This was a very powerful movie. One of the elders, a woman, spoke about how when the Spanish came and how in history it is called contact, but she specifically says invasion. She says that, this is what happened because the Spanish didn't just make contact, they destroyed what the Native American's had. This showed a history that isn't as powerful in books or the history that is told to us. These people had everything they needed and wanted, but to those who invaded them the Native American's lacked organization, culture, and religion. In reality, they had more than the invadors could ever think of.
In my mind, I can only think and see that the Native American culture could fail in the future. They have so little left and other people have taken so much, it's hard for me to see them being able to return to the teachings of their ancestors. So much has been lost and I would love to see Native American's return to their teachings, but the way of the world today turns away from culture for materials and wealth. They are strong though, to have kept as much as they have over so many years of discrimination, there is hope.
Hey Ducky,
ReplyDeleteI think there are powerful stories of survival and cultural resistance- so I see hope in many places in Indian Country.
It was powerful to me too.
Watching that video, it was just so insane to think that a group of people could have the audacity to come to another country and tell a perfectly functioning society that their culture basically isn't good enough and that they could just think they have the right to shape it into what they thought was right. I share your feelings on the restoration of the Native American culture. It would be amazing to see them work back to where they were
ReplyDeleteI found that particular comment about the "invasion" to be extremely powerful. I had never thought about it like that, i always knew that we (white people) took teh land from the natives, however i never looked at it through their perspective. I suppose it could be likened to the Japanese attacking Pearl Harbor in a sense. Funny how one particular word when heard from someone who presents a whole different view can take on such a drastic and different meaning.
ReplyDeleteI really appreciate your blog ducky. Your words give me hope that people that are not Native American understand us as a people and not a vanishing race because if a person looked around them they would see that we are everywhere. People would be amazed how many words are Native American words. A book to read is On The Rez by Fraser. My relatives before me (when I say relatives I mean all indigenous people that represented for me) gave sarcifice to the survivial of the next generation. I am that next generation and the choices I make are dear to the generaton after me. We still practice traditonal ways and learn much of the real history between Indain nations and the US government. We may have lost some aspects of our cultural but our spirit will never die. They tried the best they could and could not do it. The spirit of humanity...
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