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Feathers...Whats on your arrows ?
Andrea S:
Bob...I don't mean to sound ornery, but Indians didn't name themselves Indians anymore than they named themselves Native Americans. Even tribes like the Gros Ventre aren't properly named..."Gros Ventre" is French for "Big Belly", which was a misunderstanding of the sign-language term for their people. Their true name is "A'aninin" (spelling varies) which means "White Clay People". But they still refer to themselves as Gros Ventre. I think the general idea is that none of the names were given in bad taste or with intention to insult, so all of them can be used without prejudice or worry about being "politically correct".
hawkbow:
Sorry you got your feelings hurt again Bob, You know I was raised Lakota and meant no disrespect. If any "white eye" respects and honors the way of the native peoples of this continent it is me... My family and best friends are Native american. Hawk
El Destructo:
Leave it to a College Girl to say it straight.....Thanks Andrea....Hawk and I were both raised with the Morals and respect of the ....here we go....Native American Tribes.....I would no more Disrespect them on Purpose...than I would my Mother......I was brought up Better than that!!!
Gichi-Miigwech Andrea
Coo-wah-chobee:
The term that we use fer the foks that were here LONG before the soceity that rules now is a modern one as Andrea says that is used ta be understood by each other. Andrea would you rather I use what we call ourselves and then there are 1000's of descriptions ? I coulnd't give a damm less about "politically correct !"Sorry Andrea, ALL the names cannot be used without insult. Mike (Hawkbow ) my feelings arent hurt. I am not that thin-skinned and I am used ta it by now. I dont think y'all meant ta insult rather a poor choice of words typed. I believe Hawkbow but Mike ( El Destructo ) how would you know what Hawkbow's intention was and feel comfortable speakin' fer him ? Andrea, ya need ta learn more about "Indians " and NOT from a book ifn ya interested. I think you will find the written literature is often at odds (BIG TIME ) with what ya hear and perhaps yer personal take on it. You might even think its slanted........bob
Andrea S:
Well, my professor, Walter Fleming, who is registered with the Kickapoo tribe and is head of the Department of Native American Studies here at Montana State University said it in a way that seemed most pragmatic to me. He said, (paraphrased a bit) "You'll hear me say Indian, Native American, tribespeople, Crow, American Indian, Cheyenne, and all of that. There's a lot of tip-toeing people do over which term is best to be used. As long as you don't call me a wagon-burning savage, it doesn't matter what term you use." That seems to make the most sense, because I personally think the lengths to which people tend to take "political correctness" is just stupid.
Please don't take anything of what I've said in a negative light. The transition I made from Chicago to Montana in terms of being exposed to native cultures is an eye-opening and awesome one. I have absolutely nothing but respect for American Indian cultures. The only thing that bothers me is the whole polygamy deal, and some of the ways women were regarded. But I'm female, and that's generally my prerogative, even though I would call myself much more of a traditional gal than a raging feminist. Whole 'nother can of worms.
I've got to go throw some thin-cut sammich steaks in a bit of marinade for tomorrow's dinner, and then get ready to go to the MSU Pow-wow, incidentally. I went yesterday as well, and spent a good amount of time having meaningful conversations with the parties involved. I'll have some amazing pictures to share with you folks later.
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