How to Support Native Americans Part 2

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 Native voices. Please and thank you.
15. Expose your children to as many Indigenous activities as you can. The more children are exposed to the truth of a people, the less they will be affected by stereotypes.
16. Don’t allow schools to dress your kid up as an Indian. Playing Indian is always racist, and my traditional regalia is not a costume.
17. Quit trying to tell me how my history went. Listen. Don’t explain our culture to us. Let us tell our own stories.
18. Don’t correct the way people choose to identify. Native American, Indian, American Indian, Indigenous, or our tribal names—it’s our choice.
19. Don’t ask us what our Indian name is. For example: “Him: What’s your Indian name?” Me: “Simon.” Him: “No, I mean, what’s your real Indian name?” Me: “I’m Oglala and my name is Simon.” [Note to my cousins: I’m okay with being asked my native name: Nawgishgok]
20. Use your privilege and platform to speak out regularly against the oppression of Natives. Create and empower more allies to do the same. For example, if you have a following or are in a position of authority, use it to illuminate issues in Indian country, and most certainly, maybe most importantly, pass the flippin’ mic to a Native.

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