Big Props to the Native Americans

Enjoyed school today, probably for the first time in several weeks of the program. (I loved student teaching, by this I refer to the lecture/seminar routine). Lecture directly addressed my area of curiosity (tribal gaming) and I left feeling further intellectually aroused by both Alan Parker and Jennifer Scott. This was nice. Seminar was also good -- a real feel that this program isn't just about reading and being lofty with ideas -- that there is humanity, heart, laughter, and a chance to be honest about who you are. Simona seems to be good, as facilitator, at reaffirming this. Overall, today's seminar was a great omen for the next eight weeks we've got left with this crew.

As for an excerpt from my seminar prep paper on Wray's text-- I continue to grapple with a true admiration of Native Americans and their struggle against the U.S. government's blatant attempts to destroy their culture, and how I can transform that admiration into connection/something tangible. What you see here is a little babbling that may or may not lead to that eventual tangibility:

Fortunately, like many marginalized groups we have read about, Native Americans took strides to keep their culture intact despite bad odds. This was done a myriad of ways – including valuing ancestors to maintain a “guardian spirit” (p. 73),but also through resistance to oppression. The Makah are solid example of this resistance, “Although many measures were taken to thwart Makah culture, such as prohibiting the potlatch, ceremonial passages, and the Makah language, the Makah people resisted. The resistance against completely conforming to Euro-American standards is reflected in the continuance of Makah culture today” (p. 158). The cultural perseverance of the Makah (Native Americans in general) is almost enviable (possibly poor word choice here…). By that I mean that Native American culture, by withstanding so much, deserves so many honors and a great respect. Studying it becomes a privilege. I say this from the perspective of a white middle-class female, who is well aware that I will probably never face such extreme (daresay harsh?) pressure to abandon my cultural roots.

With that, I sign off to search for the mouse (rat?) that seroiusly lives in my kitchen.... I hear it up there... why do those traps continue to fail??