Week 11- Laduke

In “Akwesasne: Mohawk Mothers’ Milk and PCB’s” the adversity between the nation and General Motors is explained. I might have been naïve to this type of behavior before, but I was really shocked to find out all the pollution and damage GM has contributed to Mohawk land, water and people. It’s flat out sad that a company can be so inconsiderate. Yet, the fact of the matter is that this type of behavior goes on and drastic changes need to be made to voice Native concerns.
The Mohawk people have lived on the eastern part of the continent for many generations. Communities were established scattered over 14 million acres across the US and Canadian border. The lands were eventually ceded by American leaders such as George Washington through force and deceit, until only around 14,000 acres remained. Like many Natives have been accustomed to throughout time, they had to adapt to survive economically. During this time, although difficult, the Mohawk pride themselves on staying true to their culture and way of life. Yet, with industry taking over this was not an easy task. Pollution problems have taken over the community and as a result land is devastated. Until 1978 when PCB’s were banned, virtually all PCB’s polluted the air, water, vegetation, and animal life. Again, I am saddened for what these people have to go through as a result of big time companies disrespecting others for money. I agree that accommodations have to be made for future generations and the health and safety of Akwesasne people.

Week 11- Indigenous Feminisms

Andrea Smith’s, Indigenous Feminism without Apology, takes a closer look at being labeled as a “feminist.” The debate comes from feminism as an indigenous concept chosen by white women. She goes on to challenge the roles of patriarchy within Native communities along with white supremacy dealing with mainstream white feminism. In other words, why do white women get to define what feminism is?
The main idea surrounds the third wave of feminism, to transform feminism into a multicultural movement. Taking from various feminist histories, including Native resistance to colonization in 1492, would allow for a stronger contribution from all feminists instead of only whites.
A fine line has to be drawn between the project of national liberation and nation-state building. Yet to rally against the hate crimes the slogan, “We’re American too” is been widely encouraged. Showing an allegiance to America may temporarily make things better, but that can’t be said for everyone. One activist stated: “You can’t win a revolution on your own. And we are about nothing short of a revolution. Anything else is simply not worth our time.”

Week 10- The Sacred Hoop

Paula Gunn Allen’s “The Sacred Hoop,” is a controversial text that takes a closer look at Native traditions and beliefs, and how they were actually undermined by Europeans. The book focuses on the role that women played in Native gynocentric societies. Allen argues that many Native tribes were heavily influenced by the decisions of women, in opposition to the belief of balance between male and female reliance. Regardless, Allen’s work centers on the contributions and the role women play in American Indian traditions.

Week 10- Jim Thorpe

I wanted to dedicate one of my blogs for this week to the person I gave my presentation on… Jim Thorpe. Even though only three people in the class knew who he was before I presented on him, I wasn’t surprised. It’s really unfortunate that Jim Thorpe’s story hasn’t been told as much as it deserves. When you think about the greatest athletes ever, the names Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, and Babe Ruth all come to mind. One name that deserves to be on that list is Jim Thorpe.
Jim was without a doubt an incredible naturally gifted athlete. He was a member of the Sac and Fox Nation in Oklahoma where he was known as Wa-Tho-Huk. This translated to “Bright Path,” which is exactly the path Jim Thorpe was on. At age 16, he attended Carlisle Indian School and began his athletic career. He was first team All American and won the national championship. At age 24 he won a gold medal in the Belgium Olympics in the decathlon and pentathlon. After the Olympics he played professional football and baseball. He was named the first president of the American Professional Football Association. As a result, we can credit the National Football League to Jim Thorpe.
1912 Olympic silver medalist Abel Kiviat on Thorpe
"He was the greatest athlete who ever lived.... What he had was natural ability. There wasn't anything he couldn't do. All he had to see is someone doin' something and he tried it ... and he'd do it better."
It’s hard to summarize all Jim Thorpe in a single blog post but I recommended you do some more outside for yourself. Thorpe was not only an amazing athlete, but also a prominent figure for changing the negative misrepresentation of Native Americans through athletics. Through thick and thin, Thorpe prided himself in being the best he can be. He is in the Pro and College Football Hall of Fame, along with The Track and Field Hall of Fame. He was also ranked third on the AP list of top athletes of the 20th century. Today the Jim Thorpe Association awards scholarships and honors to high school and collegiate athletes focusing on academics and leadership.

Week 8- Powell

Powell’s “Down by the River,” opened my eyes to a new term on the perspective of “survivance” or a combination between survival and resistance. Her message is strong, in that Indians who speak out for what they believe in is already an act of resistance. I found the part where she wrote about re-imagining ourselves to be most interesting. By understanding who you are, and accepting it is more powerful than trying to change. Although change is possible, it can be regarded as a negative feature. Change is above all necessary for learning about the past to better prepare for the future. In doing so, we find out more about ourselves and our relationship to others. The more knowledge we can attain and the more education we can share with others is ultimately the driving force for an effective lifestyle. Powell emphasizes the importance of stories and how they are the way for us to learn about each other. The power to tell and listen to stories relating with an understanding of who the audience is and what will influence persuasion. Her story is an example of how she believes life should be. She says our lives should not be ruined by making things harder on ourselves than they need to be. By over analyzing, we have a tendency to miss the larger message and as a result miss out on what we can learn from our own comfort.

Week 8- Delicious Food in Class...

I will admit that initially I was very skeptical to trying both dishes. Yet, to my surprise both were so good I had to go back for seconds. I especially like the Wild Rice Casserole. I feel that the dish would have been even better served with buffalo meat, and I now want to try buffalo. I did some research on buffalo as a source of food and I found that they have been since the 1500’s for natives. The buffalo supplied virtually everything that the Plain Indians needed to stay alive; food, clothing, tools, and housing. However, the arrival of Europeans made it increasingly difficult to hunt buffalo for food because of hunting for sport. Buffalo meat is significantly higher in protein and lower in fat, cholesterol, and calories than most other meats. All buffalo meat can be eaten, and it is noted that the tongue is the best part of the meat.