Thursday, August 11, 2005
Powwow 2
Felicia and I will be leaving Saturday morning to go to the Siletz Powwow. My housemate, Heidi, is loaning us her truck and thanks to my "hush money," I have some for gas and frybread...WOO-HOO! Thank you Heidi!
We will be spending the night with my cousin, Trish. This will be the first time I have seen her since her boyfriend was murdered. She recently (July 7) gave birth to their baby boy, whose name I do not know yet.
My housemate, Heidi, will be heading for Hungary with her folk dance troupe, Sussefusse (soo-suh-foo-suh, sweet foot), this Saturday as well. Her daughter, Lea, will be house sitting helping provide care for the animals. Our new housemate, Judy, is rarely seen by me.
I like powwows. The Indians, the costumes, the dancing, the singing, the community, the frybread, the energy. There are things I don't like about powwows as well. Powwow's are a-political. It is commonly accepted at least here in Oregon that politics are not discussed at powwows. In fact, most Indians in this area (except the young Indians) are willing to talk politics. I also hate grand entry and never watch. The U.S. flag is always flown at the front of the parade. The same flag that flew at Washita, Sand Creek, Wounded Knee, etc. It is the flag of the oppressor. It is the flag of the organization that has and continues to commit genocide against our people. I also understand why it is flown. We show respect to the master in hopes that if we continue to show respect they will stop killing us. Hasn't stopped it yet, but I do understand that mentality. It's called "survival." I personally have just grown tired of the genocide and refuse to watch as the flag is danced before the people the government works so hard to destroy. Veterans are also honored at powwows. Veterans are not necessarily warriors, and warriors are not necessarily veterans, but we now narrowly define our warriors as men and women that join the American armed forces. The American armed forces were also the same forces that worked to wipe us off of the face of the earth. Fighting for the Americans IS fighting for the enemy because the U.S. government is still purposely killing us. I do not hold this against Indian veterans. I know why most people, especially Indians, sign up to kill for the American empire. It is survival. Unemployment is high on the rez. There is great depression on the rez. There are good things on the rez, too, but one of them is not opportunity in this domineering capitalist society. We need to survive, we need to eat. A friend of mine whom I didn't know was a veteran for a couple of years after I met him told me it wasn't something he was "proud of." He renounces his activities as a member of the American armed forces. He doesn't participate or watch grand entries at powwows either.
I will definitely have a great time at the powwow this weekend, but I also have mixed feelings about the things.
In conclusion I'd just like to say one thing:
FRYBREAD!
We will be spending the night with my cousin, Trish. This will be the first time I have seen her since her boyfriend was murdered. She recently (July 7) gave birth to their baby boy, whose name I do not know yet.
My housemate, Heidi, will be heading for Hungary with her folk dance troupe, Sussefusse (soo-suh-foo-suh, sweet foot), this Saturday as well. Her daughter, Lea, will be house sitting helping provide care for the animals. Our new housemate, Judy, is rarely seen by me.
I like powwows. The Indians, the costumes, the dancing, the singing, the community, the frybread, the energy. There are things I don't like about powwows as well. Powwow's are a-political. It is commonly accepted at least here in Oregon that politics are not discussed at powwows. In fact, most Indians in this area (except the young Indians) are willing to talk politics. I also hate grand entry and never watch. The U.S. flag is always flown at the front of the parade. The same flag that flew at Washita, Sand Creek, Wounded Knee, etc. It is the flag of the oppressor. It is the flag of the organization that has and continues to commit genocide against our people. I also understand why it is flown. We show respect to the master in hopes that if we continue to show respect they will stop killing us. Hasn't stopped it yet, but I do understand that mentality. It's called "survival." I personally have just grown tired of the genocide and refuse to watch as the flag is danced before the people the government works so hard to destroy. Veterans are also honored at powwows. Veterans are not necessarily warriors, and warriors are not necessarily veterans, but we now narrowly define our warriors as men and women that join the American armed forces. The American armed forces were also the same forces that worked to wipe us off of the face of the earth. Fighting for the Americans IS fighting for the enemy because the U.S. government is still purposely killing us. I do not hold this against Indian veterans. I know why most people, especially Indians, sign up to kill for the American empire. It is survival. Unemployment is high on the rez. There is great depression on the rez. There are good things on the rez, too, but one of them is not opportunity in this domineering capitalist society. We need to survive, we need to eat. A friend of mine whom I didn't know was a veteran for a couple of years after I met him told me it wasn't something he was "proud of." He renounces his activities as a member of the American armed forces. He doesn't participate or watch grand entries at powwows either.
I will definitely have a great time at the powwow this weekend, but I also have mixed feelings about the things.
In conclusion I'd just like to say one thing:
FRYBREAD!
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