Letters to the Editor

I have heard non-Indian and Native men saying that they don't like Indian women.

Personally, I don't care if non-Native men don't "like" Indian women, but for an Indian man to say this, I wonder why? Is it because many of us don't buy into the stereotypical images that society pushes on all women (and men)?

RE: “What Else Are You Trying to Sell Me?”

I would like to give my highest compliments to your editor and the journalist. Triston Ahtone for the article, "What Else Are You Trying to Sell Me?"

My sixteen year old daughter and I were just having a conversation the other day. We were talking about the small number of men that we know who were truly enlighted and open minded about how women, especially Native women, are viewed and treated. My daughter goes to an almost all-Anglo school, and sometimes feels that her values contradict the majority of people at her school. She is quiet and modest in her actions and dress, qualities that are valued in the Native community.

On the other hand, I have heard non-Indian and Native men saying that they don't like Indian women. Personally, I don't care if non-Native men don't "like" Indian women, but for an Indian man to say this, I wonder why? Is it because many of us don't buy into the stereotypical images that society pushes on all women (and men)? After I read the article, I realized that there are men who understand and acknowledge women for who we really are. It would be great if only more of them would speak out.

Thank you.

Sincerely,
T. Gomez (alumni)

Reader Calls for Revolutionary, Radical Reporting

Tansi. Good work on the paper. Bout time, and congratulations.

I have a question. Why don't you do an article or several on internalized racism in the aboriginal community?

Or how IAIA is supposed to have integrity yet is tied to the BIA with a twisted version of an umbilical cord? How do you expect IAIA to be a place of revolution when all its money comes from the freakin' US government? The same government that only stands to benefit from the complete assimilation and erasure of any kind of meaningful and distinct Native cultures or societies?

Where is all the revolutionary, radical reporting? It would be an excellent opportunity for you all to write about the issues that are really undermining Aboriginal self-empowerment and determination.

How about writing about how you can't fix the problems of racism, colonialism, and imperialism with the tools of the master?

Or how about reading up a little on some of the more cutting edge Aboriginal revolutionaries like Alfred Taikaiake (Mohawk) or Robert B. Porter (Odawi) or Lee Maracle (Stohlo) who do not agree that being "good little Injuns and playing nice with Uncle Sam" is the path to self-determination. Porter feels that it is not only a mistake for Native people to engage in the rule of play as dictated to us by government, but that it is FATAL!

The following links are two of Porter's and one of a colleague of his. The first one is Porter's Demise, which is an outlined argument against aboriginal acceptance of U.S. government citizenship. The second one is Porter's colleague who responds to the argument. The third is Porter's response to the response.

http://academic.udayton.edu/race/02rights/native01.htm

http://www.law.ukans.edu/jrnl/v10n3/v10p533.html

http://www.law.ukans.edu/jrnl/v11n3/Porterv11p629.pdf

Trust me. If you are at all concerned with aboriginal rights and issues, then these are a must read. Also get Taiaiake's book, “Peace, Power, Righteousness: An Indigenous Manifesto.”

Enuff is enuff. If the g*d**m artists can't even be revolutionary then what's the f***ing point of being a writer, poet, painter or anything?

“You can colonize my Land, but you will never colonize my mind.”

Peace to you,.
A Sweetgrass Burning Bear
Nehi.Katawasisiw
(Roberta Desnomie, alumna 2002)

P.S.—Reader’s E-mail Messages Blocked
Oh. And how about writing about how certain un-named persons in administration through their complaining got me blocked from sending out emails to IAIA from my Hotmail address?

The complaints: that I was sending emails of an offensive nature. Emails whose content was: the US Army's desecration of Yankton Sioux burial grounds, aboriginal teens' deaths as a result of DWI, Bush's overturning of a $600 million dollar Supreme Court ruling in favor of the Navajo Nation, a movement calling for the impeachment of Bush...

If this is what a native person in administration considers offensive content, then that person ought not be at a school like IAIA. Or, considering where IAIA's money comes from, then that is the perfect place for any native person who thinks that an email in which another native person asks for help against the US Army's desecration of their sacred burial grounds is "offensive".

I mean, come on. Where are all the warrior spirits and defiant ones who would die for their people, who want to dedicate their lives to helping their people and empower their people and free their minds from assimilative colonial propaganda?

Is this what my ancestors died for? So that I could bear witness to other native people who don't give a flying sh** about their relatives from other Nations? So much for solidarity.

Anyway. That's my rant. Hope you enjoyed it.

Peace again.
A Defiant Bear
Nehi.Katawasisiw

Another nice job—and the stories are very well-written, "journalistically" (if that's not a misnomer!) I look forward working with you and your students next year.
Cheers, Denny McAuliffe of Reznet

I am happy for the on-line pub as a way for me to keep up to date on IAIA doings.
Professor Nancy Mithlo, Smith College
(Former IAIA faculty member and IAIA alumna)

Thanks for the link to your student paper. I really enjoyed reading it.
Dr. Connie Jacobs, San Juan CommunityCollege, Farmington, NM