Post by Okwes on Jan 28, 2006 11:53:47 GMT -5
The Future of American Indian peoples
Posted: January 26, 2006
by: Joel Waters / Special to Today
www.indiancountry.com/content.cfm?id=1096412368
The future of American Indians is muffled, like a dog with a muzzle
on, and only so many of us can be heard.
But, in looking back on the decades since the '70s, we have come a
long way. The most important contribution was that of the great
pioneers of writing, those who became the first to establish Native
American literature. People like Zitkcala Sa, a Yankton Sioux, who
preserved some of the oldest Indian stories. And N. Scott Momaday, a
Kiowa who won a Pulitzer Prize for his book, ''A House made of
Dawn.''
Other Native American writers paved the way also for us by being
controversial, or just by being themselves, like Simon Ortiz, Acoma
Pueblo; Joy Harjo, Muscogee/Creek; Louise Erdrich, Chippewa; Adrian
Louis, Paite; LeAnne Howe, Choctaw, and Sherman Alexie, Spokane/Coeur
d'Alene.
All these people have one thing in common: they let themselves be
heard when no one was listening to them. We as a people were nearly
void, a lost culture; but out of the dead roots something was born
and that was through finding a voice in a predominantly white
society.
With so many things against them, like poverty and especially racism,
these pioneers of Native American literature broke though most
barriers in their way. Like them, Native American people need to have
that courage to jump into what dreams they have. So far, our culture
is fighting its way back by creating things like Native-owned
companies, magazines, journals and even record labels. But the path
of our existence, I believe, is based on voice; and the strongest
voice we have is through our education and our knowledge.
Had I known that writers like these were out there when I was in high
school, I would've been encouraged to graduate high school and set
goals for myself. I didn't find Native American literature until my
freshman year of college. But from then on I changed my major to
English so I could become a writer and a person of inspiration, like
Harjo and Louis were to me.
But most people, on the reservations and off as well, have not even
heard of these writers and their great works. There is the problem.
If we just had more people to look up to we might be inspired to
change the world and especially change ourselves and the poverty
around us. We need to put these writers into our schools; we need to
fill the libraries on every reservation with their great works of
literature and poetry. Every college should offer a mandatory course
and at least offer an elective in high school. Just to have them come
and read on the reservations might spark enough interest in our young
Indians.
The future of our young depends on knowing that there are people out
there who have achieved the impossible; that there are Indians out
there who have done it and have been successful, and all they had to
work with was practically nothing. Their pockets were empty, but
their hearts were filled with dreams and hopes of becoming something
big, and maybe these artists didn't know just how big of an impact
they had. The only thing I know for certain is my life wasn't much
before I read their poems of suffering and their stories of personal
tribulation. Now I have a path that I am proud to go down, and it has
given my life a purpose.
Our voices have been cut short and have been silent for too long. We
have the resources, we just have to promote them, and I think a great
start is through our literature and our stories. Let us as a people
support each other in our dreams because no one else out there will,
and even if they will, it would mean a lot more to have people of
your own kind who believe in you.
Coming from a culture of many great and fallen leaders, it is time to
stop mourning for ourselves and them, and pick up where they left
off. We are, after all, descendants of great voices.
Joel Waters, Oglala Lakota, is a junior seeking a bachelor's in
English. His poetry has been published in anthologies and literary
journals. He is currently working on a book of poetry and a novel.
Waters attends American Indian student organization meetings and
poetry readings to gain experience in performing before an
understanding audience.
Posted: January 26, 2006
by: Joel Waters / Special to Today
www.indiancountry.com/content.cfm?id=1096412368
The future of American Indians is muffled, like a dog with a muzzle
on, and only so many of us can be heard.
But, in looking back on the decades since the '70s, we have come a
long way. The most important contribution was that of the great
pioneers of writing, those who became the first to establish Native
American literature. People like Zitkcala Sa, a Yankton Sioux, who
preserved some of the oldest Indian stories. And N. Scott Momaday, a
Kiowa who won a Pulitzer Prize for his book, ''A House made of
Dawn.''
Other Native American writers paved the way also for us by being
controversial, or just by being themselves, like Simon Ortiz, Acoma
Pueblo; Joy Harjo, Muscogee/Creek; Louise Erdrich, Chippewa; Adrian
Louis, Paite; LeAnne Howe, Choctaw, and Sherman Alexie, Spokane/Coeur
d'Alene.
All these people have one thing in common: they let themselves be
heard when no one was listening to them. We as a people were nearly
void, a lost culture; but out of the dead roots something was born
and that was through finding a voice in a predominantly white
society.
With so many things against them, like poverty and especially racism,
these pioneers of Native American literature broke though most
barriers in their way. Like them, Native American people need to have
that courage to jump into what dreams they have. So far, our culture
is fighting its way back by creating things like Native-owned
companies, magazines, journals and even record labels. But the path
of our existence, I believe, is based on voice; and the strongest
voice we have is through our education and our knowledge.
Had I known that writers like these were out there when I was in high
school, I would've been encouraged to graduate high school and set
goals for myself. I didn't find Native American literature until my
freshman year of college. But from then on I changed my major to
English so I could become a writer and a person of inspiration, like
Harjo and Louis were to me.
But most people, on the reservations and off as well, have not even
heard of these writers and their great works. There is the problem.
If we just had more people to look up to we might be inspired to
change the world and especially change ourselves and the poverty
around us. We need to put these writers into our schools; we need to
fill the libraries on every reservation with their great works of
literature and poetry. Every college should offer a mandatory course
and at least offer an elective in high school. Just to have them come
and read on the reservations might spark enough interest in our young
Indians.
The future of our young depends on knowing that there are people out
there who have achieved the impossible; that there are Indians out
there who have done it and have been successful, and all they had to
work with was practically nothing. Their pockets were empty, but
their hearts were filled with dreams and hopes of becoming something
big, and maybe these artists didn't know just how big of an impact
they had. The only thing I know for certain is my life wasn't much
before I read their poems of suffering and their stories of personal
tribulation. Now I have a path that I am proud to go down, and it has
given my life a purpose.
Our voices have been cut short and have been silent for too long. We
have the resources, we just have to promote them, and I think a great
start is through our literature and our stories. Let us as a people
support each other in our dreams because no one else out there will,
and even if they will, it would mean a lot more to have people of
your own kind who believe in you.
Coming from a culture of many great and fallen leaders, it is time to
stop mourning for ourselves and them, and pick up where they left
off. We are, after all, descendants of great voices.
Joel Waters, Oglala Lakota, is a junior seeking a bachelor's in
English. His poetry has been published in anthologies and literary
journals. He is currently working on a book of poetry and a novel.
Waters attends American Indian student organization meetings and
poetry readings to gain experience in performing before an
understanding audience.