Living and Understanding the Native Way

I have seen many things in my short little 26 years of life.  I've had a couple of questions thrown my way as i sat on the deck of our local hangout a coffee shop by the name of "Dunn Bros Coffee" and I have to say some were rather racial questions.  Now I don't get the interest in knowing another person's culture, but the fact that most are fascinated by ours, to me, is quite strange. 

We are who we are.  I understand that doesn't give any information, but it's the best explanation I could come up with at the time.  You see we are all different.  We are the usual Natives.  We get called all sorts of names and some we thrive on; others we look away feeling sorry for the ignorance that seems to spew from people who think we are all the same and know nothing of us.

I have seen and heard most of the racial slurs some come up with. A wagon burner, blanket baby, redskin, Indian, drunks, druggies...now the last to could move to all categories from the occasional use, like recreational use, to being an actual drunk or drug addict.

I have heard this quite a few times, "Well if they would get off of their lazy asses and do something about it, then they would have to live like that."  I, for one, actually understand where they are coming from, but what they don't understand is that if all you were taught, not having any influence from the outside world, to be a drunk and not be expected to graduate or get a GED; then how can you flourish?  The negativity thrown our way is mainly ignorant shit spouted from most that don't understand how we are.  In the words of a friend of mine, who shall remain nameless, "
I grieve for the falling of our culture.  Not many of you know how to speak your own language.  Your ancestors cry for the way everyone here lives for themselves and no longer cares to help each other."

This is the lesson that many have passed on to the younger generations.  Some actually do care, but with the way the world is always changing and it is human nature to adapt to that change some how; is it possible to get back to your roots?

With me being a single mother and trying to show my son how to be respectful to his elders as well as show him how to deal with ignorance from people who truly don't understand why we do the things we do, it is rather difficult.  Even I do not truly understand the ignorance of some.  

 So for now, I rest my heavily burdened heart to shed some light on my progress to this years new ways of life and leave you with this quote from one of the many discussions between friends and family.


“Our people need leaders and this is where you all come in.  Crying over your own lives shows you weak and unfit to lead your people to a place of peace and contentment.  Most of you wallow over the fact that your dreams were cut short.  That’s not the way our people come from.  Until you come to terms with the fact that as leaders you are looked to as role models our people will be run into the ground!”