Author: Kevin M. Smith
Wilma
Mankiller Video
Recently,
after observing the video presentation by Wilma Mankiller, I was reminded of
the hardships many Natives have had to endure including assimilation, allotment
and stereotyping. I found the video to
be an excellent review of many of the concepts we have learnded this semester
from authors including Peter Nabokov, Marijo Moore, Mark Sutton and Anton
Truer.
Mankiller
describes the importance of Tribal governments, sovereignty and protects the
integrity of native women while mentioning the function of native women in
tribes, contradicting many of the stereotypes focused on those women. Mankiller further discusses the impact of
assimilation, describing the impact of having to learn “white” cultural
practices, while “balancing” Native traditional “systems”. This traditional system includes such
practices which focus on land oneness, ceremony, language and medicine, each
instrumental for Native balance with an advancing culture.
Interestingly,
Mankiller and her Native people as described, still continue to face the
stereotypes associated with classification.
She refers to the question asked, where are all the Indians? This question implies that because a Native
is not dressed in traditional clothing, they must not be “Indian”. To be honest, I find it extremely challenging
to believe that there are non-native individuals who think this way. She explains the importance of the self-help
movement which ideally combats such negative stereotypes through maintaining a positive
mental health. I believe that the video
presented by Wilma represents an excellent review of the topics covered in this
semester.
I agree with you when you state that Wilma Mankiller's video and speech includes many aspects of the course that we have learned over the last fifteen weeks. I really enjoyed listening to her speak and it really helped to hear a Native American of our generation speak of everything we have learned. I gave us a chance to apply all of the knowledge we have learned and I appreciate that. I also find it hard to believe that people of today who are non native expect Native American's to dress in traditional clothing. The only thing I can think of is we are thinking of people of our generation. She was quite a bit older, in fact I believe she was born the same year as my grandmother. As a nurse I have taken care of many people of that generation and many do hold on to traditional stereotypes of many cultural groups. Maybe that it why she made that statement. Otherwise, she may have said that in order to get our attention and she seems to have had a sense of humor even when speaking publicly. I enjoyed reading your blog post. Thank you.
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