Native Americans and the Law

[leatheryoldbat]

Did you know that both Canada and the United States have, since colonial times, been actively involved in a campaign to erase Indigenous peoples? Both countries have done everything in their powers to either assimilate or annihilate the first Americans. In Canada, Indigenous people are, by law, not allowed to determine who is a tribal member and

Comments

[squeezing120]

As little as someone like me had to do with those policies, I still feel guilt about that. It's sad.

Is it possible to save the cultures that remain?

[leatheryoldbat]

That, of course, remains to be seen.

There are programs within the tribes to re-learn the languages and many of the programs are aimed at very young children. Since there are as many methods of doing things as there are tribes it's hard to make any blanket statement. Recovery of language does seem to be a key element of Native American intellectual thought as well as recovery of faith and culture.

Most Reservations in the U.S. have their own educational system and are developing some form of cultural recovery program. The biggest obstacle is the fact that for some tribes there are damn few people who are fluent and these are very elderly, and that during the boarding school years, many of the elders of the tribes died before they could pass on their knowledge of language, culture and ritual.

There is great hope in the Indian communities, though.

[sapphirescarlet]

The continuing racism prevalent on this continent makes me want to throw up. We spout off such bullshit about how all are created equal, and how we are working so hard to end opression of the African American, and the only real American continues to be treated like shit. Its appalling, as is the remainder of government attempting to operate this country. I'm so sick of this shit. And I can't do a damned thing about it.

[leatheryoldbat]

Agreed...the U.S. is certainly egocentric, ethnocentric, patriarchal, hegemonic, etc., and its 'policy' regarding Indians sucks big-time. But it is possible to be involved. One can learn the truth and broadcast it so that non-Natives of conscious are made aware. If the truth spreads to enough people something can be done. That's one of the reasons I wrote the post. :)

[sapphirescarlet]

Well perhaps i can quote you this weekend, or link a post of my own. My readers will be surprised - I'm normally so self-absorbed. They don't realize I actually think about real issues. heh

[leatheryoldbat]

You're more than welcome to quote me and if you'd like to learn more I can recommend some books.

I don't think you're self-absorbed. I think it's the function of a journal to write out the things that are rolling around in one's brain so that one might bring some form of order to one's thoughts. By definition, a journal is exactly the place to let self-absorption reign. :)

[leatheryoldbat]

Hey, no problem....it really is a huge subject and I only touched on a very few areas. Much the same thing can be said about most of the indigenous peoples in other parts of the world as well. The Maori of New Zealand, the Aborigines of Australia, the tribes of South and Central America and the Arctic. All of these are having the same types of issues.