CPN Julie - People of the Place of the Fire

Robert and I had an excellent week, traveling through Grants Pass, Crescent City, San Rafael, Visalia, and back.   In Grants Pass we met with tribal elder David West. He is such a great man, role model, and font of knowledge. David is the one who identified Robert as the one who should be the next veteran responsible for our district’s Eagle staff.  Every time we see David he passes on another story or tradition.  Some of them are not to be written down, such as performing a funeral.  He did tell us, and I think it’s okay to pass on, that if our drum group sings at a funeral we should paint a red line around our ankles and wrists, with a red dot “third eye.” For protection. Some of his stories, sounding very serious, end with punch lines.  Like why Potawatomis lost their butts (not me; I got a big ol’ butt from my Dad’s side of the family). This week I’m going to follow his tradition of mourning following a death.  It’s been over three years since Mik...

For the most part I am trying to post my own thoughts, or to distill other writer’s thoughts into digestible segments here [always with credit to the author]. But this article is spot-on, and changing any of it would be a disservice https://time.com/5457183/thanksgiving-native-american-holiday/ [heads-up: “ The first official mention of a ‘Thanksgiving’  celebration occurs in 1637, after the colonists brutally massacre an entire Pequot village, then subsequently celebrate their barbaric victory.”]

[credit Simon Moya-Smith, Vice magazine]  [my comments in brackets] 91.  Treaty rights are not “special rights.” They are agreements between one separate sovereign nation and another (and most have  been broken , unfortunately). 92.  Natives, per capita, serve in the U.S. military more than any other racial demographic. Just a fact allies should know. 93.  Stop using the words, "tribes,” “tribe,” and “tribalism" as hip words for interest groups or groups of shared interest. This usage undermines the political, legal and social unique status of tribes. 94.  If your girlfriend or wife is Native, don’t call her “Pocahontas.” Ever.  Pocahontas was a child  and victim of rape. She only married that white guy to protect her family from murder, mutilation, and enslavement. [note: see more in my post MMIW ] 95.  No, we do not get reparations from the U.S. government, and  please  do not assume that if you somehow get enrolle...

[credit Simon Moya-Smith, Vice magazine] 81.  Don’t ask me why I’m studying my Indigenous ancestral language instead of Spanish or Chinese or whatever. I study my peoples’ language because it was once outlawed, and yep, I have the right to study whatever I want. 82.  Avoid big banks, like Wells Fargo and Chase, that  bankroll  environmentally destructive oil and gas developments and also  violate Native treaty rights . Support your local public banking effort to prevent money going to these colossal institutions. Divest! 83.  Not every smoking pipe is a peace pipe, so let’s take “peace pipe” out of your vocabulary. 84.  Yes, we pay taxes. State and federal. Please don’t assume we live tax-free. 85.  You’re not “part Indian.” You either are, or you are not. 86.  Not all Natives practice their people’s spirituality. Some are Christian, Jewish, Buddhist. Some are agnostic, atheist. Please don’t assume all Natives are spiritual and...

[credit to Simon Moya-Smith, Vice magazine] 71.  Not all Natives are rich from casinos. (Again: I’m in so much debt.) 72.  Don't claim Cherokee if the Cherokee don't claim you. 73.  Don’t say “circle the wagons.” That’s racist. Natives weren’t the threat—land- and gold-horny white people were. 74.  Dear journalists, stop saying that the Orlando Nightclub Shooting is the “worst massacre in U.S. history.” Look up the Wounded Knee Massacre, Bear River Massacre, Sand Creek Massacre, etc. Headlines should not come at the expense of history. 75.  It’s worth remembering that reservations were first established as prison camps, and  Hitler was inspired  by them. America doesn’t want you to know that one. 76.  No, Native Americans are not all drunks. Jeezus. Please stop assuming that. 77.  Folks always want to come to a Native community to “learn our ways.” I’m like, “It would be much more helpful if you just check your people.” But...

[credit Simon Moya-Smith, Vice magazine] 61.  Look for and hang out at your local Indian center. There’s one in Los Angeles, Denver, Chicago, New York City, Minneapolis...this list goes on! You may learn a thing or two. When you show up, be humble, learn, and just listen. An elder once told me: The Creator gave you two ears and one mouth for a reason. [note: I don’t know of “a center” in Portland; please comment on any and I will update this point. But there are lots of events where the public is very much invited to attend and learn, such as the Indigenous Peoples Days event in October replacing Columbus Day.  Also, go to Powwows!] 62.  Please do not claim to be Native just to get a job or scholarship. That’s fucked up. 63.  Don't say "Native American culture." There are hundreds of tribes, each with unique cultures, languages, foods, ceremonies, etc. Not all Native tribes and nations are the same. 64.  Don't even think about calling anyone/anythin...

[credit Simon Moya-Smith, Vice magazine ] 51.  Understand that not all Natives agree on all subjects, just as white people don't. [note: Some Natives support the American Indian Movement (AIM) and some don’t.] 52.  Be a good listener—put your ego aside. 53.  If you’re a fellow person of color, let’s not play the "oppression Olympics." Just because we inform people that Natives, per capita, are more likely to die at the hands of police than any other demographic that is not us playing “oppression Olympics.” It’s a fact that should be included in the discussion of discrimination. 54.  Understand that “Native American” is a very generalized term. Each and every tribe has their own customs and ways. 55.  Your family hasn’t “always fought for this country” or always owned your family farm. You’re on stolen land. 56.  We are not defined by our blood quantum. Although separate, sovereign tribal nations determine who is and isn’t a part of their nat...

[credit to Simon Moya-Smith, Vice magazine ] 41.  I know it’s tempting, but even if your grandma told you so (or you just got your 23AndMe results back), if you are distantly related to someone who was Native, we don't immediately need to know. 42.  Read books by Indigenous writers like Vine Deloria Jr., Louise Erdrich, and N. Scott Momaday. Please don't read fiction by white authors and think you know anything about Native culture. 43.  Stop using (and stop your friends from using) the Bering Strait Theory to justify aggressive land theft. This theory (emphasis on  theory ) suggests Natives crossed a land bridge, but the  latest research  continues to debunk this antiquated idea. 44.  When someone says, “America is a land of immigrants,” inform them that America is a land of immigrants...and Indigenous peoples and enslaved people who were brought here against their will. 45.  Remind your friends/family/foes that English is a foreign l...

[credit to Simon Moya-Smith, Vice magazine ] 31.  Speak out against Columbus Day. Columbus was a murderer and a rapist who set into motion one of the world's worst genocides. 32.  Don’t dress up as an Indian on Halloween. If you see a non-Native person playing Indian, i.e. wearing “war paint” and donning a faux–feather headdress, ask the person, “Would you dress up as an Indian in a room full of Indians? Then why would you think it’s OK any other time?” 33.  Push for inclusion of Native American history in schools, especially the histories of local tribes. 34.  Every racial diversity list, like the ones your company uses to tout its inclusivity, that excludes Natives is an incomplete diversity list. When this happens, speak up; ask them why Natives have been excluded—and maybe why none have been hired. 35.  Know how many tribes and nations are in your state and what tribes and nations are local to your specific area. Learn about them. You’re on thei...

[part 3; again, credit to Simon Moya-Smith, Vice magazine ] 21.  Stop supporting brands like Urban Outfitters. They profit off of our culture and traditions. Instead, support Native-owned businesses. You can purchase better quality Native clothing, jewelry, etc., while at the same time support  actual  creative Natives. 22.  If you invite Native elders into your spaces, treat them with the respect that we do. Let them eat first, let them have your seat, listen to them. They are not props. 23.  Loudly speak out against Indian mascots. They are the commodification and dehumanization of Natives and have been  empirically proven  to harm the mental health and stability of kids. 24.  Even if you have a friend who says he or she doesn’t have a problem with a racist slur, it doesn’t make the racist slur any less of a racist slur. Remind your friend that their sentiments toward a slur does not change its definition. 25.  Recognize that D...

[A short break from the series ‘how to support native americans’ which will return tomorrow] I saw this and could not wait a full week to share. with full credit to  Tanaya Winder as presented on therumpus.net *** MMIW: Pocahontas When the president called Elizabeth Warren ‘Pocahontas’, He thought he was clever and funny Only confirming the idealization of a child that has been turned into fetish. In 201 7, nearly 10,000 Indigenous women were reported missing in the US. Her real name was Matoaka, Powhatan for ‘Flower between two streams.’ She resembled her mother, So she took on her name, Pocahontas. Taken by English captors. Dies at 21. Ask yourself, if your favorite princess were alive, would she be hashtagging #MeToo? Taking her name back for all indigenous women, Screaming “I survived!?” 1995: she becomes a Disney Princess. She becomes a Halloween Costume. Her 10-year-old body becomes full-figured, a Barbie Doll Collectable. That’s the year John Smith’s story ...

Continuing... [credit Simon Moya-Smith,  Vice magazine ] 11.  Contrary to what movies will tell you, we don’t need rescuing. Tell Kevin Costner:  Dances With Wolves  and other Hollywood westerns perpetuate the white savior narrative. Instead, watch films written, directed, and/or produced by Natives. 12.  Do not tag your Indigenous friends in all the racist, triggering content you come across. If a post includes redface, nasty caricatures, or even the acerbic Twitter troll attacking Natives, it’s most likely offensive. 13.  Also, quit telling us to “get over it.”  Too often when we bring up the  Trail of Tears  or  Wounded Knee Massacre , for example, we’re berated—“It’s in the past. Move on, already!”  Yet when it’s a massacre of predominantly white people it’s, “We will always remember,” or, “We will never forget.”  Why do  we  have to “get over it” when you get to “always remember”? 14.  Share Nat...