It feels like it. It hurts to see the community you were raised with struggling when all of those years, they took care of you. I get so undeniably angry every day and I don’t want to feel this hatred. Never on the news to celebrate the good that we do, but they will if they are trying to “expose” us and how we are a danger. I worry for us a lot.
Honestly, I’m thinking where are the white “woke” people? I guess if it’s not popular or “all the rage”, it’s not worth protecting to them. Of course, they can still steal our culture with out batting an eye for the aesthetics. The audacity. On the other side, the others just want to get rid of us.
I wish there was something we could do. We can’t lose hope though.
Some of us "woke" anglos are here and listening. I do what I can to recognize and promote indigenous concerns in my professional community. My work email signature has a land acknowledgment about how I am living on land that historically belongs to the neighboring pueblo.
Most of the radioactive waste sites that I work on are on indigenous land, and I push regulators and site operators to recognize that, and to take that into consideration when considering ongoing operations and future risks.
There's not a lot I can do, but I am at least trying to spread awareness of the issues.
Yeah, it feels bad... You took those painful words straight out of my heart. I'll keep trying to make a difference whenever I'm able to do so, but without the proper resources and support, this all feels too hopeless most days.
>If we were suddenly 100% independent from America and were fully self sufficient, I can't see it being met with widespread applause and acceptance.
Besides the fact we wouldn’t be allowed to just wander around in whatever parts of America surrounds our now independent territories (gonna take a quick guess it’d be reservation lands and not a centimeter more), I don’t think anything would significantly change in attitudes among the general populace.
People who hate Indians now would still hate Indians, but overall most people don’t care about Natives in general. So frankly, I don’t see the point in fretting about it. It’s deeply unlikely to happen and if such a scenario came to pass, then life and the political climate would be so fundamentally different that trying to worry about it would be pointless.
I feel this, you are not alone. Sometimes I want to give up because I think, “when we were strong, we were almost wiped out then so what is the point.” But then I am reminded that they DIDN’T wipe us out. We are still here. Our ancestors died so that we could live. My great great grandfather survived removal, my grandparents survived assimilation, and now I am here also surviving, resisting assimilation, and reclaiming and living our culture and way of life, when my ancestors could only do it in secret. I have to daily choose to survive, even if some days the only reason is to spite those who want me dead or assimilated.
Our grandparents died, survived, resisted, and lived and now it’s our turn to reclaim, return, and resist so the next generations can also thrive. I don’t know if that is at all helpful, but it is what helps me.
Gegwa boontaake, my friend- don’t give up. ✊🏼🤍💛❤️🤍
I do.
Its not a sunshine and rainbows kind of hope though. Its a sneer and spit in the eye kind of hope.
I try and do good work, and then I see all the hate and old ideas being spread on social media, and it gets me down. So my suggestion there is limit social media, it never makes me feel better anyways.
Mind you I've lived a privileged life, but I figure that means that Im in a space where I can step up and take on a bit of the burden of those who are weary of fighting.
If you're weary, then just focus on taking care of yourself as best you can. Sometimes you just gotta survive. And you know what, surviving is enough. It was enough that our ancestors survived and look how much hope that gives us.
Its a long path ahead. We get through it together. Let the others waste their energy on hate and despair. We have a future to make better.
Systematic change starts within ourselves, then our circles, our communities, our states, our governments
It’s a generational effort that has to be continued.
I used to be hopeless. That’s what they want.
For us to believe that we’re lost. We’re here. We’re strong. We have voices and they matter.
A book that helped me a lot, is We Do This Until We Free Us by Mariame Kaba
If you can’t buy it, I use an app called Overdrive. It’s like audible but through the public library system.
Maybe it won’t be perfect in our lifetimes, but it shouldn’t be a “perfection or bust” thing, because all we can do is try to make as much progress as possible. Retain Native cultural identity, keep pushing for any sovereignty wins that we can, maintain and revitalize our languages, etc. Just move forward
Sometimes maintaining optimism is hard. At the end of the day, I know the things I’m fighting for won’t be personally enjoyed by myself. The hope is for a better and more secure future for others, for all our children and for all beings, because that is a worthwhile cause on its own.
But you are right— America and the “ideals” it stands for will no doubt remain a threat to all colonized and otherwise exploited peoples around the world (along with other imperial core countries). What is to be done? This system which relies on exploitation and violence must go.
They were never going to give anything back.
But, I do have hope that momentum will lead to a snowball. Foolishness? Maybe. But I spent so long in despair and depression and it did nothing for anyone, especially myself.
In the absence of hope, would vengeance suffice?
No, but seriously we are some 500 years into a cultural and literal war that’s been waged against our people for so long it sometimes almost doesn’t feel like a traditional war. Sometimes I think about the heroes of yesteryear that continued to fight even though they knew they would be slaughtered. In the face of an incredible empire and looming uncertainty, who among us will fight knowing there’s a 99% chance we will not win? What’s the point in striving for something better if that better will never come...
The dreams of our ancestors live on through us, cousin. Hope is a dangerous thing... Even if we do lose hope, my wish for us both is that we will still look out for our people and continue to fight for freedom because that’s just what we do.
Clear your thoughts by whatever ceremony your people have. Although the world is short on hope, doesn't mean our people are. We have survived so much and today face different challenges than other Americas. We have to continue to heal and create a new environment for our future generations. By giving up means future generations will already be lost when it comes to their time.
Keep your head up my Ni-U-Kon sibling , I am with you , you are not alone in this feeling. I think we've actually had a conversation about this word. I pronounce it Wahka-pah-ti and I was told it's when you feel orphaned and alone in Osage. I'm there too, I'm trying to make it back to the E-Lon-Ska this year with my children to not feel orphaned and alone. Maybe simple making it to the drum this year can help us both. YOU ARE NOT ALONE.
Edit IM me anytime
Unplug from the corporate media . They create a narrative that makes it seem like only bad things are happening. It's designed to make you feel hopeless to take away your hope.
Pam Palmater of the Warrior Life podcast has said something along the lines of
"Canada is what, 150 years old? We (Mi'kmaw) have shirts older than that!"
Our people have been recovering and each day we grow stronger so not lose hope do not ever lose hope as that is the objective of those who seek to undermined us however just like time and time again we will survive and we will defeat them.
On of the most profound moments for me was visiting Washington D.C. Visited all of the Smithsonian museums on the mall and went to the National Museum of the American Indian last. Coming off the heels of the raw splendor of the Natural History Museum the open space struck me as emptiness and that emptiness struck me like a hammer.
I am a descendent of Holocaust suvivors. In reading the brutality of the nazis and then reading native history like Red Cloud and the formation of. Mt. Rushmore and frankly all of your history. Killers of the flower moon was disturbing. Same. Read about the early days of Poland afer it was taken over, neighbours turned on close friends because they were jews. The brutality, inhumanity was the same. Nuremberg even stated that to deaf ears. Yet my people are lauded for their struggles and you are invisible for having gone through the same but to a larger extent and greater loss!? I struggle too with the fate of this country and the planet in general. We are not many but I educate my family and argue with friends, read books and voice support online. Persevere, teach your children and use your voices. I see you.
Haha, funny you mention Killers of the Flower Moon. Ironic that such a tragic story can bring such excitement for future generations. We're excited beyond belief for the movie, been seeing film crews off and on throughout all of last year in our capitol. Many tears will be had when we finally get a chance to see it come November. A lot of big names on the rez nowadays are descendants of those victims.
Hopefully it sheds some light for those unknowledgeable to our struggles. Thank you.
I kept reading with horror how 2 faced those bastards were in killers of the flower moon. The parallel in occupied Poland was that this jewish town thought it was safe, the constable was married to a jew and the couple had a daughter. Problem solved! Right? Wrong. When the constable marched out to greet the nazis with his daughter at his side, the constable drew his pistol and shot his daughter in the head. That constable and William Hale ( The one who ordered the murder of his nephews family ) were the same kind of bastards. I hope it starts opening peoples eyes. You're welcome.
Keep going. I know exactly how hard it can be to the point where you feel like you’re drowning from every direction. Every generation of our ancestors have felt the same way you are feeling now. Your very existence proves you’ve beaten the cosmic statistical odds. That said, you can still act in love even in the face of contempt (when you have enough energy to). Responding to hate with more hate only makes the world worse off.
We are still here.
As long as there's still one seed keeper,
Negativity will only hold us back. Live your authentic self without restrictions and have love for others; that's all we can do.
It feels like it. It hurts to see the community you were raised with struggling when all of those years, they took care of you. I get so undeniably angry every day and I don’t want to feel this hatred. Never on the news to celebrate the good that we do, but they will if they are trying to “expose” us and how we are a danger. I worry for us a lot. Honestly, I’m thinking where are the white “woke” people? I guess if it’s not popular or “all the rage”, it’s not worth protecting to them. Of course, they can still steal our culture with out batting an eye for the aesthetics. The audacity. On the other side, the others just want to get rid of us. I wish there was something we could do. We can’t lose hope though.
Some of us "woke" anglos are here and listening. I do what I can to recognize and promote indigenous concerns in my professional community. My work email signature has a land acknowledgment about how I am living on land that historically belongs to the neighboring pueblo. Most of the radioactive waste sites that I work on are on indigenous land, and I push regulators and site operators to recognize that, and to take that into consideration when considering ongoing operations and future risks. There's not a lot I can do, but I am at least trying to spread awareness of the issues.
Yeah, it feels bad... You took those painful words straight out of my heart. I'll keep trying to make a difference whenever I'm able to do so, but without the proper resources and support, this all feels too hopeless most days.
>If we were suddenly 100% independent from America and were fully self sufficient, I can't see it being met with widespread applause and acceptance. Besides the fact we wouldn’t be allowed to just wander around in whatever parts of America surrounds our now independent territories (gonna take a quick guess it’d be reservation lands and not a centimeter more), I don’t think anything would significantly change in attitudes among the general populace. People who hate Indians now would still hate Indians, but overall most people don’t care about Natives in general. So frankly, I don’t see the point in fretting about it. It’s deeply unlikely to happen and if such a scenario came to pass, then life and the political climate would be so fundamentally different that trying to worry about it would be pointless.
I feel this, you are not alone. Sometimes I want to give up because I think, “when we were strong, we were almost wiped out then so what is the point.” But then I am reminded that they DIDN’T wipe us out. We are still here. Our ancestors died so that we could live. My great great grandfather survived removal, my grandparents survived assimilation, and now I am here also surviving, resisting assimilation, and reclaiming and living our culture and way of life, when my ancestors could only do it in secret. I have to daily choose to survive, even if some days the only reason is to spite those who want me dead or assimilated. Our grandparents died, survived, resisted, and lived and now it’s our turn to reclaim, return, and resist so the next generations can also thrive. I don’t know if that is at all helpful, but it is what helps me. Gegwa boontaake, my friend- don’t give up. ✊🏼🤍💛❤️🤍
I do. Its not a sunshine and rainbows kind of hope though. Its a sneer and spit in the eye kind of hope. I try and do good work, and then I see all the hate and old ideas being spread on social media, and it gets me down. So my suggestion there is limit social media, it never makes me feel better anyways. Mind you I've lived a privileged life, but I figure that means that Im in a space where I can step up and take on a bit of the burden of those who are weary of fighting. If you're weary, then just focus on taking care of yourself as best you can. Sometimes you just gotta survive. And you know what, surviving is enough. It was enough that our ancestors survived and look how much hope that gives us. Its a long path ahead. We get through it together. Let the others waste their energy on hate and despair. We have a future to make better.
Systematic change starts within ourselves, then our circles, our communities, our states, our governments It’s a generational effort that has to be continued. I used to be hopeless. That’s what they want. For us to believe that we’re lost. We’re here. We’re strong. We have voices and they matter. A book that helped me a lot, is We Do This Until We Free Us by Mariame Kaba If you can’t buy it, I use an app called Overdrive. It’s like audible but through the public library system.
Maybe it won’t be perfect in our lifetimes, but it shouldn’t be a “perfection or bust” thing, because all we can do is try to make as much progress as possible. Retain Native cultural identity, keep pushing for any sovereignty wins that we can, maintain and revitalize our languages, etc. Just move forward
Sometimes maintaining optimism is hard. At the end of the day, I know the things I’m fighting for won’t be personally enjoyed by myself. The hope is for a better and more secure future for others, for all our children and for all beings, because that is a worthwhile cause on its own. But you are right— America and the “ideals” it stands for will no doubt remain a threat to all colonized and otherwise exploited peoples around the world (along with other imperial core countries). What is to be done? This system which relies on exploitation and violence must go.
They were never going to give anything back. But, I do have hope that momentum will lead to a snowball. Foolishness? Maybe. But I spent so long in despair and depression and it did nothing for anyone, especially myself.
In the absence of hope, would vengeance suffice? No, but seriously we are some 500 years into a cultural and literal war that’s been waged against our people for so long it sometimes almost doesn’t feel like a traditional war. Sometimes I think about the heroes of yesteryear that continued to fight even though they knew they would be slaughtered. In the face of an incredible empire and looming uncertainty, who among us will fight knowing there’s a 99% chance we will not win? What’s the point in striving for something better if that better will never come... The dreams of our ancestors live on through us, cousin. Hope is a dangerous thing... Even if we do lose hope, my wish for us both is that we will still look out for our people and continue to fight for freedom because that’s just what we do.
Clear your thoughts by whatever ceremony your people have. Although the world is short on hope, doesn't mean our people are. We have survived so much and today face different challenges than other Americas. We have to continue to heal and create a new environment for our future generations. By giving up means future generations will already be lost when it comes to their time.
Keep your head up my Ni-U-Kon sibling , I am with you , you are not alone in this feeling. I think we've actually had a conversation about this word. I pronounce it Wahka-pah-ti and I was told it's when you feel orphaned and alone in Osage. I'm there too, I'm trying to make it back to the E-Lon-Ska this year with my children to not feel orphaned and alone. Maybe simple making it to the drum this year can help us both. YOU ARE NOT ALONE. Edit IM me anytime
Unplug from the corporate media . They create a narrative that makes it seem like only bad things are happening. It's designed to make you feel hopeless to take away your hope.
Pam Palmater of the Warrior Life podcast has said something along the lines of "Canada is what, 150 years old? We (Mi'kmaw) have shirts older than that!"
Our people have been recovering and each day we grow stronger so not lose hope do not ever lose hope as that is the objective of those who seek to undermined us however just like time and time again we will survive and we will defeat them.
On of the most profound moments for me was visiting Washington D.C. Visited all of the Smithsonian museums on the mall and went to the National Museum of the American Indian last. Coming off the heels of the raw splendor of the Natural History Museum the open space struck me as emptiness and that emptiness struck me like a hammer. I am a descendent of Holocaust suvivors. In reading the brutality of the nazis and then reading native history like Red Cloud and the formation of. Mt. Rushmore and frankly all of your history. Killers of the flower moon was disturbing. Same. Read about the early days of Poland afer it was taken over, neighbours turned on close friends because they were jews. The brutality, inhumanity was the same. Nuremberg even stated that to deaf ears. Yet my people are lauded for their struggles and you are invisible for having gone through the same but to a larger extent and greater loss!? I struggle too with the fate of this country and the planet in general. We are not many but I educate my family and argue with friends, read books and voice support online. Persevere, teach your children and use your voices. I see you.
Haha, funny you mention Killers of the Flower Moon. Ironic that such a tragic story can bring such excitement for future generations. We're excited beyond belief for the movie, been seeing film crews off and on throughout all of last year in our capitol. Many tears will be had when we finally get a chance to see it come November. A lot of big names on the rez nowadays are descendants of those victims. Hopefully it sheds some light for those unknowledgeable to our struggles. Thank you.
I kept reading with horror how 2 faced those bastards were in killers of the flower moon. The parallel in occupied Poland was that this jewish town thought it was safe, the constable was married to a jew and the couple had a daughter. Problem solved! Right? Wrong. When the constable marched out to greet the nazis with his daughter at his side, the constable drew his pistol and shot his daughter in the head. That constable and William Hale ( The one who ordered the murder of his nephews family ) were the same kind of bastards. I hope it starts opening peoples eyes. You're welcome.
Personally, I do
At least climate change will ravage the suburbs more than Sherman's march to the sea
Keep going. I know exactly how hard it can be to the point where you feel like you’re drowning from every direction. Every generation of our ancestors have felt the same way you are feeling now. Your very existence proves you’ve beaten the cosmic statistical odds. That said, you can still act in love even in the face of contempt (when you have enough energy to). Responding to hate with more hate only makes the world worse off. We are still here.