Native American Heritage Month

November 11, 2016

Native American Heritage Month

With the end of Halloween and cultural appropriation issues, the election, and the current protest in North Dakota, it has been a rough couple of months. It’s enough that I have come to dislike Halloween because people can be so immature about cultural appropriation but the election and the protest combined have brought out so much more foul attitudes.
After a hectic weekend, I stopped for dinner on my way home outside of Flagstaff. There's this little Subway off the freeway on the way home and although it is not a truck stop, many truckers stop here. Tired, I entered Subway minding my own business and I noticed a couple of truckers just finishing up. I had just got off the phone with my dad and I could feel someone looking at me. As I turned I heard one of the men scoff, “damn prairie n*****” as he stood up and looked me up and down. Instead of feeling belittled or angered, I felt this strong sense of calmness. I turned back to the nice sandwich artist and began ordering. I took the high road and refused to give this individual my attention and he was surprised. The kind man behind the counter called me strong and admired my will for not showing the same type of attitude towards the gentleman. 

This incident occurred at the beginning of my week and with the upcoming week of classes and the election I emailed my professors immediately and asked if they could allow me to speak to the class about Native American Heritage month. November is Native American month and it is a time to celebrate the rich and diverse cultures, traditions, and history of indigenous people. I spoke to my classes and brought up old slides that I used to use in presentations about fighting stereotypes through interaction and education. I invited my fellow peers to events on campus as well recommendations for American Indian Studies classes that didn’t require a prerequisite. But I also shared with them the stories of the racism I encounter as a Native American woman often reinforced with Hollywood stereotypes. Throughout the week I wore my moccasins and tsiyeel (Navajo hair bun) to show individuals my pride in my culture. What seemed to start off as a bad week, turned into the best as I spoke and engaged with peers that I never spoke to in class. After speaking people embraced me with hugs and now we have become more than just that kid sitting in front or behind me in class. 

I openly encourage others to be open-minded and rid themselves of any ethnocentric feelings or viewpoints. Take a class in Latin studies, Asian, Native American, African studies and all the other diverse communities around the world. Be respectful. Ask questions. There’s a lot of uncertainty with the election of our new President but he didn’t create this divide. It’s been there and in order to heal it, we have to engage with others not like ourselves. That’s one of our biggest challenges as a nation moving forward.

Attached is a schedule on events happening on campus (NAU) as well as a flier I used when encouraging others to take more culturally diverse classes:

I should note that my sister will also be a contestant in the Miss Indian NAU pageant on November 18^th, 2016. Come join us as five young women share their culture for the title of 2017 Miss Indian NAU. This is a great night for people of all ages as this event brings many tribes together. My sister’s platform is self-identity and youth empowerment.

All MONEY, NO morals

All MONEY, NO morals

When we talk about the common good of something we usually consult all parties involved for the greater common good of everyone. But not everyone follows these rules when it comes to putting more money in their own pockets. I guess being worth 4 billion dollars isn’t enough for some people (owner of the company behind the pipeline).  

This week has been any emotional roller coaster as I continuously see people posting videos from the frontlines. When you hear that word doesn’t it usually resonate with a war in a foreign country? Yet, we are talking about the Americas. The home of the f***** free and brave. Or so we thought! Unless you’re some big shot worth billions, paid police personnel, or paid elected officials by the billionaire, the law does not apply. Or at least that’s the message North Dakota is sending. I’ve seen people being shot with rubber bullets. A news interviewer shot w a rubber bullet in the chest across river! People pushed into the freezing waters. People being beaten with batons. Corporate greed at its finest, folks.

We talk so much about police brutality but I guess the abuse of using "less-lethal" force on unarmed individuals is not news worthy. As an individual going into the Criminal Justice system and plan on working towards grad school in Criminology or law school, I would not be able to work with the unpleasant people in North Dakota who swore to protect. Now I am not saying all of them are bad, because my friends have posted vids on a female officer break down in the midst of her fellow officers beating on individuals, but how can you even sleep at night knowing you shot and mace unarmed people!? This is why it should be a requirement for police officers to have a college degree. To have that cultural understanding and knowledge behind past procedures and police styles. To understand why some barriers, remain and why people of color do not trust government officials. Wake up, America and get a grip North Dakota.

Is it so wrong to want clean water?

Is it so wrong to want clean water?

According to local news outlets (as well as major outlets) in the North Dakota region, the water protectors are violent and incompetent individuals in the way of the pipeline. The protectors are fighting for everyone and not just the tribe who could be directly impacted if there were to be an oil spill. Yesterday, October 27, 2016 was probably one of the most intense days in the protest thus far, as there were snipers, more police in riot gear, and people shot at with rubber bullets.

Major news outlets portrayed the people who were detained for simply praying as dangerous and a strain on the people of North Dakota. If people could just look beyond their views, respect others, and look at the future, then these kind of issues would not be so intense. Native Americans look at future generations through a seven-generation plan and are always thinking ahead. Whereas some of these corporations we are fighting are in it for the now and the money.

There are already enough pipelines in the United States and to add more simply to bring in more profit does not make sense. In my next post, I will add ways in which you can help the people in North Dakota currently fighting for clean water. In the meantime, prayers are welcome for the warriors up north.

Coincident?

Coincident?

Just recently while babysitting for my aunt I was bombarded with some questions by my younger cousins. I’m in my mid twenties and my four cousins are between the ages of 7 and 12 and I was minding my business when I overheard them talking about what they wanted to be when they grew up. I heard careers like becoming a doctor, lawyer, detective, and even playing pro football. I grinned to myself about how big children can dream, and suddenly they must have heard me stop what I was doing and they turned and asked, “What do you want to be when you grow up, Von?” A question I was not quite ready to answer and considering I was the “grown” one, I was speechless.

As the week progressed, coincidently enough I attended workshops for grad school and internship seminars for the attorney general’s office. I heard speeches from people about the opportunities that their programs offered and that question still lingered in the back of mind throughout the week. With my senior approaching fast, I began to think beyond NAU. What am I going to do? What do I want to become?

I met with my advisor and mentor shortly after several seminars. We began discussing the difference between grad school and law school as well as the process. Within a week I made a lot of process in which way my future is heading and furthering my education is definitely forthcoming. I’m not sure what exactly what I want to be, I mean if being a career student was possible I would certainly go that route but grad school is calling. Even as an adult, I still don’t have it all figured it out but I appreciate the little minds of my siblings for guiding me in a sense. Knowing I have little eyes looking up to the oldest grandchild it definitely helps in setting goals and pursuing my career. 

When Fall brings more than the cold

October 7, 2016

When Fall brings more than the cold

With the arrival of fall, not only did mother nature bring the chilly atmosphere but also the ignorance out of more people. I used to love fall; the pumpkin flavored drinks, the dark colors, the heavy clothing, and Halloween. But the last couple of years have been disappointing as I am see more blatant disregard for other cultures. With the pressing issues of the pipeline affecting my brother and sisters in North Dakota, I feel like more people are voicing their racist comments more than ever.

Just recently my friend told me about an incident that took place at a football game at the University of Arizona. His friend (so a third source) was met with a group of racist students from a fraternity and sorority. During the game they were making jokes and being immature and he asked them to settle down because he was sitting behind them. Words were exchanged and he was called a “desert n****.” An African-American woman sitting by him poured a drink down the girl’s back who shouted that at him and they left shouting: “Start the Pipeline! Start the Pipeline!” Of course, the incident was documented but as of now nothing has been done against the students. So, it’s bad enough that we are seen as being crybabies when others are clearly being irrational. But things like that just open up a whole new level of low. The students of course also shouted, ‘All lives matter’ to the woman who poured the drink, and there was no need for that. I had to ask, is this really in Arizona? Like did we flash back a few decades? The audacity!

My friends are pretty diverse, and when I tell them of such occurrences they often think I’m exaggerating, because people can’t really act like that, can they? YES! Then they begin to question why they haven’t experienced the things I’ve heard or seen, or experienced first hand. That’s when I have to remind them that just being a light-skinned Latino or African-American is a privilege itself. I know it’s only going to get worse as we approach Halloween as well. If October were Monopoly’s ‘Go’ and the extra $200 you collect passing were the goodies fall brings; I’ll pass.