By D. J. McAdam
The attitudes of American society at large have changed drastically toward Native Americans during my lifetime, but I have a feeling that most of us who are not Native Americans still haven't gotten it right.
When I was a boy, Native Americans - "Indians" - were the one-dimensional bad guys in cowboy vs. Indian movies. The plot was as predictable as it was lame: Indians would commit some atrocity on the nice white folks helpfully trying to bring civilization to an untamed land; romantically-portrayed cowboys would go settle the score, making the world safe for cattle-ranching and winning the undying love and admiration of the local schoolmarm in the process. The few deviations from this story line (such as the Lone Ranger's Indian sidekick) were notable for straying from the script.
Still, we all wanted to be Indians. They were cool, knew how to survive in the woods, knew how to tread silently through a forest, dressed in loincloths, lived in tepees and carried tomahawks. And they played tom-toms.
In the 1960's and 1970's attitudes changed. Indians were the ones who'd gotten short-changed by the Establishment, lied to, used, etc. Who couldn't identify with that? Of course, all these good feelings never really translated, as far as I know, into much in the way of actual benefits to Native Americans, but whoever wrote that book about burying his heart at Wounded Knee sure made a bundle. Actually, whoever made those two silly movies about Billy Jack must have made a bundle, too.
Then, suddenly, Native American culture became very "New Age." They, it turned out, had been right all along, honoring the earth and the buffalo when we'd been ignoramuses about the whole thing. Well, actually, they had been right all along in this regard.
There are things we can all do today to explore and honor Native American culture. The internet actually helps in this regard, opening up whole worlds of resources that were once previously inaccessible. I think it's great to read books about Native American culture, go to museums, buy products that teach us about Native American values.
But I think the most important thing we can do as individuals in our society is to ensure that Native Americans themselves are welcomed within our society - not subsumed, not incorporated, not amalgamated, but welcomed. Poverty, hunger, joblessness and higher-than-average suicide rates are still problems that Native Americans cope with regularly. So are those offensive mascots for teams with names like "Redskins." If you're truly interested in Native American culture and values, don't let your interest stop with a few books and posters - make it your business to understand Native American issues and rights, and make your voice heard on these issues.
Here's a question that few people want to take on - it's impossible to answer to everyone's satisfaction, and it's impossible to ever be completely politically correct in answering it. The problem is this:
Calling persons "Indians" perpetuates Columbus' mistaken thought that he had, somehow, reached India. Besides, there already are Indians, living in India. You can call them "East Indians," and call those who are native to what is now known as America "American Indians," but;
The term "America" comes from the name of an Italian mapmaker. Of course, that also presents a problem for the term "Native Americans," since the land these persons are native to wasn't always known as "America," and why use a European-derived term to describe persons who had nothing to do with Europe?
I've had lots of interesting chats with folks about this question. One, who was a "Native American," suggested that we could use the term "Native Person." My problem with that is that we're all "Native Persons" of somewhere.
The reason I like "Native American" is this - it doesn't have anything to do with India, and it does indicate that these are persons who lived in what is now known as America before settlers from other areas of the world arrived. Even though "America" is a European-derived term, it is what the land is called now. Germany wasn't always called "Germany," Britain wasn't always called "Britain."
O Great Spirit whose voice I hear in the winds, hear me. I come before you one of your many children, I am small and weak, I need your strength and wisdom. Let me walk in beauty and let my eyes ever behold the red and purple sunset. Make my hands respect the things you have made, and my ears sharp to hear your voice. Make me wise so that I may understand the things you have taught my people, the lesson you have hidden in every leaf and rock. I seek strength not to be greater than my brother but to fight my greatest enemy, myself. Make me ever ready to come to you with clean hands and straight eyes so that when life fades as a fading sunset my spirit may come to you without shame.
I am, like many people, interested in a variety of spiritual topics. I'm often surprised that "fellow seekers" in America overlook the fascinating spiritual heritage of Native Americans in their quest to find something more "exotic." Before planning that next trip to Tibet, consider investigating Native American beliefs here on the North American continent. You may be amazed at what you find.
Miscellaneous Links
Clementoni High Color Collection Jigsaw Puzzles - Includes a number of attractive designs related to Native American life.
Ibiida Lahaa
Last of the Dogmen - Interesting film somewhat related to Native American culture.
Thanks to the nice folks at Google, you can search our site for a particular term or phrase:
Copyright D. J. McAdam 1997-2007