Post by blackcrowheart on Mar 11, 2007 19:21:35 GMT -5
No law needed to teach Native American culture
By Wayne M. Star Boy
_Sioux Falls_ (mailto:Sioux%20Falls)
PUBLISHED: January 5, 2007
An Argus Leader editorial discussed a proposed Indian Education Act. As a
Lakota Sicangu from Rosebud, I wanted to state some of my opinions on the
Indigenous Lakota people of South Dakota.
Why do educators need a law to teach the people of this state the culture,
language and related information on the Lakota people, who were here thousands
of years before foreigners ever stepped foot on this continent? This would
simply rewrite the current history of not only the state but of the country.
We know, of course, this will never happen.
When the first foreigners came to this part of the world, they broke the
spirit or the backbone of the Lakota people. We were denied our language,
culture and everything related. It also put the traditions of the Indian in a
mental state of confusion and fear of practicing their ways, which is still
affecting my people today. Culture, language and spirituality cannot be separated;
they are all interrelated as one. This is one of the problems of trying to
teach this culture.
The living examples of this culture are the responsibilities of the
grandparents, parents and relatives. This is how the cycle works. Today, as Lakota
people, we need to reevaluate ourselves and get our spirituality and culture
back in sequence. I was raised the traditional way, and I have done several
years of research on our ways. I talked with many people. I also took a survey
on the powwow trail. In almost every state, it took me three years just for
that.
The Lakota are everywhere. It seems like we have more than one Tunkasila
(God). Most Indians I talked to all give me different answers. It was mentioned
to me many times we need to get along better. So as of today I see the
Lakota's traditions not in sequence. (Example: Too many medicine men, too many
groups doing their own thing.)
You cannot teach the culture today to set positive examples for our children
and non-Indians who want to learn because of the examples stated above. To
the officials who do the homework for this act, make sure you start with the
Lakota people themselves. The people are the ones who select leaders. Going to
10 medicine men or all the prominent leaders won't solve the problem.
The Lakota people consist of the Seven Tribes. Do homework on the Seven
Tribes of the Lakota. When you mention Native Americans, you are speaking of all
Indians nationwide, not specifically the Indians of South Dakota.
I don't think the Indian Education Act mentioned will ease racial issues in
this state, but why do we need a law to train and educate our teachers on the
culture? Why isn't it already happening? As for racial issues, they are
alive and well in parts of this state today.
By Wayne M. Star Boy
_Sioux Falls_ (mailto:Sioux%20Falls)
PUBLISHED: January 5, 2007
An Argus Leader editorial discussed a proposed Indian Education Act. As a
Lakota Sicangu from Rosebud, I wanted to state some of my opinions on the
Indigenous Lakota people of South Dakota.
Why do educators need a law to teach the people of this state the culture,
language and related information on the Lakota people, who were here thousands
of years before foreigners ever stepped foot on this continent? This would
simply rewrite the current history of not only the state but of the country.
We know, of course, this will never happen.
When the first foreigners came to this part of the world, they broke the
spirit or the backbone of the Lakota people. We were denied our language,
culture and everything related. It also put the traditions of the Indian in a
mental state of confusion and fear of practicing their ways, which is still
affecting my people today. Culture, language and spirituality cannot be separated;
they are all interrelated as one. This is one of the problems of trying to
teach this culture.
The living examples of this culture are the responsibilities of the
grandparents, parents and relatives. This is how the cycle works. Today, as Lakota
people, we need to reevaluate ourselves and get our spirituality and culture
back in sequence. I was raised the traditional way, and I have done several
years of research on our ways. I talked with many people. I also took a survey
on the powwow trail. In almost every state, it took me three years just for
that.
The Lakota are everywhere. It seems like we have more than one Tunkasila
(God). Most Indians I talked to all give me different answers. It was mentioned
to me many times we need to get along better. So as of today I see the
Lakota's traditions not in sequence. (Example: Too many medicine men, too many
groups doing their own thing.)
You cannot teach the culture today to set positive examples for our children
and non-Indians who want to learn because of the examples stated above. To
the officials who do the homework for this act, make sure you start with the
Lakota people themselves. The people are the ones who select leaders. Going to
10 medicine men or all the prominent leaders won't solve the problem.
The Lakota people consist of the Seven Tribes. Do homework on the Seven
Tribes of the Lakota. When you mention Native Americans, you are speaking of all
Indians nationwide, not specifically the Indians of South Dakota.
I don't think the Indian Education Act mentioned will ease racial issues in
this state, but why do we need a law to train and educate our teachers on the
culture? Why isn't it already happening? As for racial issues, they are
alive and well in parts of this state today.