How can I translate-not in words but in belief-that a river is a body, asalive as you or I, that there can be no life without it?
Nice visualization of how a river can be equated to a living being as it gives and spreads life. Also reminds me of how Native Americans ( in texts I have personally read) view land as a partner, not as an object to be conquered or sold.
My brain foretells her childrenpenetrating deep into the systemand her grandchildrenentering the system; my brain maps crisis.
Perfectly clear yet heartbreaking visualization of how systemic inequality permeates some marginalized communities. This is also indicative of why it can be so hard for members of said marginalized communities to break out of this systemic cycle when it has been happening for generations - and also why the 'bootstraps' myth is so horribly inaccurate.
For the child, then, I entreat you to stay as you are. Young as you are, keepsteady. Be not overhasty to remarry, but wait for my brother, whom I shall send to you.”
While remarriage was probably much more likely than staying a widow in Native societies, this sentiment still rings a little strange as it is not just asking Waterlily to not abstain and remarry, but to remarry a much younger person who is not ready at the current moment.
But at least they still had their horses. With them, the people could rehabilitate themselveswhen hunting was possible agai
Even this was not a guarantee when the U.S government and settlers purposefully hunted traditional Native prey such as Buffalo in an attempt to destroy their source of food,
covenant with the landwe share.
Interesting that Long Soldier notes that there is a covenant that both Native tribes AND the U.S 'share'. Though almost undoubtedly supposed to be taken sarcastically, the choice to use this specific rhetoric and not a word with a more negative connotation is intriguing.
Her one concern was to maintain her dignity
What if not voicing ones concern conflicted with the upholding of dignity? Did the idea of dignity change between family/social circles? Or I wonder if it was a culturally established idea that just differed between tribes.
In her presence, little of her work or industry was alluded to, except to complain to her thatshe was overdoing and ought to rest. It was their subtle way of praising her—by not showingsurprise or too obvious gratification, as if she were more of a success than they had hoped.
Intriguing way of representing assimilation into a pre-established family network; showing respect not through overt praise, but letting silent satisfaction do the talking.
Meaning whatever comes after theword "Whereas" and before rhe semicolon in a Congressional document falls short of legalgrounds, is never cause to sue rhe Government, the Government's courts say
You have the right to freedoms - but those freedoms are not meant to extend to justice in a court of law for non-white Americans - Layli comments on the selective application of Constitutional rights.
Old women sometimes recalledwith obvious pride, “I was bought.” But Waterlily was only stunned to have this happen to her,and without warning. She did not want to marry just now, and this was not the way she fanciedit would be—without any romance
The language of being 'bought' here is interesting - I wonder if that's a mixup from the Dakota language into English and the connotation is different, or if the Dakota people saw the arrangement not just as a beneficial conjoining but also a somewhat monetary transaction ( with the animals as gifts potentially? )
She would be a perpetual virgin—a true one, like White Dawn, not a sham,like Night Walker
I wonder what made Night Walker's claim of virginity a 'sham' - was it just because she announced it often so people believed she had to be hiding something?
No sooner had the crier completed his round, telling the people to get ready, than tipis beganto come down and in an unbelievably short while the move began. The destination was not far;it could have been easily reached without the necessity of stopping to rest on the way. But thiswas a ceremonial move and it was essential to make the four ritual pauses along the way, inhonor of the four sacred directions, the Four Winds.
I wonder if the party that was intercepted by the 7th Cavalry at Wounded Knee was similarly moving to try and perform a dance in the wake of Sitting Bull's Death - or if it was just a large move unrelated to a specific Dance (Ghost Dance maybe?)
Awarrior was bidden who had achieved his four feathers designating four major war deeds; or aman of peace was bidden who was industrious and had some outstanding skill
Interesting that one could join the Kit Fox Society by both being a warrior and or being a 'man of peace'. I wonder what the distinguished something as a 'major war deed' for the feathers, and if the 'outstanding skill' applied to purely physical matters, or spiritual aswell.
The one audience who would haveunderstood most of what she had to say—her own Dakota people—would not have whollyapproved of her publishing her ethnological manuscript; some Dakotas would not evenapprove of her knowing what she knew, an anxiety she repeatedly voiced
I wonder how much of a deterrent this was regarding publishing her work in comparison to the disregard broader white American culture would have had for her knowledge. Were there violent repercussions? Or was it more being socially ostracized. Did her immediate family in the Deloria clan have disdain for the fact that she knew this knowledge?
Bueanother way co understand chat sore of "purchase" is: Dakota leaders ceded land to the USgovernment in exchange for money or goods, but most importantly, the safety of their people
This is a deal we see tribal leaders being offered time and time again as the U.S expanded westward - a practice of offering to 'buy' the land, or make a treaty that appears as two parties that have amicable conditions. However the last line of this excerpt 'the safety of their people' - these deals were not 'amicable' or 'just,' they were made by tribal leaders out of a desire to protect their people from looming annihilation, and that option was implied as the alternative to not making said deals.
it's horriblehow their culturewas destroyedas if in some reckless stormbut thank god we wereableto savesomeof theseartifacts-history is soimportant. Will you lookat this metalwork?I couldcry
Reminds me of early 20th century tomb excavations in Egypt and how Britain and other imperial powers took artifacts back to the homeland to 'display' and 'fascinate' European populations.
White represents the sky world, blackis the human world, red is theunderworld. The black circlerepresents nothingness, the fate of theundeserving souls. The break in thecircles represents the portals betweenworlds.
If the human world is 'nothingness' and for 'underserving souls', would the break in all three worlds be a way for humans to ascend to a plane of 'purpose' and 'deserving'? Or are these 'portals' or breaks perhaps a place for judgment that humans go to the underworld through.
“Unquestionably, the history of land-grant universities intersects with thatof Native Americans and the taking of their lands,” said the Association ofPublic and Land-Grant Universities in a written statement. “While wecannot change the past, land-grant universities have and will continue tobe focused on building a better future for everyone.”
Seems performative while not actually purposing any clear road to a resolution. Especially no mention of indigenous students and a commitment to making their experiences valid.
success matters more than learning.
This is constantly echoed in almost all forms of discourse that I have participated in regarding this subject, whether explicitly spelled out or implied. The argument usually boils down to 'it is what it is' and that you 'just have to do it' - this same rhetoric being utilized by immediate family, seemingly taught to them by their parents and so on.