Unfortunately for such peoples, they continue to be 'tarred with the same brush' so to speak: there are many non-Indian people out who still believe everything they see or hear about these peoples, or maybe they may have had negative experiences with these people. For instance, I went on a trip to the USA back in 1995, and there were many attractions in the country's South West, some of which were on 'Indian Territory'.
The group that I was with, had a really good tour leader (who was Caucasian like the rest of us but had a very *strong* affiliation with the tribes of the Southwest, in particular, the Navajo and the Hopi). We had the *privilege* of venturing onto the Navajo and Hopi reservations and visiting such places like Monument Valley, Kayenta, Chinle, Canyon de Chelly, Old Oraibi, Lake Powell and Page.
And when we visited Monument Valley, we had the 'privelege' of going on a trail ride (horseriding) one day and then on a jeep tour the morning after. And then, on the same day of the trail ride, the Indian guides invited us to a mini-powwow, complete with tomtoms, a fire, chanting and dancing. The only thing 'missing' that wasn't present was the traditional dress and/or feathers that you see on some of the big powwows.
Many of us went away full of awe for these people and the tour leader was very good friends with these people. I wasn't sure what brought it up, but she told me (and a fellow traveller) about another tour leader with the same tour company that had the opposite opinion of these people: according to her, it was a white male tour leader who thought the same Indians were 'lusting after' his 'girls' (the female passengers on the trip) and wouldn't let 'his girls' go horseriding with them. Her words were 'Why would anyone want to put them down?'
Of course the man may have his own reasons for this, and if the aforementioned group was trying to hit on what he considers 'his girls', then something needs to be done about that also. If it is his own insecurities about his own 'manliness' and whatever they have (that he doesn't) that any non-Indian women see in them, then he not only has to work on that, and also try to understand that they might be his customers but they are not his 'girls' to give away in the first place.
But whatever the reason, these stereotypes still exist to the day - not only do they hurt the Native American people in general, but they hurt them economically and socially, and in particular, that community. And most of all, he and his 'customers' (or passengers) missed out on such a valuable learning experience, and one which promotes a fuller understanding between two different cultures (including how to fix up any misunderstandings that may occurr between the two groups).
cheers,
Night Owl
The group that I was with, had a really good tour leader (who was Caucasian like the rest of us but had a very *strong* affiliation with the tribes of the Southwest, in particular, the Navajo and the Hopi). We had the *privilege* of venturing onto the Navajo and Hopi reservations and visiting such places like Monument Valley, Kayenta, Chinle, Canyon de Chelly, Old Oraibi, Lake Powell and Page.
And when we visited Monument Valley, we had the 'privelege' of going on a trail ride (horseriding) one day and then on a jeep tour the morning after. And then, on the same day of the trail ride, the Indian guides invited us to a mini-powwow, complete with tomtoms, a fire, chanting and dancing. The only thing 'missing' that wasn't present was the traditional dress and/or feathers that you see on some of the big powwows.
Many of us went away full of awe for these people and the tour leader was very good friends with these people. I wasn't sure what brought it up, but she told me (and a fellow traveller) about another tour leader with the same tour company that had the opposite opinion of these people: according to her, it was a white male tour leader who thought the same Indians were 'lusting after' his 'girls' (the female passengers on the trip) and wouldn't let 'his girls' go horseriding with them. Her words were 'Why would anyone want to put them down?'
Of course the man may have his own reasons for this, and if the aforementioned group was trying to hit on what he considers 'his girls', then something needs to be done about that also. If it is his own insecurities about his own 'manliness' and whatever they have (that he doesn't) that any non-Indian women see in them, then he not only has to work on that, and also try to understand that they might be his customers but they are not his 'girls' to give away in the first place.
But whatever the reason, these stereotypes still exist to the day - not only do they hurt the Native American people in general, but they hurt them economically and socially, and in particular, that community. And most of all, he and his 'customers' (or passengers) missed out on such a valuable learning experience, and one which promotes a fuller understanding between two different cultures (including how to fix up any misunderstandings that may occurr between the two groups).
cheers,
Night Owl
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What is your own take on this situation? How do you rise above the rot?