Chief Illiniwek

[freshnesschronic]

Originally Posted by bluecuracao

Retaining your culture isn't being a victim. Not all reservations "suck," not even most of them. Not all tribal-owned lands are even called "reservations." It's too bad that your friend decided to leave his tribe for good, but that's his choice, I guess. Maybe he'll have a change of heart one day and go back to be a part of the community, revive/continue traditions, bring his skills/trade in, etc.

Now, this perception of yours that "the Indians got their ass kicked" is exactly the kind of stereotype that is perpetuated by the John Wayne Indian mascots. Yes, there were tribes that were decimated or uprooted. But there are still a lot of us, and cultural traditions are still going strong in native communities from North to South America.

Agreed. It sounded like Bruce was saying that they should just assimulate just because everyone else does. It is not a bad thing at all if some Native Americans want to whole heartedly maintain their culture that was practiced for generations before the settlers. By just saying "yeah, whatever they got their assked kicked" then it shows total intolerance and ignorance to their culture.

Everyone has a right to maintain their way of life as it seems fit. We shouldn't judge them if they want to be traditional and unincorporated into US lifestyle.

The Yanomami is a first-contact Native American tribe in the Amazon that refuses to live like normal Brazilians. We shouldn't make them assimulate just because we tell them to.