ways and then got more attention by those and so got some leadership?

The best way to get your voice heard without having to deny yourself is not to talk to the "secretary" first but finding a way straight to the "boss". At least that worked for me going straight to the top person instead of those that offically deal with problems. Hum...

[Toolbox]

Leadership needs "Followship".

People will unite behind a leader. What is it that unites them? The leader or their cause?

I did a broadcast from an engineering management seminar a few months ago with executives and other high ranking people from Lockheed and other major companies and they stated exactly that.

[Elo Janis]

Let me ask you something AmigoKumeyaay because I've come across some of your forum comments and you seem to have mature thoughts, What do you think holds NA's back? Do they even need leaders apart from the US president?[/QUOTE]
What holds NDNs back?
A long list to be sure.
Lack of an education and then once that education us earned, an ability to put said education into play when seeking to define our problems and to come to a viable solution to said problems.
A common sense of community which would come into focus when one decides to try to lead or govern a group. Making the disenfranchised who are in said community feel as though they are important to their community and that their ideas and voice does make a difference. To even be given a platform from which they feel comfortable enough to voice their concerns.
The ability to be able to listen with the heart and soul. Then organizing and planning on how exactly to move forward with viable solutions to the problems facing the community under one cohesive voice and direction.
Doing away with the common plan of action (and it happens to any group trying to congregate to make a positive change) which involves pulling the ladder out from under those who are making progress because it is "that person" who made it instead of 'me and my ideas'. In other words any time someone makes strides in improving our way of life and at solving problems, there are always people who become jealous and try to tear those with some success down to their level...all because it is not their ideas that are being used to further the movement.

I have many more answers and even some questions as this could end up being a very productive and worth while thread that just might end up with someone becoming a voice of leadership of the entire Indian community.
Something I have always wondered. Since this country really belongs to Native Americans why do we not hold an office in Washington and why are our voices not even considered by political leaders? Blacks have a strong voice and are included in every issue coming out of DC and Hispanics are a steadily growing voice as well.
What do we need to do to get our voices heard? What do we do to elect a centralized and all inclusive leader who we all would trust to act in our best interests to improve the problems that are unique to our people?
Life on the reservation should hold the promise of a better life through education and just a chance at bettering ourselves and our living conditions instead of placing those who live on them virtual prisoners of poverty.
I will keep following this thread and I hope more people would post their thoughts on this as well as it is a very important issue that would benefit all native people.

[reocurringdream]

People will unite behind a leader. What is it that unites them? The leader or their cause?

If those are the choices, I think both, no? I see it alittle differently. Cause is about listening and having a vision for solution to see it thru even if the results are not initially achieved. Being a leader, is not necessarily a singular or hero archetype. It depends, more of a wildcard factor. Many ways to be a leader. Sometimes appointed by ppl in power, sometimes birthright, sometimes the hero archetype, sometimes a group of ppl or team. But I'll go alittle further, sometimes what leads ppl is a story, event or history, sometimes its determined by the terrain of the cause, sometimes its fear, greed, force, or strength ...many ways. What unites them is neither leader or cause but a feeling, a desire. Its the latent unity that is already in ppl and the leader/cause/event(s) is the catalyst to express/act upon latent unity. A family may not be in touch with each other, live separate lives, but a catalyst occurs that invokes that unity. Like perhaps if aliens came to attack humankind, then that would invoke the latent unity within humanity.
But overall, leadership is dynamic over what is static...striving to overcome, to make something better.
Let me ask you something AmigoKumeyaay because I've come across some of your forum comments and you seem to have mature thoughts, What do you think holds NA's back? Do they even need leaders apart from the US president?

[Spiritflight]

People will unite behind a leader. What is it that unites them? The leader or their cause?

[AmigoKumeyaay]

People will unite behind a leader. What is it that unites them? The leader or their cause?

[reocurringdream]

Leadership needs "Followship".

But how to be a leader without followship? Doesn't this thought make it a chicken and the egg conundrum?

[Spiritflight]

"Followship" needs strenght

[AmigoKumeyaay]

Leadership needs "Followship".