Faux "Indians" at risk?
From the Asheville Citizen-Times, 11/6/06:
Help a unique tribe hurt by Hurricane Katrina: Mardi Gras IndiansThe Mardi Gras Indian culture dates to the 18th century, when African-American slaves escaped into the swamps of New Orleans.
Aided by the Chickasaw, Choctaw, Blackfoot and other American Indian tribes, the former slaves and free men of color expressed their respect for their benefactors by “masking” as Indians during Mardi Gras.
The Mardi Gras Indians are organized into about 35 neighborhood-based tribes. They spend all year working on their elaborate beaded, feathered and plumed suits. Most of them live in the lower sections of New Orleans and lost their suits in the floods accompanying Hurricane Katrina. They’ve been scattered around the country, Mann said, putting their dancing and self-decorating at risk of disappearing. Comment: The Mardi Gras Indians' names, costumes, and actions are riddled with stereotypes. I say good riddance to bad imitations.
To see me explain the difference between real Indians and phony Indians to clueless Mardi Gras supporters, go to Mardi Gras: "To be an Indian is a very special calling."
Help a unique tribe hurt by Hurricane Katrina: Mardi Gras Indians
Aided by the Chickasaw, Choctaw, Blackfoot and other American Indian tribes, the former slaves and free men of color expressed their respect for their benefactors by “masking” as Indians during Mardi Gras.
The Mardi Gras Indians are organized into about 35 neighborhood-based tribes. They spend all year working on their elaborate beaded, feathered and plumed suits. Most of them live in the lower sections of New Orleans and lost their suits in the floods accompanying Hurricane Katrina. They’ve been scattered around the country, Mann said, putting their dancing and self-decorating at risk of disappearing.
To see me explain the difference between real Indians and phony Indians to clueless Mardi Gras supporters, go to Mardi Gras: "To be an Indian is a very special calling."
posted by Rob at 3:05 AM
4 Comments:
Writerfella here --
As writerfella has said several times heretofore, 'Faux' Natives are everywhere, some even achieving Federal recognition as 'tribes'. That some take such recognition as somehow verifying the 'Faux' as Natives is a disservice and a dishonor to the true cultures that did not disappear. In truth, it is yet another kind of genocide in that, if anyone can become 'Native', then being 'Native' means that much less overall...
All Best
Russ Bates
'writerfella'
No one can "become an Indian." The issue is recognizing people who are already Indians but can't benefit from their birthright.
That's why we have the federal recognition standard. In theory, only tribes that pass the feds' rigorous tests can be recognized as Indians.
How would you reestablish the sovereign status of tribes that the US terminated through no fault of their own? Is it your position that no more Indians can join the club you belong to?
For those who don't know, here's some basic info on termination:
http://www.leg.state.or.us/comm/commsrvs/background_briefs2004/General%20Government/EE_Indian_Tribes2004.pdf
In the 1950’s the U.S. government ‘terminated’ approximately three percent of the country’s Indian population. Termination was the process whereby the government ended the federal trusteeship with the tribes. This termination was an effort to assimilate Indians into mainstream America. Although the intent of this action was emancipation, the net effect to the terminated tribes was cultural, political and economic damage. Of the 109 tribes and bands terminated, 62 were native to Oregon. During the past thirty years, terminated tribes have actively and vigorously sought to restore the trust relationship.
Writerfella here --
I spoke not of termination, but rather of the groups that became the Pequot 'tribe' and the Kickapoo 'tribe'. Seemingly it mattered little at all that they are not Natives but only that their Federal recognition papers came through. And being a member of a real Native tribe that has Federal recognition is not some sort of 'club' in any sense of the word. Couching that existence in such a term both is to belittle and to denigrate it. EuroMan always has seen the Native world in the terms of his own society and not by its own existences. Powhatan was the leader of his people, and so he was seen as a king. His daughter then was seen as a princess, from which one of the oldest stereotypes was born. The circle of elders were seen as a parliament, and so on.
In the late 1950s, the Kiowa Tribe of Oklahoma also came under discussion for termination. Had it not been for US Sen Robert S. Kerr's intercession in our behalf, we likely would have had to turn in our 'club' cards...
All Best
Russ Bates
'writerfella'
The Kickapoos too? I'm sure Arigon Starr would be surprised to hear that her tribe isn't a real tribe. Perhaps you could list all the tribes in Oklahoma and elsewhere that don't meet your standard of Indian-ness.
The Pequots were terminated by social circumstances beyond their control. The 109 tribes mentioned above were terminated by government action. Either way, they deserve the same shot at reversing their non-governmental status. If they pass a stringent series of tests, they deserve to be recognized.
In other words, this isn't just about the Pequots. You've denigrated the federal recognition process no matter who has applied. My termination argument shows the importance of allowing tribes to (re)gain recognition.
Since you didn't answer my question, I'll simply repeat it. How would you reestablish the sovereign status of tribes that the US terminated through no fault of their own?
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