When thinking of well known Native American People it is a common mistake to limit our thinking to those Native Americans that became famous in our earlier history. Native Americans are contributing members of today's modern America. Following is a short list of famous Native American people of this century:
JIM THORPE (Sac and Fox): winner of Olympic Gold Medals in the decathlon and pentathlon, in college he was an All-American athlete in lacrosse, basketball, and football. Played professional baseball and football. He has been voted the best American athlete of the first half of the 20th century. The first president of The National Football League.
LEWIS TEWANIMA (HOPI) One of America's greatest long distance runners. Member of U.S. Olympic Team in 1908 and 1912. In 1912 he set the U.S. record for the 10,000 meter run, winning an Olympic silver medal. This record stood until 1964 when it was broken by Oglala Lakota Billy Mills. Tewanima also set the world record for the indoor 10 mile race, at Madison Square Garden.
JOSEPH OKLAHOMBI (Choctaw): Winner of the French medal, Croix de Guerre in WW I. The incident which won him this honor was perhaps one of the greatest acts of courage, bravery, and accomplishment in the annals of Military history. Private Oklahombi under machine gun, mortar and poison gas attack, crossed 210 yards of barbed wire traps and mine fields. He then single-handedly overpowered a machine-gun nest, captured 171 German soldiers, and held his position and prisoners for four days before being relieved.
FRANCIS LEQUIER (Ojibwa): WW I hero. After his three comrades were killed attacking a German machine gun nest, he managed to overpower the Germans single handedly, killing several and capturing the rest. Mr. Lequier was shot 11 times during the incident.
JOE YOUNG HAWK (Arikara): captured by five German soldiers in WW I he turned on his German captors, killed three with his bare hands and captured the other two. Shot through both legs, he marched his prisoners back through enemy territory to Allied lines.
MITCHELL RED CLOUD (Ho-Chunk) This resident of Black River Falls, Wisconsin, was awarded the Medal of Honor for giving of his life on Nov. 5th, 1950, in the Korean conflict. Slowing an advance of enemy soldiers in order to allow his comrades to organize an defense, he was wounded 8 times. He wrapped his arm around a tree in order to support himself and to be able to maintain fire with his automatic weapon. In July of 1999 the United States Navy named a transport ship in his honor.
CHARLES D. CURTIS (KANSA/KAW/OSAGE) Served in the House of Representatives for 14 years. The first Native American elected to the U.S. Senate. Served in the Senate for 20 years, 5 years as majority leader. Author of the Indian Citizenship Act of 1924. Vice President of the United States of America during the Herbert Hoover administration.
BILLY MILLS (Lakota): Amateur champion and Gold Medal Winner in the Olympic Games in track and field. Currently works with charity groups promoting the cause of Native Americans across the U.S.
FLOYD (RED CROW) WESTERMAN ( Santee Dakota): Songwriter, singer, speaker, activist, actor, and all around good guy. Starred in "Dances With Wolves," and "Clearcut," acted in roles in "Dharma and Greg," "Walker Texas Ranger" , "The X Files," and numerous other T.V. roles.
LITEFOOT (Cherokee): Native American Rap star and movie actor. He starred in the movie "Indian in the Cupboard." He tours the country with his Rap band that sings and preaches the message of a drug and alcohol free lifestyle.
VAL KILMER (Cherokee descent): Star of "Batman Forever" and actor in other films such as "Wyatt Earp," " Island of Doctor Moreau," " Heat," "Thunderheart," "The Ghost and the Darkness," and "The Saint."
GRAHAM GREENE (Oneida): Actor that has starred in roles in the movies, "Dances With Wolves," "Clearcut," "Thunderheart," "Die-hard With A Vengeance," "The Education of Little Tree," and "Ishi."
COLIN POWELL: (Arawak Descent) Commander-in-Chief of U.S. Military forces in the Gulf War. Widely touted as a potential candidate for President of the United States of America.
SHANIA TWAIN: (Enrolled member of The Red Lake Band of the Ojibwa People, Canada) One of country music's most popular female stars. Her taken name of Shania means in the language of the Ojibwa people, "I am on my way."
NOTAH BEGAY (Navajo) Professional golfer on the PGA tour. At the age of 24 in 1998 he became only the third golfer in the history of the PGA tour to shoot a 59. Won the Reno Tahoe Open on August 8th, 1999. The first Native American to win a PGA tour since Rod Curl in 1974. Notah credits his success to a strong belief in his traditional faith and his cultural ties to his Navaho heritage.
JOE & ANNIE HENRY (Gwich'in First Nation) -Dawson City, Yukon-Inducted into the Guiness Book of World Records for holding the distinction of being the worlds longest living married couple. They will celebrate their 79th wedding anniversary in the summer of 2000. Raised in the Makenzie mountains in the northwest of the Yukon territory they are both in their early 100's. They have lived off the land their whole life. They live a traditional lifestyle, are fluent speakers of their Native language, and practitioners of their culture. Joe is renowned for his handcrafted snowshoes and Annie for her handmade moccasins, beadwork and tanned hides. They have over 100 children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. They live a simple, hardworking livestyle and get by without a telephone, all of which has probably contributed to their long life and good nature.
WINONA LADUKE: Mother of four children, resident of the White Earth Reservation in Minnesota, author, activist, farmer, and small business owner, she also has been the Vice Presidential candidate for President of the United States in 1996 and the year 2000 on the Green Party ticket. Her running mate for President is Ralph Nader.
And don't forget musicians Elvis, Crystal Gayle, Loretta Lynn, Cher and astronaut John Herrington, Chicksaw.
When thinking of well known Native American People it is a common mistake to limit our thinking to those Native Americans that became famous in our earlier history. Native Americans are contributing members of today's modern America. Following is a short list of famous Native American people of this century:
JIM THORPE (Sac and Fox): winner of Olympic Gold Medals in the decathlon and pentathlon, in college he was an All-American athlete in lacrosse, basketball, and football. Played professional baseball and football. He has been voted the best American athlete of the first half of the 20th century. The first president of The National Football League.
LEWIS TEWANIMA (HOPI) One of America's greatest long distance runners. Member of U.S. Olympic Team in 1908 and 1912. In 1912 he set the U.S. record for the 10,000 meter run, winning an Olympic silver medal. This record stood until 1964 when it was broken by Oglala Lakota Billy Mills. Tewanima also set the world record for the indoor 10 mile race, at Madison Square Garden.
JOSEPH OKLAHOMBI (Choctaw): Winner of the French medal, Croix de Guerre in WW I. The incident which won him this honor was perhaps one of the greatest acts of courage, bravery, and accomplishment in the annals of Military history. Private Oklahombi under machine gun, mortar and poison gas attack, crossed 210 yards of barbed wire traps and mine fields. He then single-handedly overpowered a machine-gun nest, captured 171 German soldiers, and held his position and prisoners for four days before being relieved.
FRANCIS LEQUIER (Ojibwa): WW I hero. After his three comrades were killed attacking a German machine gun nest, he managed to overpower the Germans single handedly, killing several and capturing the rest. Mr. Lequier was shot 11 times during the incident.
JOE YOUNG HAWK (Arikara): captured by five German soldiers in WW I he turned on his German captors, killed three with his bare hands and captured the other two. Shot through both legs, he marched his prisoners back through enemy territory to Allied lines.
MITCHELL RED CLOUD (Ho-Chunk) This resident of Black River Falls, Wisconsin, was awarded the Medal of Honor for giving of his life on Nov. 5th, 1950, in the Korean conflict. Slowing an advance of enemy soldiers in order to allow his comrades to organize an defense, he was wounded 8 times. He wrapped his arm around a tree in order to support himself and to be able to maintain fire with his automatic weapon. In July of 1999 the United States Navy named a transport ship in his honor.
CHARLES D. CURTIS (KANSA/KAW/OSAGE) Served in the House of Representatives for 14 years. The first Native American elected to the U.S. Senate. Served in the Senate for 20 years, 5 years as majority leader. Author of the Indian Citizenship Act of 1924. Vice President of the United States of America during the Herbert Hoover administration.
BILLY MILLS (Lakota): Amateur champion and Gold Medal Winner in the Olympic Games in track and field. Currently works with charity groups promoting the cause of Native Americans across the U.S.
FLOYD (RED CROW) WESTERMAN ( Santee Dakota): Songwriter, singer, speaker, activist, actor, and all around good guy. Starred in "Dances With Wolves," and "Clearcut," acted in roles in "Dharma and Greg," "Walker Texas Ranger" , "The X Files," and numerous other T.V. roles.
LITEFOOT (Cherokee): Native American Rap star and movie actor. He starred in the movie "Indian in the Cupboard." He tours the country with his Rap band that sings and preaches the message of a drug and alcohol free lifestyle.
VAL KILMER (Cherokee descent): Star of "Batman Forever" and actor in other films such as "Wyatt Earp," " Island of Doctor Moreau," " Heat," "Thunderheart," "The Ghost and the Darkness," and "The Saint."
GRAHAM GREENE (Oneida): Actor that has starred in roles in the movies, "Dances With Wolves," "Clearcut," "Thunderheart," "Die-hard With A Vengeance," "The Education of Little Tree," and "Ishi."
COLIN POWELL: (Arawak Descent) Commander-in-Chief of U.S. Military forces in the Gulf War. Widely touted as a potential candidate for President of the United States of America.
SHANIA TWAIN: (Enrolled member of The Red Lake Band of the Ojibwa People, Canada) One of country music's most popular female stars. Her taken name of Shania means in the language of the Ojibwa people, "I am on my way."
NOTAH BEGAY (Navajo) Professional golfer on the PGA tour. At the age of 24 in 1998 he became only the third golfer in the history of the PGA tour to shoot a 59. Won the Reno Tahoe Open on August 8th, 1999. The first Native American to win a PGA tour since Rod Curl in 1974. Notah credits his success to a strong belief in his traditional faith and his cultural ties to his Navaho heritage.
JOE & ANNIE HENRY (Gwich'in First Nation) -Dawson City, Yukon-Inducted into the Guiness Book of World Records for holding the distinction of being the worlds longest living married couple. They will celebrate their 79th wedding anniversary in the summer of 2000. Raised in the Makenzie mountains in the northwest of the Yukon territory they are both in their early 100's. They have lived off the land their whole life. They live a traditional lifestyle, are fluent speakers of their Native language, and practitioners of their culture. Joe is renowned for his handcrafted snowshoes and Annie for her handmade moccasins, beadwork and tanned hides. They have over 100 children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. They live a simple, hardworking livestyle and get by without a telephone, all of which has probably contributed to their long life and good nature.
WINONA LADUKE: Mother of four children, resident of the White Earth Reservation in Minnesota, author, activist, farmer, and small business owner, she also has been the Vice Presidential candidate for President of the United States in 1996 and the year 2000 on the Green Party ticket. Her running mate for President is Ralph Nader.
America has a fantasy about "indians", a old west romance mind set of being "special" or something.
Again how many of these people are a MINORITY status. to have some "indian blood" in ya means little to nothing as far as our govt. or the tribes .
Your previous link provides the data on how a Native American is defined.
you really need to be more accurant in your defining of terms anyone who has balck hair or a relative who was once in an affair with a red blood can have blood lines . it means nothing at all.
Tribes decide who is an indian and cher, loreeta lynn etc.lololol your list is ridiculas NEVER lived in the society RESERVED for a SEPERATE NATION . To be considered a minority an Native american RULES APPLY and few of the few i did scan on your list qualify for the status of a minority or the tribe .
it is a seperate NATION AMERICANS ARE NOT INDIANS HELLLO get it? INDIANS ARE NOT AMERICANS HELLO get it again??
ignorant people who watched to many western movies as a kid have a fastasy and add credit to the "indian " title because they have an air of mystery and difference than "white people"
it means nothing in reality. many on your list are NOT NATIVE Americans they are Americans.
one from your list CHER had a hit song titled "half breed " or something the entire song was about how the indians do NOTthe girl accept such as a part of their nation. lol
how ironic.
to use a minority group to gain fame because people are ignorant on what DEFINES an native |American, is cruel and selfish and wrong... but it works. becuase people are stupid. and believe the old western movies and are often interested in their religion and spiritual practices..and what a sense of "being different" than USA.
INDIANS are different they have their own nation their own rules their own laws etc. it is a mystery to the white man how their culture operates.. so they pretend they might be a part of it for fame or to be noted.
doesnt mean they are Native Americans in the least.
#1. You need a Certificate of Indian Blood (CIB). Without a CIB, it doesn't matter if you are even full-blooded Native American, the government will not consider you a Native American. To be eligible for a CIB, one or both parents must submit a copy of their CIB to a tribal enrollment office along with a copy of your birth certificate.
#2. Blood quantum. This varies from tribe to tribe, however the standard tends to be 1/4 blood.
The indian nation is interested in preserving their culture and traditions and religion, I want you to note even FUL-blooded Native ancestry does NOT mean the tribe will accept you as part of their nation. they often time don't that is why the parents must provide proof not only of the blood line to the tribe.. but of your willingness to become a part of their Seperate Nation.
Famous Americans or Indians never accepted by the tribe do not count as Native Americans , they do not live in the welfare state made for them by white man nor do they live or abide by the treatys or alliances written.
It is so easy to take for granted what our ancestors, elders, and other people have fought so hard for: tribal sovereignty. Sometimes it is hard to realize that many of the freedoms modern Native Americans have were not just handed to us. Blood and tears were shed as nations were killed, land was taken and traditional practices were banned by European settlers. Despite the hardships of our ancestors, Native American brothers and sisters stood have strong through cultural depression, and won back some of the land and traditions that were almost lost. It is now crucial that this country’s original people come together to “reconnect the circle”.
Get the youth involved. The importance of youth involvement is vital to the development of a strong future. It is true. The youth are the leaders of the future. They need to be educated on current issues facing Indian Country, so they will be passionate enough to help when their time comes. Children should be taught leadership qualities from a young age, so that by the time they’re in high school they are not in training to become leaders, but they are leaders! Organizations like National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) is a perfect example of a group that has an obvious passion for educating kids and young adults on pressing issues facing this nation. I hardly cared about governmental issues in Indian Country until I attended NCAI, but after only one week-long session of workshops and hands on involvement with pressing issues that our nation is facing, I realize first hand how important it is to care. Young adults should stop waiting around for someone to tell them what to do, and take matters into their own hands; let their voices be heard.
Keep traditions alive. Not only do the youth need to be informed, but all ages need to care in order to keep traditions from dying. It may be hard to keep some of the traditional crafts, languages and customs alive, but it is essential to the survival of Native American heritage. Each person can help keep customs going by taking part in local language classes, learning traditional crafts, or studying the history of their people. It is amazing in my community that not only is my Tribe teaching the language, but the local high school is starting a Native Language class to help get everyone involved in reviving the language. When elders and youth connect, stories and traditions can be shared through means of vocal and physical interaction. It is up to all ages to help keep the old ways thriving. Do not let them fizzle out, or cultural identities will be in jeopardy.
Break down stereotypes. There are so many preconceived notions of who/what a Native American is. Some think that modern Native Americans are lazy alcoholics who care about nothing but their per capita checks and casinos, while others still think of the war-hungry hunters who run around with war bonnets on their heads. I know Native American people who are successful lawyers and businessmen, I know Native American people who have a healthy family that they can support and provide a healthy environment for their children. Many Native Americans do not fit the stereotype of what an “Indian” is. It is up to individuals within the tribes to stand up and prove those people wrong. Bring an uninformed neighbor to a powwow, or teach them a craft of your ancestors. Show them that the old ways are still alive, and being Native American is about more than getting money from the government. Successful tribes work hard to gain their success; it is not just handed to them. We need to show those who don’t know the facts, what life as a Native American living in today’s society is all about.
The circle is being mended, and to continue reconnecting the circle is the responsibility of all individuals who care. People need to first be proud of their heritage as a Native American, or appreciate the cultural diversity brought to the community by Native Americans. Once an appreciation and pride is established, everyone can share together and learn from each other.
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Reconnecting the Circle: Why It's Important
By Christopher French
Today our relationships with Native Americans are dissipating. Americans form their opinions of Native Americans through the media more than they do from factual books and interaction with actual Native Americans. These stereotypes comprise most people’s knowledge of Native American culture and tradition. If these trends of pre-conceived notions about ancient and contemporary Native Americans continue, their culture could be lost. This is bad because many of the things we use as well as our way of living come from the Native American culture. It is important to reconnect the circle with Native Americans today because as each new generation is born; they are becoming more Americanized, losing more of their own culture and tradition for us to learn from.
In today’s society, people know little about modern Native Americans, their cultures, and how they live. With people watching all different types of media that depict Native Americans in various different ways, (most not accurate) our ideas and thoughts on the lifestyles of modern day Native Americans are confined to the inaccurate media we watch and what we learn in history class about how Natives lived hundreds of years ago. This has caused the disconnection in the circle that we have with Native Americans today.
It is important to reconnect with the Native American people and their cultures so we can learn about the origins of where some of the common items we use today and different aspects of our lifestyles came from. Many of the common items we use today are or came from Native American inventions. Many remedies and practices that are used for illnesses, from treating cancer to a headache, were originally founded by Native Americans. Child-birth rituals and different types of healing teas we use are from Native American origin. (Kavasch and Baar 6-22) Numerous foods like corn, potatoes, as well as items like cotton and tobacco, systems of farming them along with the tools they used were discovered, and then taught to us by the natives. Their architecture styles and the different building materials are still used today. Hieroglyphics, Solstices and Equinoxes, astronomy techniques, calendars, the decimal system, weapons, as well as rubber are all things that we use today that were first discovered by Native Americans. (Brown 31-60) The importance of learning from the modern day Native Americans is big because their style of living and ways of harnessing energy are important to preserving the Earth. A pre-conceived notion of the American Indian is that they only stay in their reservations, still using primitive ways to live. That being very untrue, many Native Americans have educated themselves to be doctors, lawyers and engineers, trying to better the world by getting their views into the society. Navajo Steve Grey, a mechanical engineer, is researching the use of wind power instead of environmentally harmful coal to bring power to Indian reservations. (Brown 61) By learning these types of environmentally friendly mentalities and techniques, we could live more efficiently. It is important to reconnect the circle with Native Americans in this regard so that our society as well theirs can work together to make our country run more efficiently.
Another part of why reconnecting the circle with Native Americans is so important is so that we can accurately view the history of their tribes and cultures. Many sources of historic documentation of Indian tribes and cultures are written from the white man’s point of view. By reconnecting with the Indians we would be able to have access to the same and even new history from the Native American point of view. This would not only open our eyes, but it would change how we look at the Indians and their history. Many of the events and encounters of Indians in the early 1700s were documented by the explorers who encountered them and are the primary source of where we get our information from. However, changing the point of view from which the event is seen can change a person’s view of history. An example of this would be Lewis and Clark’s expedition. Lewis and Clark documented some Indian tribes as being malicious because of their attacks or ill nature towards the expedition group. By just reading their views, one would think that the Indians were in the wrong. However, when reading a tribal leader’s documentation of the same event, hearing the story of a group of foreign white men trespassing on the tribe’s land, trying to take it from them and push their views onto the tribe, one can see where the tribe’s hostility might come from. (Ambrose chapter 14) By reconnecting with Native Americans, we would be able to see history from both views and get a better understanding of what actually happened.
Reconnecting our society with the ones of the Native Americans is vital because if we don’t try to reconnect now, we may not be able to later. If we don’t show interest in the Native American society today, their culture and traditions will be lost. With each new generation of Native Americans seeing the lack of interest for their society being shown by ours, they will be discouraged to live in their society and encouraged to live in ours. This would result in the loss of their history and traditions.
With that in mind, the importance of our reconnection is evident. There are many similarities between our society and the Native American society. They have created many items and rituals that we use today, and are finding ways to help preserve the Earth. Reconnection also gives us a better understanding of history through the views of Native Americans. If we don’t act to reconnect now, we might not be able to later because of the Americanization of Indians. By not reconnecting with Native Americans, we will be ignoring and losing the sacred cultures of the first people to live on the same land that we live on today.
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Bibliography
Ambrose, Stephen. Undaunted Courage. New York, NY: Ambrose-Tubbs Inc., 1996.
Brown, Fern G. American Indian Science. New York, NY: Twenty-First Century Books, 1997.
Kavasch, E. Barrie, and Karen Baar. American Indian Healing Arts. New York, NY: Bantam Books, 1999.
I do not know her name. I only know that without her I would not be alive today. There was a time when people thought I was Hispanic simply because of my tanned skin, dark hair, and eyes. It insulted me, though I did not think they were bad people. It was because I knew that Native American blood ran in my veins, and that was something I was taught to be proud of.
Now, some people know of my relations with the Sioux people, yet do not understand it. Their false impressions cloud their thinking, and make them believe that all Indians should be on a reservation, or have a name such as “Howling Wolf”. Their limited knowledge deepens the canyon growing between the white people and the “savages”. We Americans must do something to build a bridge over that gap, and set the wrongdoings of our ancestors right.
My great-great grandmother married a white man. For her childrens’ sake, she moved away from the tribe and repudiated her beliefs of her old life. All of her actions were because of the prejudice upon Natives and her desire to have her descendants have a better life. The history of my people is not known. The complete history is omitted from the schools for sake of the “Great Discovery” of the Europeans. So many facts need to be known in order for a peaceful, complete relationship between the Americans and Indians to form.
Women were raped, children sold, and men mutilated. While their villages were besieged and homes burned, mothers watched with tears running endlessly down their cheeks. They held their children tightly to their breasts, trying to protect them even as their homes’ cinders floated up into the cloudy sky. So many froze or starved to death; their hearts broken from their losses. These facts are not taught in schools. The only way to learn about this is through independent reading. Why? Is it because of the government’s fear that our nation will hate them, or is it just a view that says that such information is unimportant? Even these sorrowful facts need to be known in order for an understanding to be created.
The “Trail of Tears” was only one of the wrongdoings to the Natives of the land. There were Indian schools where all that the children knew was ripped from them. Their families, beliefs, and heritages were all erased the moment they entered the gloomy atmosphere. They were to learn the white man ways, and to forget that the land surrounding them was not a spirit of its own, but a thing created by a god that they did not believe in. My great-great grandmother’s marriage was scorned because two races intertwined in marriage was condemned as dirty. Despite the hatred towards her and her husband, they had several children, including a daughter named Zella. My great-grandmother. Her bloodline continues down to me and makes me wish that perhaps things could have been different for my family before me.
I want to know the way my ancestors lived before the arrival of the Europeans. What animals and plants were there and how did they decorate the land? Not often is that information taught in schools. Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia, and South America are all known to me, yet not the world of those who came before me. Obviously their treatment of the land kept it fertile for the Europeans when they came. After all, without the Indians, North America would not be the same is it is today. Without the sacrifices of the ones before me, America would not have won the Mexican American War so easily, if at all. U.S. soldiers used Indian tactics during the war, overcoming the Mexicans, who used the predictable European battle formation. Battles like these are taught, yet aspects concerning the indigenous people of the nation are vaguely, if at all, talked about.
I am unable to find information too far back into my family as the records are scattered, or destroyed. A person could wonder what would be in the diaries of my ancestors, or what information would fill so many gaps about Indian culture. No past can be changed, but it can be taught. No matter what is done to help Native Americans, there will still be a wound in the hearts of many. Maybe the pain could be lessened, though, if more recognition were given to the history of the aborigines of America, rather than the traumatic triumphs of the Europeans.
I want to know the name of my great-great grandmother, whose face is one of many that has helped create the one I see in the mirror.
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Reconnecting the Circle
National High School Essay Contest
By Diana Onco
On a quiet afternoon in Oberlin, Ohio my friend and I walk into a local ice cream store. We are deciding what we want when a man sitting near us at a table asks us “are you two Indians?”, and I reply “yeah we are”. With a thoughtful look on his face he asks, “So do you guys still live in teepees?” I say “I’m Navajo”, my friend says, “and I’m Cherokee”. He stares blankly at us and says, “Ok”. In our stunned silence my friend and I leave the store.
That situation in Ohio suddenly made me realize that America has little knowledge of Native Americans. Most U.S. citizens are familiar with the history of the Civil War, or the Emancipation Proclamation, but they know little of The Long Walk, or The Battle of Adobe Walls. Society has no knowledge of who Native people really are. They only know us from the films that they have seen where we are labeled as a “savage”. They think that we all lived in teepees and walked around everyday half naked, or they have the impression that all that Natives Americans do is drink, have no jobs, and receive money from the government and live off of it. When in fact most Native Americans you meet do not receive any money from their tribes. In there eyes we are nothing more than a character in a movie, or a mascot on a football helmet.
Reconnecting the circle is crucial to the future of the Native American simply because if you look at the young generation of Natives you will see that they are beginning to forget. They are getting lost in other worldly things such as alcohol, drugs, and methamphetamine. Our elders are getting older and are not able to pass down the traditional ways because of all the unfortunate distractions. There are too many headlines I have read that tell me more of some one on the reservation who had a meth lab in their home. The young ones are forgetting the importance of learning from our elders and cherishing our traditions. They live like they have all the time in the world to learn these things, but in all reality time is passing by them faster than they are able to comprehend.
Growing up I have experienced the joy of being Native American and seen the response; I have also known what it feels like to have no sense of identity and just taking up space in the world; after all of these experiences I know what it feels like to come back to reality and remember who I am and to never forget.
As a child, I grew up in a city where there were few Native Americans. I never had more than three friends who were Native. A lot of the friends I had were white, black, or Mexican. They knew little of Native Americans. My parents always took me to powwows and I would dance fancy shawl. I remember having so much fun putting my “war paint” on and trying my best to keep with the drum. I remember feeling the pain in my leg muscles from keeping on my toes for so long. Back at school the kids would tease my sisters and I, calling us “Pocahontas” because of our long hair, while yelling and patting their hands on their lips to imitate what they thought was how Native Americans acted.
As I got older, I stopped dancing, after I grew out of my outfit, and slowly began to forget the things that I valued so much as a child. Soon, I was beginning to blend in with a sea of faces and having no unique identity.
In the summer of 2003 I stayed with my grandmother in Monument Valley, UT. It was the first time I had been away from home for such a long period of time. My grandmother is Dineh (Navajo) and I always had a tough time understanding her through the thick Navajo accent. While there, I felt out of place because they lived life very different from me. They had to go and get their water because they did not have regular plumbing. My grandmother also kept sheep. I remember the short walk back from my auntie’s house to my grandmothers and seeing my grandmother covered in sheep’s blood from butchering it earlier that afternoon. All I could do was stop and stare while my chin hit the floor. By the end of my trip I was proud to have learned a little Navajo and could understand it a lot more than when I had first came out there.
Spending those three months there really help me put my values into perspective. I realized that I am not just like everyone else. I am Native American with an alive and rich culture. If we forget who we are then we become nothing. Giving shame to our ancestors, who went through so much so that we could preserve our ways, and our languages. The only way we can see this change is to be a part of it, and I believe that is why I am here sharing my passion with others. Thank you for allowing me this privilege.
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Reconnecting the Circle Essay
By Isaiah Berg
I am not a Native American. I am a Norwegian. I know far more about lefse, krumkake, and lutefisk than I do about wigwams, pow-wows, or tribal government. However, the color of my skin and the story of my heritage do not negate my ability to understand the issues facing society and Native Americans today. It is obvious that there are struggles facing Native American community today. As a united people, we must all seek to understand them and work through them. I firmly believe that reconnecting a circle of understanding with Native Americans requires that the circle cross all ethnic, racial, religious, and financial lines. I don’t have life experience on a reservation. I’ve grown up in a stable, white, rural, and middle-class home. I was raised with solid Midwestern values and a faith my parents encouraged from a very young age. The only time I would typically set foot on a reservation would be when my school basketball team played there. I was sheltered from the real issues of Native American life, and therefore I was unknowingly an easy victim for stereotypical thinking. The prevailing attitude was that Native Americans were poor, dumb, and drunk free-loaders who lived on the welfare of taxpayer money and hated the white-people who provided it. I didn’t necessarily apply this mindset to any verbal conversation, nor would I ever show disrespect to the few Native American friends I did have. However, while I never applied it on an individual basis, this thinking painted a dark hue over the Native American population as a whole. If Native American disputes or issues ever came into the daily newspaper, I found myself to lean away from the Native side automatically. It was only recently that I have begun to deconstruct these stereotypes and realize the significance they hold on society as a whole.
The United States, and its culture, is far from perfect. From the killing and conquest of the early years of its union to its current policies today, the United States has a long ways to come before it’s Native American issues are resolved. As John Stevens said, “When the white man stops insisting that the Indian adhere to his ways and allows us to live as Indians, the Indian problem will be solved.” Our culture reflects this “we know better” attitude. In my rural culture, as a people, we looked in on the problems facing the Native Americans, shook our fists at them for their perceived stupidity, and turned our backs on them. We gave no help and did not seek to understand why things were the way they were. This was our crucial mistake. It also happens to be the crucial mistake of society today. Alcoholism is a terrible problem in the Native American community. Why? Poverty strikes in reservations across the United States. Why? Teenage pregnancy and high school dropout rates are incredibly high amongst Native American teenagers. Why? Our society today dwells on the problem, avoids the question, and offers no solutions. The society we hope and yearn for states the problem clearly, asks the question boldly, and creates a solution quickly. The Native American community demands nothing less. Today, issues of Indian mascots and logos plaster the front page of newspapers as communities are divided over whether it disenfranchises the Native American community. I don’t dispute the merits of that discussion, but there are many other pressing issues that exist for Native Americans today that don’t get the same publicity. What can we do to help children born into poverty, hunger, and alcoholism on reservations? What can we do to curb the alcohol abuse that cripples reservations’ abilities to succeed? What can we do to empower Native American youth for future success? The key here is “we.”
The Native American community can create effective solutions, but true success requires the unity of society as a whole. Non-Native Americans could try to craft a solution, but without Native American support and input it will not solve anything. To achieve the success of understanding and prosperity, we must educate to break down the barriers of stereotypes. We must understand the problems facing the Native American community and find a bold solution. We must rejoice in success as one. Hundreds of thousands of lives, hopes, and futures rest on our nation’s ability to find this success, together.
I firmly believe that reconnecting a circle of understanding with Native Americans requires that the circle cross all ethnic, racial, religious, and financial lines. Stereotypes exist in our society. Problems face the Native American community. We must reconnect a circle of trust, friendship, and understanding that can bridge the gap between us and create bold solutions for the problems we all face. In Norwegian, the word is sammen. In Cherokee, it is i-tsu-la. In English, it is together. We are of many nations, many tribes, many families, many backgrounds. We all have many struggles and issues. Together, we can craft one solution. Together, we can create one bright future. Together, we can form one united circle. Our hope and future demands it. Together, we can accomplish it.
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Why is Reconnecting the Circle With Native Americans Important Today?
By Karissa Trahan
Circle huh?
Today, why today?
Why wasn’t it important the moment the circle broke?
Either way, I guess that wasn’t the original question asked. Right?
Excuse my inquisition and on with your question.“Why is reconnecting the circle with Native Americans important today?”
Okay, well let’s say the “circle” was disconnected, oh say about five centuries ago when the “euros” (let’s just call them that, in substitution for a few other more vulgar ones instead ha?) decided to waltz on up to our land with their great big culture-raping-immersed boots and set camp.
That’s about right? I mean that truly is around the time our little circle was disconnected. When we were unwillingly converted and forced to forsake our traditions. Yeah, I think that pretty much summarizes that little ditty up.
Well now assuming that we all agree about the genuineness of those sequence of events, “the beginning of our happy little story”, I uh, guess I can continue to the point of all my seemingly irrelevant ranting.
I guess after analyzing this, I can somewhat understand why we haven’t done anything to mend our detached circle. We’re just now barely getting back on our feet. I am in no way implying that we’re weak, that it’s taken us nearly five centuries to spring back. Because considering the things we’ve gone through, everything we’ve endured, I think we’ve made quite a speedy recovery.
So, yay for us.
But now that we can actually attempt to do something about our once sturdy circle, I think we should get a tad bit better of a game plan. True?
Because honestly, I don’t think anybody is really taking us seriously. Not to add the fact that some
people don’t even think that we’re still alive.
It’s true, a girl from the U.K actually thought we were "extinct".
Jesus, what an ill-fitted word, given the situation.
As if we were dinosaurs or something.
Anyways, the point is, we need to eliminate uneducated "rubbish" like that. We really need to stand up for ourselves, despite how cliché that may sound to you, it needs to be our everyday reality. Don’t get me wrong, we’ve definitely done a respectable amount of much needed rebelling. Just, apparently not enough given the fact we’re still being mocked.
The mascots are still there, I should know, I go to school where
“We are the chiefs.”
The cartoons still unrelentingly make a mockery of headdresses and face paint.And most importantly and ironically the most unnoticed at times, we’re still addressed by the name “Indian.” Which we aren’t, we’re not from India.
Our whole entire identity is 'politically incorrect.'
Unfortunately and almost ill-prepared of me, I don’t have even a clue as to how we would go about that whole ‘improving’ thing. At least not anything that hasn’t already been suggested at one time or another. Except my realization that our tactic isn’t exactly working, ha, how ignorant do I sound? I’m criticizing something that I have no clue as how to make the situation better. Well I guess we’ll have to figure that all out some other time.
You can waste away your life with me.
Day by day our crooked, not-quite-lined-up circle gets new additions.
Baby after baby, adding another generation to a generation.
They’ll grow and we’ll grow, old.
And our culture will eventually perish.
A life and a death.
To think that at one time you were the new generation, and one day we’ll think the same. Can you just imagine the experiences from generation after generation?
In ways improving, in ways worsening.
But always more positive changes than negative ones.
If what we’re going through right now is nowhere near as bad as it was then, then just imagine how unbelievably good it will be generations after generations from now.
Because no matter what, eventually things are going to get better.As long as we at least attempt at improving the situation, just think how much that little bit will impact the generation that will be generations from this very moment.
“One day everything will be alright.”
I’m just now reading this over and I realize how generic I sound and how tired and overused my points are, but I couldn’t care less, because I mean it. So, I guess what I’m trying to say is, forget just about everything I said earlier about making better tactics.
Because every little bit counts.
So now, get ready for my actual answer, the one not smothered in babbles.
If you don’t want to take the time to improve your own situation, due to the fact that you’re in no way selfish, pure laziness or just lack of care. Then do it for the ones who aren’t here yet, or not here anymore, the ones that don’t even have the choice of “should I get up and do something about this or should I sit back and wait for the passing?”
Do it for the grandkid you’ll have that isn’t yet born because their future mother, YOUR child is only two years old.
Do it for the tupiyah that wanted you to have everything she didn’t have growing up.
If not for yourself, then do it for them.
That’s why, reconnecting the circle for Native Americans, for us, for them, is so incredibly important today.
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Healing The Broken Circle
By Megan T. Ketelboeter
America’s national identity is a unique blend of many different ethnicities. The term “melting pot” is often used to describe the gradual mixing of different cultures, ideas, and people to create a new, unique culture. It is not surprising that this coalescence of cultures has occurred because of America’s long history of immigration. The history, culture, and ideas of each ethnic group have become valuable pieces of the metaphorical quilt of American society throughout this long process of assimilation. Although cultural misunderstandings occur, I believe that no ethnic group is more misunderstood than the Native American. Ideas most Americans have of Native Americans are based on Hollywood stereotypes or Wild West legends. When we reconnect the circle with our Native Americans brothers, we are capturing the true beauty of their culture and ensuring that their history and traditions are not lost to the ages.
At the annual Gathering of Nations, an extensive collection of beautiful and authentic items created by Native Americans may be seen. One may purchase these traditional Native American items from the vendors although this provides a valuable source of income for many Native Americans, the basic truth is that the marketing and sale of these items has diluted the sacred meaning of many objects. This is only worsened by the fact that many people create imitations of these items and market them as authentic Native American products. They are mass-produced and lack the attention to detail and care which is evident in authentic creations.
It is true that many people enjoy these unique creations. How many people would not like to see a hand-woven Navajo blanket, a festive kachina doll, or a delicate sand painting? The real question is whether those people know the symbolic meaning of these items. In my opinion not many people understand the symbolic value of the Native American culture, which leads to apathy. Therefore, we have lost touch with the Native American culture, which is so much a part of our “collective history”.
What is meant by the term “collective history”? If you asked me to define it, I would simply state it is the history that a nation shares. My great-grandfather came to this country from Germany when he was a young man. He knew where he came from but he also knew where he was going. His German heritage came with him and as he assimilated into American culture, it merged with America’s heritage. This applies to both immigrants and Native Americans as their heritage is our heritage and likewise. So, why do we not value our Native American heritage as much as we value our British heritage? Generally, we understand the English contribution to our nation better because it seems to be more prominent and for the most part our education is focused upon it. The problem, therefore, lies in the lack of knowledge. Only through the thorough understanding of Native Americans history, cultures, and their contributions can we reconnect the circle, which has been broken.
The history of Native Americans in North America is a long and interesting one. It is generally agreed upon that the decline of the Native American society began with the arrival of Europeans to the New World and their subsequent colonization of the continent. Native Americans lived very differently from the Europeans. These unwelcome intruders brought with them disease to which the Native Americans had no immunity, forced slavery, extermination, and the forced abandonment of their tribal spiritual beliefs. The various tribes of North American were subjected to a brutal, forceful assimilation. Missionaries from Europe felt it was their duty to convert the indigenous peoples to Christianity and strip them of their seemingly savage ways.
Of course, the ways of the Native Americans were misunderstood, however, they were not savage, just a different culture. They were merely foreign to the Europeans who witnessed them upon coming to the New World. The Europeans feared what they did not understand and they dealt with their fear by forcing their ways upon those people they did not understand. Instead of viewing Native Americans as an extinct people or a people living on far away reservations, we need to see them as a unique and valuable society who make with many contributions to our nation. By doing our best to gain a deep understanding and appreciation of the Native Americans, we can heal the circle that has been broken from many past injustices and enhance both the American mainstream culture and the Native American culture. This will help mend the broken circle with Native Americans.
An Oglala Sioux religious leader one stated “…when we were a strong and happy people, all our power came to us from the sacred hoop of the nation, and so long as that hoop was unbroken the people flourished.” He understood not only the importance of linking the past to the present but also linking people and their history together. What would the history be like without Sacagawea, Geronimo, or the Navajo Code talkers? A lot less interesting to say the least! Therefore, when we work to promote the history, ideas, and culture of the Native Americans and the reconnection of the circle with Native Americans, we are ensuring those valuable pieces of our “collective” American history survive for years to come.
The summers I spent sitting under the sycamore tree with my mother were the most nostalgic summers of my early life, and proved to be the most inspiring. On some evenings the viscous air became enriched with the sweet must foreshadowing an early summer thunderstorm. The skies occasionally sneezed with flashes of lightening, as my mother and I absorbed the pre-storm coolness and the cooing of doves. As the storms encroached I would gaze at my mother’s hands, studying the innate crevices, wrinkles, and folds of her plump, fleshy palms. I read her hands like a mystic puzzle, tracing pale veins and lines, excavating a story in the life her hands had led. In a heavy exultation, the rain would bear down and my carefully pondered observations washed away as we hurried inside.
I still reminisce about my summer study in hand geography, and my attempt to understand every dancing channel of my mother’s fingertips. I now realize that her hands are not really her own, but rather an intense amalgamation of her ancestors, their signatures cryptically apparent in her palms. Her hands depict the cultures, traditions, and values of a people widely forgotten, unless one takes the time to look at their own hand history. We all have hands; we all have a story connected to our souls that’s complexly layered with the stories of people before us. This truth is the binding element of humanity, embodying the very essence and importance of reconnecting the circle of Native American heritage. We all have a story, whether it’s discovered in our hands, our environments, or in our ancestors, it’s a story elucidative to life, and grasping its importance.
Stories are not merely uttered, but permeate our beings, making themselves evident in every facet of our lives. Young people must know their story to know themselves, for we as humans are not singular; we are merely a phrase in the greater story of life. If we don’t take the opportunity to explore our story, to share and discuss its culture and value we lose a part of ourselves. While youth today have a multitude of expectations, perhaps the most important task my generation has to complete is the preservation and propagation of the story. Mourning Dove once said: “everything on the earth has a purpose… and every person a mission” and I believe part of everyone’s mission is to keep the story alive. We must act as liaisons between the past and the future, connecting the customs and values of the past with the ever evolving world of today. We must show people that we all have hands, we all have a story, and that these stories, are really one story, where we are all connected, thus reinvigorating the traditions and values of Native American people.
Considering the sacred nature of the story to Native Americans, it is the most solemn sort of irony that the very people who understand the story are the ones losing their’s to modern society. I have dedicated myself to learning the story of my ancestors and reversing the cruel, existing irony. I’ve eaten traditional Indian bread, mapped tribal lands, and learned their stories, all in order to be more connected. The most important thing I’ve learned however is that the values and qualities of the Native American story are universal and go far beyond the vivid history of specific tribes. For example, the hunted animal was completely utilized from the intestinal lining to the flesh to the hide, thus epitomizing the importance of being resourceful and industrious to Native Americans. Many tribes lodged together as great families, the highest respect going to the elders, showing the value of family and the old people of society. While schools focus mainly of European-American literature Native Americans like Chief Crowfoot explored the meaning of life in eloquent and evocative words. The Native American story is one of ingenuity, family, nature, love, and bravery. Just as we all have hands, we all can share the Native American story, its intrinsic values, so rudimentarily tied to the essence of humanity.
Reconnecting the circle with Native Americans is an acutely important and prevalent issue in modern America. Just as I meticulously studied my mother’s hands, we must be meticulous in pursuing our own stories, and the story of Native American people. Besides being wrought with vibrant texture and color, the Native American story can be the hand reconnecting us to our heritage and to the basic truths of the world.
* * * * *
Reconnecting the Circle Essay
By Stephanie Tsosie
Our elders are an important part of our lives today and make us think differently about the world and how we see it. If our elders weren’t here today, our life wouldn’t be the same and we wouldn’t know anything about our culture and heritage. I think that Navajos have made a big difference in everyone’s lives by helping with World War II and the Navajo Code Talkers. Without anyone knowing who we were, we wouldn’t be so important to the world and the United States.
It is important to reconnect Native Americans and stay in touch with your culture because in the long run it could help you with things in life and take you that extra mile to go where you need to go. For me I think that being Navajo is the best thing about me. It makes me who I am and proud of what my people have done. I like to stay connected with my language and culture because everyday I learn something new and a get to teach it to others along the way. Being Native American don’t mean that I get treated special or differently; it just makes my ethnicity well known to others and aware of what background I carry that made our people so unique. There are many qualities to being a Native American, especially a Navajo. I learned where my people came from, what things our nations have accomplished, and what our tribe can do for others in need of assistance.
When I was growing up, my grandparents always told us how important our heritage was and where we all came from. They would tell us stories about the great leaders and what they did for our tribe to get us to where we are today. My grandpa would tell us what we could and couldn’t do when the time came, and to this day we still stick to our tradition as much as we can. Even though our elders are slowly going away from us, I would like to keep the tradition going so I can tell them to my children and grandchildren. Without knowing what we are and where we came from, there wouldn’t really be anything special about us. By keeping our tribe connected with one another, it lets us know what is to be expected and what we are to teach to our younger ones.
Our family is pretty well known for what we do and what we have done for others. My great-grandmother was one the Gold star mothers who lost her son in World War II and she had several kids, one who is my grandmother, Annie Nelson. My grandmother has nine children, thirty grandchildren, and one her way to having ten great-grandchildren. My uncles contribute to our people and our culture by supporting our background and showing the world how important it is to be a Navajo and why you should be proud. My aunts, including my mother, also help out by teaching us girls how to respect others and welcome them into your home. But out of all, my grandmother, always talks to us in Navajo, tells us stories about her days, and teaches us not to make the same mistakes she has made in the past. I love my family because they always try to keep the culture going, whether we’re all there or not. They al talk to us in our language and every now and then we’ll get together to plan family events, so we never lose touch with one another. I just hope that I can also pass on that tradition on trying to keep the family together while I still can. I know that I can’t really make a big difference now, but I know that through teachings I have learned and observing, I know I can accomplish anything I want.
So those are the many reasons on why Native Americans need to stay connected with one another and why Navajos are a big part of my life. I hope that through time and effort I can change others minds to always put there family first and love one another. I plan to try and change others minds on Native Americans and let them see for themselves how great our culture can be. This essay really got me to see how much I care for my family and how much I am willing to keep it together no matter what.
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From Assimilation to Today's Indian Education: The Importance of Reconnecting With Native American Heritage
By Caitlin Parker
As a non-Indian student living only a few miles from the end of the Trail of Tears, I must confess I have not always been excited about Indian Culture Days at my school. Making Indian necklaces and learning the Cherokee word for deer were never my favorite things to spend my time doing. I’m just like any other teenager. I rarely thought about how Indians were mistreated centuries ago. I thought more about why it didn’t seem fair that my Indian friends got free school supplies through the Johnson O’Malley program, and I didn’t. However, recently I have discovered why all this is important. Through education about Native Americans and the mistreatment they went through when the U.S. tried to assimilate them into the white mans’ society, I have connected with them and now realize why learning about their culture and past should be important to me and every other American.
When the white men came to America, the land was taken from them. They sent them on the Trail of Tears to find other places to live, and they were displaced from their native lands. All this was in the name of progress. The Native Americans went as far as Tahlequah, Oklahoma, a town only minutes from my home. With many deaths along the way, it was a very sad and long journey for these original Americans. Once they got to their new homes, the European Americans began to judge them and say they were savages and beasts.
Many people began to believe that they should “take the Indian out of the child for his own good.” They wanted to accomplish this by sending the children away to school. As misguided as they were, they knew that education was the key to changing the behavior and attitudes of the Indian. All over Native Americans were taken from their homes, and parents were sometimes dragged away by men with guns. The Indian children were sent away from their families and put in residential boarding schools where these children all lived together. Some of these children were never able to see their parents again. They were stripped of their own clothing and given uniforms. They were not allowed to have the long hair that most wore, and they weren’t allowed to speak their own language. They couldn’t even pray in their own Indian ways. They were forced to learn skills that only allowed them to find jobs in low paying positions.
The effects of all of this cruelty are still felt today. Many of the children died at these boarding schools. Some of the rest came back to their families many years later, but they couldn’t function well in the Indian world anymore. They hardly knew anyone, and they had forgotten their language. They had also forgotten all of their Indian skills. Because of this not many could survive in the harsh winter. The Indian people weren’t very good parents because they hadn’t known their own parents and weren’t sure what it required. Today, we realize that the white man’s attempts to break the Indians from their culture did a lot more harm than good to the Native Americans. Around 1930 America realized that the assimilation attempt had failed.
Today, we are trying to unite the two cultures in another way. While most still believe that education is the key to combining the two cultures, we are no longer interested in making Indians “white”. American Indians are encouraged to make their own destiny. Through Indian Education programs in the public schools and at schools run by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Native Americans are no longer encouraged to give up their heritage. These programs recognize and support Native American societies in their pursuit of education. They intend to help nurture the Indian beliefs while providing Native American students with an education that will allow them to be successful in mainstream society. Their goal is to build confidence in each student through a good education and an understanding of their Native American Culture. They hope that this confidence will better prepare them to have the opportunities all Americans want. The schools try to “prepare students to meet the challenges of their futures academically and socially.” They want their students to be proud of their culture.
Today, the very things that were stripped from the Indian people are not only allowed but are taught to all cultures. In my school we have Indian Cultural Days where we see Native American dancers and learn to play Native American sports like stickball. I have woven baskets and strung beaded necklaces just like the ancestors of my friends did many years ago on the Trail of Tears.
I think the reason that we should reconnect the circle is because like I have been shown we all need to learn about each other’s cultures. Through the activities we do at my school, I have learned to appreciate the Native American culture. We all need to understand the background of our friends. Reconnecting the circle of the Native Americans is important because we never want to repeat our past mistakes. History is the best teacher. No one should ever be treated with the cruelty we have in the past.
Today, we see that through Indian education programs that the culture of Indian Country is an American culture. We are all Americans, and we should celebrate our similarities and be proud of the differences that make each culture unique. From a past that thought it best to strip the Indian of its culture, we must develop a society that realizes it is best for the Indian to embrace his culture and for the rest of us to learn to appreciate it. The non-Native population has come full circle in its attitudes toward Native Americans, and this reconnection is one of the most important advances for our country.
and the chat room posts you took way to much space up with to read are written by a soicologist or anthropoligist a student that are far removed from the real life of common folk in any culture what they demand people should think or believe about one another is truly insignificant to anyone other than a forum for those who want political change for their own mean and gain . or an academic setting that feeds off anyones opinion as long as they pay to say it and get paid to listen to it.
many opinions out there on how people should think... be real the facts do not change. the RULES of engagment do not change. lifestyle and culture did not happen in a vacum nor does change. nor does it need too merely because an internet chat room has space for those to write their emotions on it without becoming involved in the very basic issues they rave and rant about so freely .
Well it is interesting that all those that pretend to be Native american Indian stars ... are not really part of the Indian Nation ...
We made some treaties .. but it does seem things have moved on, and the American nation has prospered, and those that moved ahead with it are far better off than those still clinging to the old. Of course "better" is relative ... but running a casino hardly seems to maintain the old traditions ...
I don't care where the topic goes ... my initial thought about the original inhabitants is not really conclusive ... and I'm not sure it matters ... Native americans conquered Anmerican Inidains for centuries, then it seems those natives were complicit in selling out their own people to the new americans ... largely white men ...
Do the conquered Indians expect anything from the Indians that conquered them ... before the white man showed up and conquered them all?
where would it end with the he hit me first stuff?
but more important is welfare just doesnt work.. and a victim mentality does not progress anyone or group of people.
generations of money helps and resources have been granted to Native americans and yet they still struggle .
When and what would it take for them to succeed? and become a nation that could survive and live well without the constant aid? for me it isnt about the money or the resource although dMILLER does make very valid political points and Johnny ... who is being ripped off? who is taking advantage? are you certain?
why are they still oppressed and in need of such exemption etc? See I believe any and all welfare creates a co-depency mind set and once instilled in ANY peron or people as a third and fourth and on and on gernerational issue can not be broken. so in my opinionthe war over the land was fairly worked out at the time with the surviving ancestors .. but what we give them today Like many minoriites that can not beat the tide of welfare is a type of dependency much much worse than a stick with fire, because it isnt a bullet killing them it is indeed a sense of hopelessness for change . to me that decays much much worse than a wound on the skin, it is a dep wound on the soul of any person told they can not so we must.
is a seperate NATION AMERICANS ARE NOT INDIANS HELLLO get it? INDIANS ARE NOT AMERICANS HELLO get it again??
Well, my Tlingit friends here in Alaska do not live on a Rez, and they are American Indians,period. Fortunately, they are simply proud of their heritage, but prefer to be Americans First. Thank God for that mind set amongst them. They have and are continuiing to emerge beautifully. A very good friend is State Representative Bill Thomas ®, of Haines, Alaska. He's all Indian and ALL American. Just because they have decided to assimilate into American Society does not take away from their "Indian-ness".
Johnny they have not been at this politicaly as long as the Native American who have been fighting for their rights their helps from the FEDERAL govt with a very different nature and is much later they get all the federal money and some land but I do not think they have tribes or nations within their culture. The wanted the money and the rights but do not want the seperate nation. Most treaties are contested and changed and ammended to suit the many tribes. The eskimo's and alaska itself was added much much later and not as legaly entwined , but they do get the money and promises written for them . in fact your representitives politicaly fight for their culture to be PRESERVED which is different than RESERVED understand?
they are a minority status what they worked out in their treaties is up to them and the govt. in Alaska to fight... see Indidans are seperate the american govt DOES not represent them they are their own nation. a difference.
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cheranne
When thinking of well known Native American People it is a common mistake to limit our thinking to those Native Americans that became famous in our earlier history. Native Americans are contributing members of today's modern America. Following is a short list of famous Native American people of this century:
JIM THORPE (Sac and Fox): winner of Olympic Gold Medals in the decathlon and pentathlon, in college he was an All-American athlete in lacrosse, basketball, and football. Played professional baseball and football. He has been voted the best American athlete of the first half of the 20th century. The first president of The National Football League.
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LEWIS TEWANIMA (HOPI) One of America's greatest long distance runners. Member of U.S. Olympic Team in 1908 and 1912. In 1912 he set the U.S. record for the 10,000 meter run, winning an Olympic silver medal. This record stood until 1964 when it was broken by Oglala Lakota Billy Mills. Tewanima also set the world record for the indoor 10 mile race, at Madison Square Garden.
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WILL RODGERS (Cherokee): perhaps the best known American humorist of the first one half of this century.
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JOSEPH OKLAHOMBI (Choctaw): Winner of the French medal, Croix de Guerre in WW I. The incident which won him this honor was perhaps one of the greatest acts of courage, bravery, and accomplishment in the annals of Military history. Private Oklahombi under machine gun, mortar and poison gas attack, crossed 210 yards of barbed wire traps and mine fields. He then single-handedly overpowered a machine-gun nest, captured 171 German soldiers, and held his position and prisoners for four days before being relieved.
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FRANCIS LEQUIER (Ojibwa): WW I hero. After his three comrades were killed attacking a German machine gun nest, he managed to overpower the Germans single handedly, killing several and capturing the rest. Mr. Lequier was shot 11 times during the incident.
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JOE YOUNG HAWK (Arikara): captured by five German soldiers in WW I he turned on his German captors, killed three with his bare hands and captured the other two. Shot through both legs, he marched his prisoners back through enemy territory to Allied lines.
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MITCHELL RED CLOUD (Ho-Chunk) This resident of Black River Falls, Wisconsin, was awarded the Medal of Honor for giving of his life on Nov. 5th, 1950, in the Korean conflict. Slowing an advance of enemy soldiers in order to allow his comrades to organize an defense, he was wounded 8 times. He wrapped his arm around a tree in order to support himself and to be able to maintain fire with his automatic weapon. In July of 1999 the United States Navy named a transport ship in his honor.
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CHARLES D. CURTIS (KANSA/KAW/OSAGE) Served in the House of Representatives for 14 years. The first Native American elected to the U.S. Senate. Served in the Senate for 20 years, 5 years as majority leader. Author of the Indian Citizenship Act of 1924. Vice President of the United States of America during the Herbert Hoover administration.
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ELVIS PRESLEY (Cherokee descent): the most influential rock and roll star in history.
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WAYNE NEWTON (Choctaw descent) Singer and actor. One of Las Vegas' best known entertainers.
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MARIA TALLCHIEF (OSAGE) One of the few prima ballerinas that have been born in the United States.
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BILLY MILLS (Lakota): Amateur champion and Gold Medal Winner in the Olympic Games in track and field. Currently works with charity groups promoting the cause of Native Americans across the U.S.
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BEN NIGHTHORSE CAMPBELL (Northern Cheyenne): Present day U.S. Senator from Colorado.
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FLOYD (RED CROW) WESTERMAN ( Santee Dakota): Songwriter, singer, speaker, activist, actor, and all around good guy. Starred in "Dances With Wolves," and "Clearcut," acted in roles in "Dharma and Greg," "Walker Texas Ranger" , "The X Files," and numerous other T.V. roles.
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LITEFOOT (Cherokee): Native American Rap star and movie actor. He starred in the movie "Indian in the Cupboard." He tours the country with his Rap band that sings and preaches the message of a drug and alcohol free lifestyle.
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VAL KILMER (Cherokee descent): Star of "Batman Forever" and actor in other films such as "Wyatt Earp," " Island of Doctor Moreau," " Heat," "Thunderheart," "The Ghost and the Darkness," and "The Saint."
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GRAHAM GREENE (Oneida): Actor that has starred in roles in the movies, "Dances With Wolves," "Clearcut," "Thunderheart," "Die-hard With A Vengeance," "The Education of Little Tree," and "Ishi."
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JOHNNY DEPP (Cherokee descent): brilliant young actor and film star in movies such as "Edward Scissor Hands," "Crybaby," and "Benny and June."
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STEPHANIE KRAMER (Cherokee descent): film star and female lead actor in the T.V. series, "Hunter."
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TIGER WOODS: (1/16 Native Blood) Youngest man ever to win the Masters Golf Tournament.
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COLIN POWELL: (Arawak Descent) Commander-in-Chief of U.S. Military forces in the Gulf War. Widely touted as a potential candidate for President of the United States of America.
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JOHN HERRINGTON: (Chickasaw) America's first Native astronaut. He graduated April 24th, 1998 from the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas.
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SHANIA TWAIN: (Enrolled member of The Red Lake Band of the Ojibwa People, Canada) One of country music's most popular female stars. Her taken name of Shania means in the language of the Ojibwa people, "I am on my way."
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NOTAH BEGAY (Navajo) Professional golfer on the PGA tour. At the age of 24 in 1998 he became only the third golfer in the history of the PGA tour to shoot a 59. Won the Reno Tahoe Open on August 8th, 1999. The first Native American to win a PGA tour since Rod Curl in 1974. Notah credits his success to a strong belief in his traditional faith and his cultural ties to his Navaho heritage.
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JOE & ANNIE HENRY (Gwich'in First Nation) -Dawson City, Yukon-Inducted into the Guiness Book of World Records for holding the distinction of being the worlds longest living married couple. They will celebrate their 79th wedding anniversary in the summer of 2000. Raised in the Makenzie mountains in the northwest of the Yukon territory they are both in their early 100's. They have lived off the land their whole life. They live a traditional lifestyle, are fluent speakers of their Native language, and practitioners of their culture. Joe is renowned for his handcrafted snowshoes and Annie for her handmade moccasins, beadwork and tanned hides. They have over 100 children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. They live a simple, hardworking livestyle and get by without a telephone, all of which has probably contributed to their long life and good nature.
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WINONA LADUKE: Mother of four children, resident of the White Earth Reservation in Minnesota, author, activist, farmer, and small business owner, she also has been the Vice Presidential candidate for President of the United States in 1996 and the year 2000 on the Green Party ticket. Her running mate for President is Ralph Nader.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
And don't forget musicians Elvis, Crystal Gayle, Loretta Lynn, Cher and astronaut John Herrington, Chicksaw.
When thinking of well known Native American People it is a common mistake to limit our thinking to those Native Americans that became famous in our earlier history. Native Americans are contributing members of today's modern America. Following is a short list of famous Native American people of this century:
JIM THORPE (Sac and Fox): winner of Olympic Gold Medals in the decathlon and pentathlon, in college he was an All-American athlete in lacrosse, basketball, and football. Played professional baseball and football. He has been voted the best American athlete of the first half of the 20th century. The first president of The National Football League.
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LEWIS TEWANIMA (HOPI) One of America's greatest long distance runners. Member of U.S. Olympic Team in 1908 and 1912. In 1912 he set the U.S. record for the 10,000 meter run, winning an Olympic silver medal. This record stood until 1964 when it was broken by Oglala Lakota Billy Mills. Tewanima also set the world record for the indoor 10 mile race, at Madison Square Garden.
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WILL RODGERS (Cherokee): perhaps the best known American humorist of the first one half of this century.
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JOSEPH OKLAHOMBI (Choctaw): Winner of the French medal, Croix de Guerre in WW I. The incident which won him this honor was perhaps one of the greatest acts of courage, bravery, and accomplishment in the annals of Military history. Private Oklahombi under machine gun, mortar and poison gas attack, crossed 210 yards of barbed wire traps and mine fields. He then single-handedly overpowered a machine-gun nest, captured 171 German soldiers, and held his position and prisoners for four days before being relieved.
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FRANCIS LEQUIER (Ojibwa): WW I hero. After his three comrades were killed attacking a German machine gun nest, he managed to overpower the Germans single handedly, killing several and capturing the rest. Mr. Lequier was shot 11 times during the incident.
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JOE YOUNG HAWK (Arikara): captured by five German soldiers in WW I he turned on his German captors, killed three with his bare hands and captured the other two. Shot through both legs, he marched his prisoners back through enemy territory to Allied lines.
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MITCHELL RED CLOUD (Ho-Chunk) This resident of Black River Falls, Wisconsin, was awarded the Medal of Honor for giving of his life on Nov. 5th, 1950, in the Korean conflict. Slowing an advance of enemy soldiers in order to allow his comrades to organize an defense, he was wounded 8 times. He wrapped his arm around a tree in order to support himself and to be able to maintain fire with his automatic weapon. In July of 1999 the United States Navy named a transport ship in his honor.
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CHARLES D. CURTIS (KANSA/KAW/OSAGE) Served in the House of Representatives for 14 years. The first Native American elected to the U.S. Senate. Served in the Senate for 20 years, 5 years as majority leader. Author of the Indian Citizenship Act of 1924. Vice President of the United States of America during the Herbert Hoover administration.
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ELVIS PRESLEY (Cherokee descent): the most influential rock and roll star in history.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WAYNE NEWTON (Choctaw descent) Singer and actor. One of Las Vegas' best known entertainers.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MARIA TALLCHIEF (OSAGE) One of the few prima ballerinas that have been born in the United States.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BILLY MILLS (Lakota): Amateur champion and Gold Medal Winner in the Olympic Games in track and field. Currently works with charity groups promoting the cause of Native Americans across the U.S.
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BEN NIGHTHORSE CAMPBELL (Northern Cheyenne): Present day U.S. Senator from Colorado.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FLOYD (RED CROW) WESTERMAN ( Santee Dakota): Songwriter, singer, speaker, activist, actor, and all around good guy. Starred in "Dances With Wolves," and "Clearcut," acted in roles in "Dharma and Greg," "Walker Texas Ranger" , "The X Files," and numerous other T.V. roles.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LITEFOOT (Cherokee): Native American Rap star and movie actor. He starred in the movie "Indian in the Cupboard." He tours the country with his Rap band that sings and preaches the message of a drug and alcohol free lifestyle.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VAL KILMER (Cherokee descent): Star of "Batman Forever" and actor in other films such as "Wyatt Earp," " Island of Doctor Moreau," " Heat," "Thunderheart," "The Ghost and the Darkness," and "The Saint."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GRAHAM GREENE (Oneida): Actor that has starred in roles in the movies, "Dances With Wolves," "Clearcut," "Thunderheart," "Die-hard With A Vengeance," "The Education of Little Tree," and "Ishi."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
JOHNNY DEPP (Cherokee descent): brilliant young actor and film star in movies such as "Edward Scissor Hands," "Crybaby," and "Benny and June."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
STEPHANIE KRAMER (Cherokee descent): film star and female lead actor in the T.V. series, "Hunter."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TIGER WOODS: (1/16 Native Blood) Youngest man ever to win the Masters Golf Tournament.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
COLIN POWELL: (Arawak Descent) Commander-in-Chief of U.S. Military forces in the Gulf War. Widely touted as a potential candidate for President of the United States of America.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
JOHN HERRINGTON: (Chickasaw) America's first Native astronaut. He graduated April 24th, 1998 from the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SHANIA TWAIN: (Enrolled member of The Red Lake Band of the Ojibwa People, Canada) One of country music's most popular female stars. Her taken name of Shania means in the language of the Ojibwa people, "I am on my way."
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NOTAH BEGAY (Navajo) Professional golfer on the PGA tour. At the age of 24 in 1998 he became only the third golfer in the history of the PGA tour to shoot a 59. Won the Reno Tahoe Open on August 8th, 1999. The first Native American to win a PGA tour since Rod Curl in 1974. Notah credits his success to a strong belief in his traditional faith and his cultural ties to his Navaho heritage.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
JOE & ANNIE HENRY (Gwich'in First Nation) -Dawson City, Yukon-Inducted into the Guiness Book of World Records for holding the distinction of being the worlds longest living married couple. They will celebrate their 79th wedding anniversary in the summer of 2000. Raised in the Makenzie mountains in the northwest of the Yukon territory they are both in their early 100's. They have lived off the land their whole life. They live a traditional lifestyle, are fluent speakers of their Native language, and practitioners of their culture. Joe is renowned for his handcrafted snowshoes and Annie for her handmade moccasins, beadwork and tanned hides. They have over 100 children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. They live a simple, hardworking livestyle and get by without a telephone, all of which has probably contributed to their long life and good nature.
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WINONA LADUKE: Mother of four children, resident of the White Earth Reservation in Minnesota, author, activist, farmer, and small business owner, she also has been the Vice Presidential candidate for President of the United States in 1996 and the year 2000 on the Green Party ticket. Her running mate for President is Ralph Nader.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
And don't forget musicians Elvis, Crystal Gayle, Loretta Lynn, Cher and astronaut John Herrington, Chicksaw.
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pond
I did not read all your list .
The ones i did glance at fall into this group.
America has a fantasy about "indians", a old west romance mind set of being "special" or something.
Again how many of these people are a MINORITY status. to have some "indian blood" in ya means little to nothing as far as our govt. or the tribes .
Your previous link provides the data on how a Native American is defined.
you really need to be more accurant in your defining of terms anyone who has balck hair or a relative who was once in an affair with a red blood can have blood lines . it means nothing at all.
Tribes decide who is an indian and cher, loreeta lynn etc.lololol your list is ridiculas NEVER lived in the society RESERVED for a SEPERATE NATION . To be considered a minority an Native american RULES APPLY and few of the few i did scan on your list qualify for the status of a minority or the tribe .
it is a seperate NATION AMERICANS ARE NOT INDIANS HELLLO get it? INDIANS ARE NOT AMERICANS HELLO get it again??
ignorant people who watched to many western movies as a kid have a fastasy and add credit to the "indian " title because they have an air of mystery and difference than "white people"
it means nothing in reality. many on your list are NOT NATIVE Americans they are Americans.
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pond
one from your list CHER had a hit song titled "half breed " or something the entire song was about how the indians do NOTthe girl accept such as a part of their nation. lol
how ironic.
to use a minority group to gain fame because people are ignorant on what DEFINES an native |American, is cruel and selfish and wrong... but it works. becuase people are stupid. and believe the old western movies and are often interested in their religion and spiritual practices..and what a sense of "being different" than USA.
INDIANS are different they have their own nation their own rules their own laws etc. it is a mystery to the white man how their culture operates.. so they pretend they might be a part of it for fame or to be noted.
doesnt mean they are Native Americans in the least.
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pond
#1. You need a Certificate of Indian Blood (CIB). Without a CIB, it doesn't matter if you are even full-blooded Native American, the government will not consider you a Native American. To be eligible for a CIB, one or both parents must submit a copy of their CIB to a tribal enrollment office along with a copy of your birth certificate.
#2. Blood quantum. This varies from tribe to tribe, however the standard tends to be 1/4 blood.
The indian nation is interested in preserving their culture and traditions and religion, I want you to note even FUL-blooded Native ancestry does NOT mean the tribe will accept you as part of their nation. they often time don't that is why the parents must provide proof not only of the blood line to the tribe.. but of your willingness to become a part of their Seperate Nation.
Famous Americans or Indians never accepted by the tribe do not count as Native Americans , they do not live in the welfare state made for them by white man nor do they live or abide by the treatys or alliances written.
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Lizzy
Pond thank you.
And I want to thank rhino and OKLAHOMA CITY WOW 78 too.
I am learning so much!
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cheranne
Native Americans have DNA(everything counts)MULTIPLE ORIGINS. ARE YOU PART WHITE,PART CHINESE,PART BLACK
PART HISPANIC,WHATS YOUR CULTURE POND?
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cheranne
Reconnecting the Circle
By Alicia Nowell
It is so easy to take for granted what our ancestors, elders, and other people have fought so hard for: tribal sovereignty. Sometimes it is hard to realize that many of the freedoms modern Native Americans have were not just handed to us. Blood and tears were shed as nations were killed, land was taken and traditional practices were banned by European settlers. Despite the hardships of our ancestors, Native American brothers and sisters stood have strong through cultural depression, and won back some of the land and traditions that were almost lost. It is now crucial that this country’s original people come together to “reconnect the circle”.
Get the youth involved. The importance of youth involvement is vital to the development of a strong future. It is true. The youth are the leaders of the future. They need to be educated on current issues facing Indian Country, so they will be passionate enough to help when their time comes. Children should be taught leadership qualities from a young age, so that by the time they’re in high school they are not in training to become leaders, but they are leaders! Organizations like National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) is a perfect example of a group that has an obvious passion for educating kids and young adults on pressing issues facing this nation. I hardly cared about governmental issues in Indian Country until I attended NCAI, but after only one week-long session of workshops and hands on involvement with pressing issues that our nation is facing, I realize first hand how important it is to care. Young adults should stop waiting around for someone to tell them what to do, and take matters into their own hands; let their voices be heard.
Keep traditions alive. Not only do the youth need to be informed, but all ages need to care in order to keep traditions from dying. It may be hard to keep some of the traditional crafts, languages and customs alive, but it is essential to the survival of Native American heritage. Each person can help keep customs going by taking part in local language classes, learning traditional crafts, or studying the history of their people. It is amazing in my community that not only is my Tribe teaching the language, but the local high school is starting a Native Language class to help get everyone involved in reviving the language. When elders and youth connect, stories and traditions can be shared through means of vocal and physical interaction. It is up to all ages to help keep the old ways thriving. Do not let them fizzle out, or cultural identities will be in jeopardy.
Break down stereotypes. There are so many preconceived notions of who/what a Native American is. Some think that modern Native Americans are lazy alcoholics who care about nothing but their per capita checks and casinos, while others still think of the war-hungry hunters who run around with war bonnets on their heads. I know Native American people who are successful lawyers and businessmen, I know Native American people who have a healthy family that they can support and provide a healthy environment for their children. Many Native Americans do not fit the stereotype of what an “Indian” is. It is up to individuals within the tribes to stand up and prove those people wrong. Bring an uninformed neighbor to a powwow, or teach them a craft of your ancestors. Show them that the old ways are still alive, and being Native American is about more than getting money from the government. Successful tribes work hard to gain their success; it is not just handed to them. We need to show those who don’t know the facts, what life as a Native American living in today’s society is all about.
The circle is being mended, and to continue reconnecting the circle is the responsibility of all individuals who care. People need to first be proud of their heritage as a Native American, or appreciate the cultural diversity brought to the community by Native Americans. Once an appreciation and pride is established, everyone can share together and learn from each other.
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Reconnecting the Circle: Why It's Important
By Christopher French
Today our relationships with Native Americans are dissipating. Americans form their opinions of Native Americans through the media more than they do from factual books and interaction with actual Native Americans. These stereotypes comprise most people’s knowledge of Native American culture and tradition. If these trends of pre-conceived notions about ancient and contemporary Native Americans continue, their culture could be lost. This is bad because many of the things we use as well as our way of living come from the Native American culture. It is important to reconnect the circle with Native Americans today because as each new generation is born; they are becoming more Americanized, losing more of their own culture and tradition for us to learn from.
In today’s society, people know little about modern Native Americans, their cultures, and how they live. With people watching all different types of media that depict Native Americans in various different ways, (most not accurate) our ideas and thoughts on the lifestyles of modern day Native Americans are confined to the inaccurate media we watch and what we learn in history class about how Natives lived hundreds of years ago. This has caused the disconnection in the circle that we have with Native Americans today.
It is important to reconnect with the Native American people and their cultures so we can learn about the origins of where some of the common items we use today and different aspects of our lifestyles came from. Many of the common items we use today are or came from Native American inventions. Many remedies and practices that are used for illnesses, from treating cancer to a headache, were originally founded by Native Americans. Child-birth rituals and different types of healing teas we use are from Native American origin. (Kavasch and Baar 6-22) Numerous foods like corn, potatoes, as well as items like cotton and tobacco, systems of farming them along with the tools they used were discovered, and then taught to us by the natives. Their architecture styles and the different building materials are still used today. Hieroglyphics, Solstices and Equinoxes, astronomy techniques, calendars, the decimal system, weapons, as well as rubber are all things that we use today that were first discovered by Native Americans. (Brown 31-60) The importance of learning from the modern day Native Americans is big because their style of living and ways of harnessing energy are important to preserving the Earth. A pre-conceived notion of the American Indian is that they only stay in their reservations, still using primitive ways to live. That being very untrue, many Native Americans have educated themselves to be doctors, lawyers and engineers, trying to better the world by getting their views into the society. Navajo Steve Grey, a mechanical engineer, is researching the use of wind power instead of environmentally harmful coal to bring power to Indian reservations. (Brown 61) By learning these types of environmentally friendly mentalities and techniques, we could live more efficiently. It is important to reconnect the circle with Native Americans in this regard so that our society as well theirs can work together to make our country run more efficiently.
Another part of why reconnecting the circle with Native Americans is so important is so that we can accurately view the history of their tribes and cultures. Many sources of historic documentation of Indian tribes and cultures are written from the white man’s point of view. By reconnecting with the Indians we would be able to have access to the same and even new history from the Native American point of view. This would not only open our eyes, but it would change how we look at the Indians and their history. Many of the events and encounters of Indians in the early 1700s were documented by the explorers who encountered them and are the primary source of where we get our information from. However, changing the point of view from which the event is seen can change a person’s view of history. An example of this would be Lewis and Clark’s expedition. Lewis and Clark documented some Indian tribes as being malicious because of their attacks or ill nature towards the expedition group. By just reading their views, one would think that the Indians were in the wrong. However, when reading a tribal leader’s documentation of the same event, hearing the story of a group of foreign white men trespassing on the tribe’s land, trying to take it from them and push their views onto the tribe, one can see where the tribe’s hostility might come from. (Ambrose chapter 14) By reconnecting with Native Americans, we would be able to see history from both views and get a better understanding of what actually happened.
Reconnecting our society with the ones of the Native Americans is vital because if we don’t try to reconnect now, we may not be able to later. If we don’t show interest in the Native American society today, their culture and traditions will be lost. With each new generation of Native Americans seeing the lack of interest for their society being shown by ours, they will be discouraged to live in their society and encouraged to live in ours. This would result in the loss of their history and traditions.
With that in mind, the importance of our reconnection is evident. There are many similarities between our society and the Native American society. They have created many items and rituals that we use today, and are finding ways to help preserve the Earth. Reconnection also gives us a better understanding of history through the views of Native Americans. If we don’t act to reconnect now, we might not be able to later because of the Americanization of Indians. By not reconnecting with Native Americans, we will be ignoring and losing the sacred cultures of the first people to live on the same land that we live on today.
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Bibliography
Ambrose, Stephen. Undaunted Courage. New York, NY: Ambrose-Tubbs Inc., 1996.
Brown, Fern G. American Indian Science. New York, NY: Twenty-First Century Books, 1997.
Kavasch, E. Barrie, and Karen Baar. American Indian Healing Arts. New York, NY: Bantam Books, 1999.
“Reconnecting the Circle.” Reconnecting the Circle: Home. 2006. Reconnecting The Circle, Inc. 15 Dec 2006. http://www.reconnectingthecircle.com/.
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The Forgotten
By Diana Hunter
I do not know her name. I only know that without her I would not be alive today. There was a time when people thought I was Hispanic simply because of my tanned skin, dark hair, and eyes. It insulted me, though I did not think they were bad people. It was because I knew that Native American blood ran in my veins, and that was something I was taught to be proud of.
Now, some people know of my relations with the Sioux people, yet do not understand it. Their false impressions cloud their thinking, and make them believe that all Indians should be on a reservation, or have a name such as “Howling Wolf”. Their limited knowledge deepens the canyon growing between the white people and the “savages”. We Americans must do something to build a bridge over that gap, and set the wrongdoings of our ancestors right.
My great-great grandmother married a white man. For her childrens’ sake, she moved away from the tribe and repudiated her beliefs of her old life. All of her actions were because of the prejudice upon Natives and her desire to have her descendants have a better life. The history of my people is not known. The complete history is omitted from the schools for sake of the “Great Discovery” of the Europeans. So many facts need to be known in order for a peaceful, complete relationship between the Americans and Indians to form.
Women were raped, children sold, and men mutilated. While their villages were besieged and homes burned, mothers watched with tears running endlessly down their cheeks. They held their children tightly to their breasts, trying to protect them even as their homes’ cinders floated up into the cloudy sky. So many froze or starved to death; their hearts broken from their losses. These facts are not taught in schools. The only way to learn about this is through independent reading. Why? Is it because of the government’s fear that our nation will hate them, or is it just a view that says that such information is unimportant? Even these sorrowful facts need to be known in order for an understanding to be created.
The “Trail of Tears” was only one of the wrongdoings to the Natives of the land. There were Indian schools where all that the children knew was ripped from them. Their families, beliefs, and heritages were all erased the moment they entered the gloomy atmosphere. They were to learn the white man ways, and to forget that the land surrounding them was not a spirit of its own, but a thing created by a god that they did not believe in. My great-great grandmother’s marriage was scorned because two races intertwined in marriage was condemned as dirty. Despite the hatred towards her and her husband, they had several children, including a daughter named Zella. My great-grandmother. Her bloodline continues down to me and makes me wish that perhaps things could have been different for my family before me.
I want to know the way my ancestors lived before the arrival of the Europeans. What animals and plants were there and how did they decorate the land? Not often is that information taught in schools. Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia, and South America are all known to me, yet not the world of those who came before me. Obviously their treatment of the land kept it fertile for the Europeans when they came. After all, without the Indians, North America would not be the same is it is today. Without the sacrifices of the ones before me, America would not have won the Mexican American War so easily, if at all. U.S. soldiers used Indian tactics during the war, overcoming the Mexicans, who used the predictable European battle formation. Battles like these are taught, yet aspects concerning the indigenous people of the nation are vaguely, if at all, talked about.
I am unable to find information too far back into my family as the records are scattered, or destroyed. A person could wonder what would be in the diaries of my ancestors, or what information would fill so many gaps about Indian culture. No past can be changed, but it can be taught. No matter what is done to help Native Americans, there will still be a wound in the hearts of many. Maybe the pain could be lessened, though, if more recognition were given to the history of the aborigines of America, rather than the traumatic triumphs of the Europeans.
I want to know the name of my great-great grandmother, whose face is one of many that has helped create the one I see in the mirror.
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Reconnecting the Circle
National High School Essay Contest
By Diana Onco
On a quiet afternoon in Oberlin, Ohio my friend and I walk into a local ice cream store. We are deciding what we want when a man sitting near us at a table asks us “are you two Indians?”, and I reply “yeah we are”. With a thoughtful look on his face he asks, “So do you guys still live in teepees?” I say “I’m Navajo”, my friend says, “and I’m Cherokee”. He stares blankly at us and says, “Ok”. In our stunned silence my friend and I leave the store.
That situation in Ohio suddenly made me realize that America has little knowledge of Native Americans. Most U.S. citizens are familiar with the history of the Civil War, or the Emancipation Proclamation, but they know little of The Long Walk, or The Battle of Adobe Walls. Society has no knowledge of who Native people really are. They only know us from the films that they have seen where we are labeled as a “savage”. They think that we all lived in teepees and walked around everyday half naked, or they have the impression that all that Natives Americans do is drink, have no jobs, and receive money from the government and live off of it. When in fact most Native Americans you meet do not receive any money from their tribes. In there eyes we are nothing more than a character in a movie, or a mascot on a football helmet.
Reconnecting the circle is crucial to the future of the Native American simply because if you look at the young generation of Natives you will see that they are beginning to forget. They are getting lost in other worldly things such as alcohol, drugs, and methamphetamine. Our elders are getting older and are not able to pass down the traditional ways because of all the unfortunate distractions. There are too many headlines I have read that tell me more of some one on the reservation who had a meth lab in their home. The young ones are forgetting the importance of learning from our elders and cherishing our traditions. They live like they have all the time in the world to learn these things, but in all reality time is passing by them faster than they are able to comprehend.
Growing up I have experienced the joy of being Native American and seen the response; I have also known what it feels like to have no sense of identity and just taking up space in the world; after all of these experiences I know what it feels like to come back to reality and remember who I am and to never forget.
As a child, I grew up in a city where there were few Native Americans. I never had more than three friends who were Native. A lot of the friends I had were white, black, or Mexican. They knew little of Native Americans. My parents always took me to powwows and I would dance fancy shawl. I remember having so much fun putting my “war paint” on and trying my best to keep with the drum. I remember feeling the pain in my leg muscles from keeping on my toes for so long. Back at school the kids would tease my sisters and I, calling us “Pocahontas” because of our long hair, while yelling and patting their hands on their lips to imitate what they thought was how Native Americans acted.
As I got older, I stopped dancing, after I grew out of my outfit, and slowly began to forget the things that I valued so much as a child. Soon, I was beginning to blend in with a sea of faces and having no unique identity.
In the summer of 2003 I stayed with my grandmother in Monument Valley, UT. It was the first time I had been away from home for such a long period of time. My grandmother is Dineh (Navajo) and I always had a tough time understanding her through the thick Navajo accent. While there, I felt out of place because they lived life very different from me. They had to go and get their water because they did not have regular plumbing. My grandmother also kept sheep. I remember the short walk back from my auntie’s house to my grandmothers and seeing my grandmother covered in sheep’s blood from butchering it earlier that afternoon. All I could do was stop and stare while my chin hit the floor. By the end of my trip I was proud to have learned a little Navajo and could understand it a lot more than when I had first came out there.
Spending those three months there really help me put my values into perspective. I realized that I am not just like everyone else. I am Native American with an alive and rich culture. If we forget who we are then we become nothing. Giving shame to our ancestors, who went through so much so that we could preserve our ways, and our languages. The only way we can see this change is to be a part of it, and I believe that is why I am here sharing my passion with others. Thank you for allowing me this privilege.
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Reconnecting the Circle Essay
By Isaiah Berg
I am not a Native American. I am a Norwegian. I know far more about lefse, krumkake, and lutefisk than I do about wigwams, pow-wows, or tribal government. However, the color of my skin and the story of my heritage do not negate my ability to understand the issues facing society and Native Americans today. It is obvious that there are struggles facing Native American community today. As a united people, we must all seek to understand them and work through them. I firmly believe that reconnecting a circle of understanding with Native Americans requires that the circle cross all ethnic, racial, religious, and financial lines. I don’t have life experience on a reservation. I’ve grown up in a stable, white, rural, and middle-class home. I was raised with solid Midwestern values and a faith my parents encouraged from a very young age. The only time I would typically set foot on a reservation would be when my school basketball team played there. I was sheltered from the real issues of Native American life, and therefore I was unknowingly an easy victim for stereotypical thinking. The prevailing attitude was that Native Americans were poor, dumb, and drunk free-loaders who lived on the welfare of taxpayer money and hated the white-people who provided it. I didn’t necessarily apply this mindset to any verbal conversation, nor would I ever show disrespect to the few Native American friends I did have. However, while I never applied it on an individual basis, this thinking painted a dark hue over the Native American population as a whole. If Native American disputes or issues ever came into the daily newspaper, I found myself to lean away from the Native side automatically. It was only recently that I have begun to deconstruct these stereotypes and realize the significance they hold on society as a whole.
The United States, and its culture, is far from perfect. From the killing and conquest of the early years of its union to its current policies today, the United States has a long ways to come before it’s Native American issues are resolved. As John Stevens said, “When the white man stops insisting that the Indian adhere to his ways and allows us to live as Indians, the Indian problem will be solved.” Our culture reflects this “we know better” attitude. In my rural culture, as a people, we looked in on the problems facing the Native Americans, shook our fists at them for their perceived stupidity, and turned our backs on them. We gave no help and did not seek to understand why things were the way they were. This was our crucial mistake. It also happens to be the crucial mistake of society today. Alcoholism is a terrible problem in the Native American community. Why? Poverty strikes in reservations across the United States. Why? Teenage pregnancy and high school dropout rates are incredibly high amongst Native American teenagers. Why? Our society today dwells on the problem, avoids the question, and offers no solutions. The society we hope and yearn for states the problem clearly, asks the question boldly, and creates a solution quickly. The Native American community demands nothing less. Today, issues of Indian mascots and logos plaster the front page of newspapers as communities are divided over whether it disenfranchises the Native American community. I don’t dispute the merits of that discussion, but there are many other pressing issues that exist for Native Americans today that don’t get the same publicity. What can we do to help children born into poverty, hunger, and alcoholism on reservations? What can we do to curb the alcohol abuse that cripples reservations’ abilities to succeed? What can we do to empower Native American youth for future success? The key here is “we.”
The Native American community can create effective solutions, but true success requires the unity of society as a whole. Non-Native Americans could try to craft a solution, but without Native American support and input it will not solve anything. To achieve the success of understanding and prosperity, we must educate to break down the barriers of stereotypes. We must understand the problems facing the Native American community and find a bold solution. We must rejoice in success as one. Hundreds of thousands of lives, hopes, and futures rest on our nation’s ability to find this success, together.
I firmly believe that reconnecting a circle of understanding with Native Americans requires that the circle cross all ethnic, racial, religious, and financial lines. Stereotypes exist in our society. Problems face the Native American community. We must reconnect a circle of trust, friendship, and understanding that can bridge the gap between us and create bold solutions for the problems we all face. In Norwegian, the word is sammen. In Cherokee, it is i-tsu-la. In English, it is together. We are of many nations, many tribes, many families, many backgrounds. We all have many struggles and issues. Together, we can craft one solution. Together, we can create one bright future. Together, we can form one united circle. Our hope and future demands it. Together, we can accomplish it.
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Why is Reconnecting the Circle With Native Americans Important Today?
By Karissa Trahan
Circle huh?
Today, why today?
Why wasn’t it important the moment the circle broke?
Either way, I guess that wasn’t the original question asked. Right?
Excuse my inquisition and on with your question.“Why is reconnecting the circle with Native Americans important today?”
Okay, well let’s say the “circle” was disconnected, oh say about five centuries ago when the “euros” (let’s just call them that, in substitution for a few other more vulgar ones instead ha?) decided to waltz on up to our land with their great big culture-raping-immersed boots and set camp.
That’s about right? I mean that truly is around the time our little circle was disconnected. When we were unwillingly converted and forced to forsake our traditions. Yeah, I think that pretty much summarizes that little ditty up.
Well now assuming that we all agree about the genuineness of those sequence of events, “the beginning of our happy little story”, I uh, guess I can continue to the point of all my seemingly irrelevant ranting.
I guess after analyzing this, I can somewhat understand why we haven’t done anything to mend our detached circle. We’re just now barely getting back on our feet. I am in no way implying that we’re weak, that it’s taken us nearly five centuries to spring back. Because considering the things we’ve gone through, everything we’ve endured, I think we’ve made quite a speedy recovery.
So, yay for us.
But now that we can actually attempt to do something about our once sturdy circle, I think we should get a tad bit better of a game plan. True?
Because honestly, I don’t think anybody is really taking us seriously. Not to add the fact that some
people don’t even think that we’re still alive.
It’s true, a girl from the U.K actually thought we were "extinct".
Jesus, what an ill-fitted word, given the situation.
As if we were dinosaurs or something.
Anyways, the point is, we need to eliminate uneducated "rubbish" like that. We really need to stand up for ourselves, despite how cliché that may sound to you, it needs to be our everyday reality. Don’t get me wrong, we’ve definitely done a respectable amount of much needed rebelling. Just, apparently not enough given the fact we’re still being mocked.
The mascots are still there, I should know, I go to school where
“We are the chiefs.”
The cartoons still unrelentingly make a mockery of headdresses and face paint.And most importantly and ironically the most unnoticed at times, we’re still addressed by the name “Indian.” Which we aren’t, we’re not from India.
Our whole entire identity is 'politically incorrect.'
Unfortunately and almost ill-prepared of me, I don’t have even a clue as to how we would go about that whole ‘improving’ thing. At least not anything that hasn’t already been suggested at one time or another. Except my realization that our tactic isn’t exactly working, ha, how ignorant do I sound? I’m criticizing something that I have no clue as how to make the situation better. Well I guess we’ll have to figure that all out some other time.
You can waste away your life with me.
Day by day our crooked, not-quite-lined-up circle gets new additions.
Baby after baby, adding another generation to a generation.
They’ll grow and we’ll grow, old.
And our culture will eventually perish.
A life and a death.
To think that at one time you were the new generation, and one day we’ll think the same. Can you just imagine the experiences from generation after generation?
In ways improving, in ways worsening.
But always more positive changes than negative ones.
If what we’re going through right now is nowhere near as bad as it was then, then just imagine how unbelievably good it will be generations after generations from now.
Because no matter what, eventually things are going to get better.As long as we at least attempt at improving the situation, just think how much that little bit will impact the generation that will be generations from this very moment.
“One day everything will be alright.”
I’m just now reading this over and I realize how generic I sound and how tired and overused my points are, but I couldn’t care less, because I mean it. So, I guess what I’m trying to say is, forget just about everything I said earlier about making better tactics.
Because every little bit counts.
So now, get ready for my actual answer, the one not smothered in babbles.
If you don’t want to take the time to improve your own situation, due to the fact that you’re in no way selfish, pure laziness or just lack of care. Then do it for the ones who aren’t here yet, or not here anymore, the ones that don’t even have the choice of “should I get up and do something about this or should I sit back and wait for the passing?”
Do it for the grandkid you’ll have that isn’t yet born because their future mother, YOUR child is only two years old.
Do it for the tupiyah that wanted you to have everything she didn’t have growing up.
If not for yourself, then do it for them.
That’s why, reconnecting the circle for Native Americans, for us, for them, is so incredibly important today.
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Healing The Broken Circle
By Megan T. Ketelboeter
America’s national identity is a unique blend of many different ethnicities. The term “melting pot” is often used to describe the gradual mixing of different cultures, ideas, and people to create a new, unique culture. It is not surprising that this coalescence of cultures has occurred because of America’s long history of immigration. The history, culture, and ideas of each ethnic group have become valuable pieces of the metaphorical quilt of American society throughout this long process of assimilation. Although cultural misunderstandings occur, I believe that no ethnic group is more misunderstood than the Native American. Ideas most Americans have of Native Americans are based on Hollywood stereotypes or Wild West legends. When we reconnect the circle with our Native Americans brothers, we are capturing the true beauty of their culture and ensuring that their history and traditions are not lost to the ages.
At the annual Gathering of Nations, an extensive collection of beautiful and authentic items created by Native Americans may be seen. One may purchase these traditional Native American items from the vendors although this provides a valuable source of income for many Native Americans, the basic truth is that the marketing and sale of these items has diluted the sacred meaning of many objects. This is only worsened by the fact that many people create imitations of these items and market them as authentic Native American products. They are mass-produced and lack the attention to detail and care which is evident in authentic creations.
It is true that many people enjoy these unique creations. How many people would not like to see a hand-woven Navajo blanket, a festive kachina doll, or a delicate sand painting? The real question is whether those people know the symbolic meaning of these items. In my opinion not many people understand the symbolic value of the Native American culture, which leads to apathy. Therefore, we have lost touch with the Native American culture, which is so much a part of our “collective history”.
What is meant by the term “collective history”? If you asked me to define it, I would simply state it is the history that a nation shares. My great-grandfather came to this country from Germany when he was a young man. He knew where he came from but he also knew where he was going. His German heritage came with him and as he assimilated into American culture, it merged with America’s heritage. This applies to both immigrants and Native Americans as their heritage is our heritage and likewise. So, why do we not value our Native American heritage as much as we value our British heritage? Generally, we understand the English contribution to our nation better because it seems to be more prominent and for the most part our education is focused upon it. The problem, therefore, lies in the lack of knowledge. Only through the thorough understanding of Native Americans history, cultures, and their contributions can we reconnect the circle, which has been broken.
The history of Native Americans in North America is a long and interesting one. It is generally agreed upon that the decline of the Native American society began with the arrival of Europeans to the New World and their subsequent colonization of the continent. Native Americans lived very differently from the Europeans. These unwelcome intruders brought with them disease to which the Native Americans had no immunity, forced slavery, extermination, and the forced abandonment of their tribal spiritual beliefs. The various tribes of North American were subjected to a brutal, forceful assimilation. Missionaries from Europe felt it was their duty to convert the indigenous peoples to Christianity and strip them of their seemingly savage ways.
Of course, the ways of the Native Americans were misunderstood, however, they were not savage, just a different culture. They were merely foreign to the Europeans who witnessed them upon coming to the New World. The Europeans feared what they did not understand and they dealt with their fear by forcing their ways upon those people they did not understand. Instead of viewing Native Americans as an extinct people or a people living on far away reservations, we need to see them as a unique and valuable society who make with many contributions to our nation. By doing our best to gain a deep understanding and appreciation of the Native Americans, we can heal the circle that has been broken from many past injustices and enhance both the American mainstream culture and the Native American culture. This will help mend the broken circle with Native Americans.
An Oglala Sioux religious leader one stated “…when we were a strong and happy people, all our power came to us from the sacred hoop of the nation, and so long as that hoop was unbroken the people flourished.” He understood not only the importance of linking the past to the present but also linking people and their history together. What would the history be like without Sacagawea, Geronimo, or the Navajo Code talkers? A lot less interesting to say the least! Therefore, when we work to promote the history, ideas, and culture of the Native Americans and the reconnection of the circle with Native Americans, we are ensuring those valuable pieces of our “collective” American history survive for years to come.
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Bibliography
“Cultural Assimilation.” Wikipedia. 2005. 29 Nov. 2006 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultural_assimilation.
Josephy, Alvin M. 500 Nations: an Illustrated History of North American Indians. New York: Gramercy, 2002.
“Quotes From Our Native Past.” Quotes From Our Native Past. 1996. 29 Nov. 2006 http://www.bigisland.com/~stony/quotes.html.
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The Story of Hands: Reconnecting the Circle
By Nancy Tate
The summers I spent sitting under the sycamore tree with my mother were the most nostalgic summers of my early life, and proved to be the most inspiring. On some evenings the viscous air became enriched with the sweet must foreshadowing an early summer thunderstorm. The skies occasionally sneezed with flashes of lightening, as my mother and I absorbed the pre-storm coolness and the cooing of doves. As the storms encroached I would gaze at my mother’s hands, studying the innate crevices, wrinkles, and folds of her plump, fleshy palms. I read her hands like a mystic puzzle, tracing pale veins and lines, excavating a story in the life her hands had led. In a heavy exultation, the rain would bear down and my carefully pondered observations washed away as we hurried inside.
I still reminisce about my summer study in hand geography, and my attempt to understand every dancing channel of my mother’s fingertips. I now realize that her hands are not really her own, but rather an intense amalgamation of her ancestors, their signatures cryptically apparent in her palms. Her hands depict the cultures, traditions, and values of a people widely forgotten, unless one takes the time to look at their own hand history. We all have hands; we all have a story connected to our souls that’s complexly layered with the stories of people before us. This truth is the binding element of humanity, embodying the very essence and importance of reconnecting the circle of Native American heritage. We all have a story, whether it’s discovered in our hands, our environments, or in our ancestors, it’s a story elucidative to life, and grasping its importance.
Stories are not merely uttered, but permeate our beings, making themselves evident in every facet of our lives. Young people must know their story to know themselves, for we as humans are not singular; we are merely a phrase in the greater story of life. If we don’t take the opportunity to explore our story, to share and discuss its culture and value we lose a part of ourselves. While youth today have a multitude of expectations, perhaps the most important task my generation has to complete is the preservation and propagation of the story. Mourning Dove once said: “everything on the earth has a purpose… and every person a mission” and I believe part of everyone’s mission is to keep the story alive. We must act as liaisons between the past and the future, connecting the customs and values of the past with the ever evolving world of today. We must show people that we all have hands, we all have a story, and that these stories, are really one story, where we are all connected, thus reinvigorating the traditions and values of Native American people.
Considering the sacred nature of the story to Native Americans, it is the most solemn sort of irony that the very people who understand the story are the ones losing their’s to modern society. I have dedicated myself to learning the story of my ancestors and reversing the cruel, existing irony. I’ve eaten traditional Indian bread, mapped tribal lands, and learned their stories, all in order to be more connected. The most important thing I’ve learned however is that the values and qualities of the Native American story are universal and go far beyond the vivid history of specific tribes. For example, the hunted animal was completely utilized from the intestinal lining to the flesh to the hide, thus epitomizing the importance of being resourceful and industrious to Native Americans. Many tribes lodged together as great families, the highest respect going to the elders, showing the value of family and the old people of society. While schools focus mainly of European-American literature Native Americans like Chief Crowfoot explored the meaning of life in eloquent and evocative words. The Native American story is one of ingenuity, family, nature, love, and bravery. Just as we all have hands, we all can share the Native American story, its intrinsic values, so rudimentarily tied to the essence of humanity.
Reconnecting the circle with Native Americans is an acutely important and prevalent issue in modern America. Just as I meticulously studied my mother’s hands, we must be meticulous in pursuing our own stories, and the story of Native American people. Besides being wrought with vibrant texture and color, the Native American story can be the hand reconnecting us to our heritage and to the basic truths of the world.
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Reconnecting the Circle Essay
By Stephanie Tsosie
Our elders are an important part of our lives today and make us think differently about the world and how we see it. If our elders weren’t here today, our life wouldn’t be the same and we wouldn’t know anything about our culture and heritage. I think that Navajos have made a big difference in everyone’s lives by helping with World War II and the Navajo Code Talkers. Without anyone knowing who we were, we wouldn’t be so important to the world and the United States.
It is important to reconnect Native Americans and stay in touch with your culture because in the long run it could help you with things in life and take you that extra mile to go where you need to go. For me I think that being Navajo is the best thing about me. It makes me who I am and proud of what my people have done. I like to stay connected with my language and culture because everyday I learn something new and a get to teach it to others along the way. Being Native American don’t mean that I get treated special or differently; it just makes my ethnicity well known to others and aware of what background I carry that made our people so unique. There are many qualities to being a Native American, especially a Navajo. I learned where my people came from, what things our nations have accomplished, and what our tribe can do for others in need of assistance.
When I was growing up, my grandparents always told us how important our heritage was and where we all came from. They would tell us stories about the great leaders and what they did for our tribe to get us to where we are today. My grandpa would tell us what we could and couldn’t do when the time came, and to this day we still stick to our tradition as much as we can. Even though our elders are slowly going away from us, I would like to keep the tradition going so I can tell them to my children and grandchildren. Without knowing what we are and where we came from, there wouldn’t really be anything special about us. By keeping our tribe connected with one another, it lets us know what is to be expected and what we are to teach to our younger ones.
Our family is pretty well known for what we do and what we have done for others. My great-grandmother was one the Gold star mothers who lost her son in World War II and she had several kids, one who is my grandmother, Annie Nelson. My grandmother has nine children, thirty grandchildren, and one her way to having ten great-grandchildren. My uncles contribute to our people and our culture by supporting our background and showing the world how important it is to be a Navajo and why you should be proud. My aunts, including my mother, also help out by teaching us girls how to respect others and welcome them into your home. But out of all, my grandmother, always talks to us in Navajo, tells us stories about her days, and teaches us not to make the same mistakes she has made in the past. I love my family because they always try to keep the culture going, whether we’re all there or not. They al talk to us in our language and every now and then we’ll get together to plan family events, so we never lose touch with one another. I just hope that I can also pass on that tradition on trying to keep the family together while I still can. I know that I can’t really make a big difference now, but I know that through teachings I have learned and observing, I know I can accomplish anything I want.
So those are the many reasons on why Native Americans need to stay connected with one another and why Navajos are a big part of my life. I hope that through time and effort I can change others minds to always put there family first and love one another. I plan to try and change others minds on Native Americans and let them see for themselves how great our culture can be. This essay really got me to see how much I care for my family and how much I am willing to keep it together no matter what.
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From Assimilation to Today's Indian Education: The Importance of Reconnecting With Native American Heritage
By Caitlin Parker
As a non-Indian student living only a few miles from the end of the Trail of Tears, I must confess I have not always been excited about Indian Culture Days at my school. Making Indian necklaces and learning the Cherokee word for deer were never my favorite things to spend my time doing. I’m just like any other teenager. I rarely thought about how Indians were mistreated centuries ago. I thought more about why it didn’t seem fair that my Indian friends got free school supplies through the Johnson O’Malley program, and I didn’t. However, recently I have discovered why all this is important. Through education about Native Americans and the mistreatment they went through when the U.S. tried to assimilate them into the white mans’ society, I have connected with them and now realize why learning about their culture and past should be important to me and every other American.
When the white men came to America, the land was taken from them. They sent them on the Trail of Tears to find other places to live, and they were displaced from their native lands. All this was in the name of progress. The Native Americans went as far as Tahlequah, Oklahoma, a town only minutes from my home. With many deaths along the way, it was a very sad and long journey for these original Americans. Once they got to their new homes, the European Americans began to judge them and say they were savages and beasts.
Many people began to believe that they should “take the Indian out of the child for his own good.” They wanted to accomplish this by sending the children away to school. As misguided as they were, they knew that education was the key to changing the behavior and attitudes of the Indian. All over Native Americans were taken from their homes, and parents were sometimes dragged away by men with guns. The Indian children were sent away from their families and put in residential boarding schools where these children all lived together. Some of these children were never able to see their parents again. They were stripped of their own clothing and given uniforms. They were not allowed to have the long hair that most wore, and they weren’t allowed to speak their own language. They couldn’t even pray in their own Indian ways. They were forced to learn skills that only allowed them to find jobs in low paying positions.
The effects of all of this cruelty are still felt today. Many of the children died at these boarding schools. Some of the rest came back to their families many years later, but they couldn’t function well in the Indian world anymore. They hardly knew anyone, and they had forgotten their language. They had also forgotten all of their Indian skills. Because of this not many could survive in the harsh winter. The Indian people weren’t very good parents because they hadn’t known their own parents and weren’t sure what it required. Today, we realize that the white man’s attempts to break the Indians from their culture did a lot more harm than good to the Native Americans. Around 1930 America realized that the assimilation attempt had failed.
Today, we are trying to unite the two cultures in another way. While most still believe that education is the key to combining the two cultures, we are no longer interested in making Indians “white”. American Indians are encouraged to make their own destiny. Through Indian Education programs in the public schools and at schools run by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Native Americans are no longer encouraged to give up their heritage. These programs recognize and support Native American societies in their pursuit of education. They intend to help nurture the Indian beliefs while providing Native American students with an education that will allow them to be successful in mainstream society. Their goal is to build confidence in each student through a good education and an understanding of their Native American Culture. They hope that this confidence will better prepare them to have the opportunities all Americans want. The schools try to “prepare students to meet the challenges of their futures academically and socially.” They want their students to be proud of their culture.
Today, the very things that were stripped from the Indian people are not only allowed but are taught to all cultures. In my school we have Indian Cultural Days where we see Native American dancers and learn to play Native American sports like stickball. I have woven baskets and strung beaded necklaces just like the ancestors of my friends did many years ago on the Trail of Tears.
I think the reason that we should reconnect the circle is because like I have been shown we all need to learn about each other’s cultures. Through the activities we do at my school, I have learned to appreciate the Native American culture. We all need to understand the background of our friends. Reconnecting the circle of the Native Americans is important because we never want to repeat our past mistakes. History is the best teacher. No one should ever be treated with the cruelty we have in the past.
Today, we see that through Indian education programs that the culture of Indian Country is an American culture. We are all Americans, and we should celebrate our similarities and be proud of the differences that make each culture unique. From a past that thought it best to strip the Indian of its culture, we must develop a society that realizes it is best for the Indian to embrace his culture and for the rest of us to learn to appreciate it. The non-Native population has come full circle in its attitudes toward Native Americans, and this reconnection is one of the most important advances for our country.
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waysider
I had a great aunt who was 100% Indian/Native American, born on the REZ in the 1800's
She was not a blood relative, though.
She married my great uncle who was a blood relative.
As an infant, she was orphaned by a natural catastrophe and raised by white folks.
When I was a kid, she made me a beautiful black and white quilt.
I kept it for a long time and stored it in a cedar chest.
When I got divorced in 1981, my ex-wife took the chest, not realizing the quilt was inside.
I never saw her or the quilt again.
OK,OK,OK---- I know that's off-topic.
But what the heck, if she posts here and reads this, maybe I'll get my dad-gum quilt back!!
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pond
hey waysider give me her phone number i will telephone her and tell her you need the blanket back right away for ya!
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pond
and the chat room posts you took way to much space up with to read are written by a soicologist or anthropoligist a student that are far removed from the real life of common folk in any culture what they demand people should think or believe about one another is truly insignificant to anyone other than a forum for those who want political change for their own mean and gain . or an academic setting that feeds off anyones opinion as long as they pay to say it and get paid to listen to it.
many opinions out there on how people should think... be real the facts do not change. the RULES of engagment do not change. lifestyle and culture did not happen in a vacum nor does change. nor does it need too merely because an internet chat room has space for those to write their emotions on it without becoming involved in the very basic issues they rave and rant about so freely .
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cheranne
The life of the flesh is in the blood.
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waysider
Thanks, Pond
I wouldn't have a clue what her number is.
I haven't seen or talked to her since 1981.
I like your new avatar but it needs to be zoomed in a bit more.
OK---Sorry, I'll get off here so the thread can get back to topic.
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rhino
Well it is interesting that all those that pretend to be Native american Indian stars ... are not really part of the Indian Nation ...
We made some treaties .. but it does seem things have moved on, and the American nation has prospered, and those that moved ahead with it are far better off than those still clinging to the old. Of course "better" is relative ... but running a casino hardly seems to maintain the old traditions ...
I don't care where the topic goes ... my initial thought about the original inhabitants is not really conclusive ... and I'm not sure it matters ... Native americans conquered Anmerican Inidains for centuries, then it seems those natives were complicit in selling out their own people to the new americans ... largely white men ...
Do the conquered Indians expect anything from the Indians that conquered them ... before the white man showed up and conquered them all?
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pond
exactly Bill!
where would it end with the he hit me first stuff?
but more important is welfare just doesnt work.. and a victim mentality does not progress anyone or group of people.
generations of money helps and resources have been granted to Native americans and yet they still struggle .
When and what would it take for them to succeed? and become a nation that could survive and live well without the constant aid? for me it isnt about the money or the resource although dMILLER does make very valid political points and Johnny ... who is being ripped off? who is taking advantage? are you certain?
why are they still oppressed and in need of such exemption etc? See I believe any and all welfare creates a co-depency mind set and once instilled in ANY peron or people as a third and fourth and on and on gernerational issue can not be broken. so in my opinionthe war over the land was fairly worked out at the time with the surviving ancestors .. but what we give them today Like many minoriites that can not beat the tide of welfare is a type of dependency much much worse than a stick with fire, because it isnt a bullet killing them it is indeed a sense of hopelessness for change . to me that decays much much worse than a wound on the skin, it is a dep wound on the soul of any person told they can not so we must.
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J0nny Ling0
it
Well, my Tlingit friends here in Alaska do not live on a Rez, and they are American Indians,period. Fortunately, they are simply proud of their heritage, but prefer to be Americans First. Thank God for that mind set amongst them. They have and are continuiing to emerge beautifully. A very good friend is State Representative Bill Thomas ®, of Haines, Alaska. He's all Indian and ALL American. Just because they have decided to assimilate into American Society does not take away from their "Indian-ness".
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pond
Johnny they have not been at this politicaly as long as the Native American who have been fighting for their rights their helps from the FEDERAL govt with a very different nature and is much later they get all the federal money and some land but I do not think they have tribes or nations within their culture. The wanted the money and the rights but do not want the seperate nation. Most treaties are contested and changed and ammended to suit the many tribes. The eskimo's and alaska itself was added much much later and not as legaly entwined , but they do get the money and promises written for them . in fact your representitives politicaly fight for their culture to be PRESERVED which is different than RESERVED understand?
they are a minority status what they worked out in their treaties is up to them and the govt. in Alaska to fight... see Indidans are seperate the american govt DOES not represent them they are their own nation. a difference.
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