As a white woman living in dominant US culture, at some point in the past my ancestors were willing/able to buy into the old melting pot assimilation model. I remember in elementary school being taught how our ancestors did this because in exchange for giving up their language, heritage, old fights, ties, etc, they would get all kinds of economic benefits and privileges.
What they left out was that people who resisted assimilation, including Native communities across the continent, lose or have repeatedly been denied access to the same benefits and privileges.
What they also left out was that connections to our ancestors and the land also has costs as well as benefits.
A few weeks ago Paco mentioned that tribal governments should be studied alongside of the legislative, executive and judicial aspects of US government, so we can understand how the nation to nation status works. I agree, we have to be educated in order to stop, reverse or at least mitigate the ongoing legacies of racism.
Some dominant culture/white people tell me that while they agree that racism is bad and so forth, they really think we should focus on the future and build for a better tomorrow. It sounds so simple when they say it, yet how do you do that when history and the present time continue to batter you, economically, physically, emotionally, spiritually, etc? Also, when there is talk of building a better future, can we truly do that if many of us really don't know what really happened in the past or what is happening today on the ground that we live on?
Can we move forward while also learning about the past? Can we create a new model that doesn't punish those who refuse to assimilate? Can we create a society that encourages all of us to remember, see and continue to learn about each other?
Washington State Representative John McCoy, helped pass HB 1495 in 2005 "Encouraging tribal history to be included in the common school curriculum."
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?year=2005&bill=1495
In September 2010 an extensive and well thought out website was rolled out to help people implement the 2005 HB 1495 with lesson plans, resource lists and links, for all levels in k-12 called "Since Time Immemorial" http://tribalsov.ospi.k12.wa.us/ While many people were involved, Shana Brown and Denny Hurtado led the effort I heard. Anyone can access the site and it is less than a year old, so please tell teachers and anyone else you can think of about it. HB 1495 and the Since Time Immemorial website show us a way of resisting the assilimate or face the consequences training. It would cool to hear what other efforts are going on in various places.
What they left out was that people who resisted assimilation, including Native communities across the continent, lose or have repeatedly been denied access to the same benefits and privileges.
What they also left out was that connections to our ancestors and the land also has costs as well as benefits.
A few weeks ago Paco mentioned that tribal governments should be studied alongside of the legislative, executive and judicial aspects of US government, so we can understand how the nation to nation status works. I agree, we have to be educated in order to stop, reverse or at least mitigate the ongoing legacies of racism.
Some dominant culture/white people tell me that while they agree that racism is bad and so forth, they really think we should focus on the future and build for a better tomorrow. It sounds so simple when they say it, yet how do you do that when history and the present time continue to batter you, economically, physically, emotionally, spiritually, etc? Also, when there is talk of building a better future, can we truly do that if many of us really don't know what really happened in the past or what is happening today on the ground that we live on?
Can we move forward while also learning about the past? Can we create a new model that doesn't punish those who refuse to assimilate? Can we create a society that encourages all of us to remember, see and continue to learn about each other?
Washington State Representative John McCoy, helped pass HB 1495 in 2005 "Encouraging tribal history to be included in the common school curriculum."
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?year=2005&bill=1495
In September 2010 an extensive and well thought out website was rolled out to help people implement the 2005 HB 1495 with lesson plans, resource lists and links, for all levels in k-12 called "Since Time Immemorial" http://tribalsov.ospi.k12.wa.us/ While many people were involved, Shana Brown and Denny Hurtado led the effort I heard. Anyone can access the site and it is less than a year old, so please tell teachers and anyone else you can think of about it. HB 1495 and the Since Time Immemorial website show us a way of resisting the assilimate or face the consequences training. It would cool to hear what other efforts are going on in various places.
What scares me is that the "assimilate or face consequences" mentality isn't dead in this country. It may no longer be a Federal objective, but it's still very much apparent on local levels. In small towns all over the country, the is still political pressure, religious pressure, and race pressure being placed on all sorts of people. We still have so much trouble just accepting people for who their beliefs and customs. It's not as apparent in large cities with wide varieties of culture, like Seattle, but all you have to do is move 2hrs east of here and you'll find schools where it's "alright" to not be a Christian, but it's not really all right or it's "ok" to be a Democrat, just don't put any Obama signs in your front lawn during the election. I ran into both of these problems, among many others, when I moved back home to Indiana back in 2007/2008. It was appalling to see windows broken out of cars because they had "Yes We Can" bumper stickers.
ReplyDeleteI feel that in order to stop racism or help mitigate it, we do need to know the past. I believe it was Einstein who said in order to prevent the past from repeating itself over and over, we need to know what that history is. That's not quite how he said it, but the message is the same. Einstein was absolutely right. Paco also mentioned this in a round-about way. Looking back on mistakes made in the past teaches us not to do them again. So forth, helping us to prevent future conflict. As for racism being the issue, knowing the history of all of it helps us to understand eachother a little more.
ReplyDeleteI have done some research on the assimalation of Native Americans. This post reminds me of the Indian Removal act of 1830. Natives were asked to move west of the Mississippi. If they didnt move they were promised citizenship. When they did stay, many were harrassed by white land owners and nearly all ended up leaving.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Stu on "assimilation or face consequences" concept. I feel in bigger cities most people will not bother you for your views/ethnic background, but say if you were to move into a smaller town many people would be bothered just because it doesn't fit the social norm.
I think that the only way to solve a problem is to understand, know the problem. Which, I think looking back to the history stands a big role. While some people might believe in moving forward is the only way to improve, but what I have found out is that the most valuable things I learned was from the past.
ReplyDeleteI bet no one here can say they have never had a racist attitude. Here is why:
ReplyDeleteEveryone remember 9/11? Well, following it, numerous Muslim citizens, some of whom had lived in the USA their whole life, had houses and property, were denied service numerous places, and a few even received death threats. Few had anything to do with the hijacking. Their only crime was looking similar to the people who crashed the airplane into the tower.
Ask yourself: was I suspicious of Muslims after the fall of the towers. Can you honestly say you hadn't? I am guilty. Are you?
(Note: I am not implying anyone ever has performed hate crimes against Muslims, rather that, for a time, they could not look at Muslims and not be suspicious.)