I lived in an area of Michigan where, I was told, there was a "strong Native American culture." The culture in question, in Michigan as most everywhere in this country, is a terrible parody of itself. I was nearly overcome with the horribleness of popular "pow-wows"--attended mostly by white people--where we could see "Indian" costumes, watch dances, eat "authentic" Indian food, and buy jewelry. I cannot imagine being a citizen of a dead world and putting on a performance for the people whose ancestors destroyed that world. As a woman in this white world, my only possible point of reference would be the many humiliations of "performing" for the men who have abused me.
I see it differently, perhaps because the current Anishinaabe First Nations (Canadian) and Tribes (U.S.) are authentic and have succeeded. As the Odawa/Chippewa Culturalist here in northwest Michigan explained to me, they were able to "raise the red pipe, buried by the white man centuries ago." (And he had the red pipe to prove it!). What may have seemed cheesy and cheap to you (and to me when I was young growing up here) was a concerted effort to reclaim The People's customs, heritage, beliefs and skills. It worked. My husband (Mississauga First Nation) was President of the Michigan Indian Confederation for a year in the 70's, where I saw first hand the poverty, and the pride. This is no longer a dead world or culture. Come visit again!
MaryPat, you have truly made my day. If I have heard more beautiful words than "raise the red pipe, buried by the white man" I don't recall them. I don't travel anymore, but your comment here allows me to feel my feet on the ground out there. I had a sweat lodge (big enough for only four) on my ten acres, five llamas who always followed us across the yard to the lodge, and two hawks who circled when the sweats were in the daytime. Very good memories that you bring back for this old woman. Thank you
Yep. Those cowboy heroes were out there wiping out the entire cultures of every single Native American tribe.
I lived in an area of Michigan where, I was told, there was a "strong Native American culture." The culture in question, in Michigan as most everywhere in this country, is a terrible parody of itself. I was nearly overcome with the horribleness of popular "pow-wows"--attended mostly by white people--where we could see "Indian" costumes, watch dances, eat "authentic" Indian food, and buy jewelry. I cannot imagine being a citizen of a dead world and putting on a performance for the people whose ancestors destroyed that world. As a woman in this white world, my only possible point of reference would be the many humiliations of "performing" for the men who have abused me.
I see it differently, perhaps because the current Anishinaabe First Nations (Canadian) and Tribes (U.S.) are authentic and have succeeded. As the Odawa/Chippewa Culturalist here in northwest Michigan explained to me, they were able to "raise the red pipe, buried by the white man centuries ago." (And he had the red pipe to prove it!). What may have seemed cheesy and cheap to you (and to me when I was young growing up here) was a concerted effort to reclaim The People's customs, heritage, beliefs and skills. It worked. My husband (Mississauga First Nation) was President of the Michigan Indian Confederation for a year in the 70's, where I saw first hand the poverty, and the pride. This is no longer a dead world or culture. Come visit again!
MaryPat, you have truly made my day. If I have heard more beautiful words than "raise the red pipe, buried by the white man" I don't recall them. I don't travel anymore, but your comment here allows me to feel my feet on the ground out there. I had a sweat lodge (big enough for only four) on my ten acres, five llamas who always followed us across the yard to the lodge, and two hawks who circled when the sweats were in the daytime. Very good memories that you bring back for this old woman. Thank you
Thank You for your memories and kind words!
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