Skuya

Here's me... :36: ...so be ready.

Anyway, what has me even more upset than the so-called performance by Outkast during the Grammy's is the fact that so many people are willing to sign a petition about it when we can't get HALF that many people to sign petitions about serious injustices that are occurring in Indian country with violations of civil rights, land grabbing, encroachment on what little sovereignty we have...etc. etc. Why don't people get more involved??!! It's so frustrating. Everyone wants to get up in arms over this stupid act on t.v. while serious issues largely go ignored. Is it because it has to do with television or pop culture and that is the only thing that interests us anymore??!!

Anyway, just my thoughts for discussion, if anyone is interested. Soapbox relinquished.

Coyot_In_The_House

Will this be a Catalyst?

quicksilverwade

But these issues are "drop in the bucket" issues in that they are easy to get on board with and understand. Topics such as sovereignty rights, land exchanges, jurisidicational issues, land-into-trust rulings, etc. are much more complicated and actually take some time to understand and become educated on.

By the time these issues are taken care of, most of us will be ready for the retirement home. I guess I'll have my grandchildren worry about land exchanges while Outkast's descendants will still parade in their mutant redface.

Dezgn8veDriver

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It's not just the reservations, urban areas too...more-so the low-income districts/communities. We're all befalling the "environmental racism" issues. Toxins, pollutants, poisonings....:Mad....We've got to become active and involved in our environmental issues as well. A large concentration of Indians are living in these areas with very little regard to our health and the health of our loved ones.....:devil......

__________________
"Those who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those doing it."

~ Ah nech me hewet ~ :49:

Wakalapi

It's easier to look concerned than to actually BE concerned.

It's easier to sit here and type angry statements and hope our online friends will see us as noble and vigilant than it is to get up, get out and embarrass ourselves in front of the opposition.

It's easier to wait for just the right opportunity for a well-placed knee-jerk reaction than it is to be proactive and stick to a subject for more than a week (although Leonard's been doing it for 28 years).

Oh... am I talking to much?

__________________

"Friends don't let friends drink decaf..."

WhoMe

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Skuya,

I agree that there are a lot more issues that are important to the welfare of Indian people and as a generality, Indian people are hesitant to get involved.

The Outkast issue has deep reaching implications - if it is not addressed by an outcry of Indian people.

"The very essence of Indian social problems lie with self esteem or the lack of it."

Indian children do not have the same opportunities as the dominant society. While the dominent society's children are being reared up to become security investors, stock market analysts and national political leaders, Indian children are struggling to survive.

Indian children like all children want to identify with role models.

Who do we as Indian people have as national Indian role models that are public household names? Besides our chiefs, parents and grandparents who are our heros?

Too many Indian children look to the dominant society to indentify and find heros. The hip-hop culture is a perfect example of this. When hip-hop's most coveted current act belittles Indian culture, what kind of message does this send to Indian children?

Perhaps that Indian Culture is fair game to be mocked and dehumanized?

This is the exact message our future leaders (our children) get from this.

You and I know that this is wrong.

Do you know only 75% of Americans have ever met a real Indian? The majority of Americans and the media saw nothing wrong with Outkast's performance.

America learns about Indian culture from books and from watching television. When all they see or read are stereotypes, this is how they think Indians are.
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NOW, do you see why it is so important to attack Outkast's Grammy performance.

quicksilverwade

Whome, You're doing a great job!

Skuya

WhoMe,

I didn't say their performance was right. If that's an issue you want to "attack", more power to you! The point of my post is that - just as SingerDad and Wakalapi understood - there are larger issues and it's sad that more people (both Indian and friends of Indians) don't take time to get involved with those. You mention self-esteem as an issue but I think it's just a symptom of a larger issue. Self-esteem comes from being able to make true choices about your life, not from seeing famous Indians. And most Indian kids don't have any true choices. And they're certainly smart enough to see that. See, that's a place most people (especially white people who claim to be Indian) don't want to go. Because TRUE advocacy for Native issues would mean dismantling the very underpinnings of the white so-called capitalist society. BTW, I'm not saying any of this against you personally so don't take it that way.

Anyway, that was my point. Not that people couldn't or shouldn't get involved in the Outkast thing. Go for it. Something is better than nothing. I just wanted to challenge people to go further.

WhoMe

Skuya,

Thanks. I am not taking this personally. I am actually agreeing with you . . . if you'll let me :)

"I agree that there are a lot more issues that are important to the welfare of Indian people and as a generality, Indian people are hesitant to get involved." whome

YES, this is "a symptom of a larger issue."skuya

"The Outkast issue has deep reaching implications - if it is not addressed by an outcry of Indian people."whome

__

This issue is EXTREMELY important because if it is not given attention, the national public will think it is okay to belittle Indian culture . . . and repeat it again and again - if Indians do not stand up and make the media and entertainment industry accountable.

Most of all, this issue reaches into the heart of our future (our children). This is the "real reason" why it is of personal importance.

I AM going for it.

I have taken up the torch for this issue in my part of the country, with the support and blessings of activists and tribal leaders in my community and state. (By the way, my whole life's work has been to reeducate audiences and publics around the world about real Indian people and culture).

So help me, not challenge people like me.

I am not an activist by nature, but enough is enough.

quicksilverwade

I'd like to go further but when one is pressed for time it can become hard to do. I leave my house at 8am for work arrive by train at 915am. Then I depart work by the train at 630pm to arrive home by 8pm. That leaves me 2 hours a day to go further without jeopardizing my sanity. Skuya, if I had the money I'd hire you to do the hard work to help us all out. I feel bad that the proper issues can't be dealt with. As long as you go with your heart I think that we'll listen because you seem like the person with guidance and direction. Don't give up.

phalopian_toob

as i read on and on about the outkast performance i am greatly saddened at how we cannot look at ourselves as human beings, as beautiful people, and be proud of who we are, and how we came to be. Everyone talks about natives and social issues, i didnt see him mocking natives with drinking or taking welfare checks. Im sure that Andre 3000 of outkast meant no harm in his performance, only to possibly demonstrate he has respect and interest for native people. Besides this, i thought the show was cool, and he drew attention to the point that we are not forgotten in the real world.

quicksilverwade

We are the subordinates of society and to be in compliance with the white society we have been dictated to let it go? Shall I also let the Rodney King riots go? Shall I let the WTC disaster go? Am I to let go of the American soldiers fighting abroad right now? For the injustice thrown in our face by our fellow African Americans in mutant redface means that our shame was not a normal human emotion. I'm hoping that the African American contributions into white society will not continue to infiltrate into the native American cultural scene. Beforehand, we welcomed their talent with much respect. Now that we've been disgraced by both African Americans and white America we are told to let it go.

bl@ckfoothoney

WELL OUTKASTS PERFORMANCE WAS FUNNY AT 1ST BUT THEN WHEN I THINK ABOUT IT THE WHOLE WORLD IS WATCHIN OUTKAST PERFORM HIS THINGAMAJIG

Blackbear

Dont' be angry or discouraged. The big problems with our issues do take time. unfortunatly each nation has their own fights and problems and cannot act on them together like a class act suite. The reason we can come together like this is because it's something we all understand and feel and is everyone's fight. But it's not something someone should feel bad about fighting for.... if they are standing up for something at all that's a good thing and nothing to get angry over.

But I understand the frustration and have felt it myself. I've posted subjects I felt were of importance with numbers and links asking for assistance or support and some never even recieved more than 10 views.

__________________
Don't worry that it's not good enough for anyone else to hear... just sing, sing a song.

redskyndn

I agree with Blackbear and others on here. This is a serious matter that affects all ndns. Each tribe has its own particular issues yes. But maybe for once we can see eachother as one people and start supporting things that are not necessarily in 'our
back yards' but require support. So maybe this event is a catalyst for change and something good can come out of it. It is great to see all the different nations that have signed the petition. Last night there were over 10,000 signatures. The American Indian Journalist NAJA wrote a good article about this topic basically saying this issue was covered well in Indian country but is being ignored by the general public and media. It really makes a statement that is very powerful about how they view 1-4% of the population--irrelevant. So, yes this is important. Because if we can not get the public to acknowledge us, how can we be effective in attacking the larger issues. And don't forget there are people and tribes fighting everyday for change but because we have a tendancy to focus on our own tribes, nations and communities we may not be aware of what another tribe is doing or when they need help. We don't exist in a vaccum the general public is all around us making decisions that can affect ours lives and futures.