THIS DATE IN AMERICAN INDIAN HISTORY

In 1619, the colony of Virginia signed a treaty of alliance with the Powhatan Confederacy.

THIS DATE IN AMERICAN INDIAN HISTORY

 In 864, the Mayan dedicated the Great Ball Court at Chichen Itza.

Chichen Itza: pre-Colombian city built
by the Mayans.

Indigenous Learning

 S'gi to Ms. Miranda Stamper of Cherokee Middle School for a fantastic presentation yesterday here at App! As part of our celebration of Native American Heritage Month, Ms. Stamper spoke to us about Indigenous ways of teaching and learning. It was a wonderful way for us to conclude our celebrations of the month! #gadugi #GoBraves #NativeAmericanHeritageMonth

Ms. Miranda Stamper speaks to ASU students 
and faculty on Wednesday

Who We Are

 Last week, we had the opportunity to educate campus through the “We Are Here” panel discussion series. The event went well, but there was part of it that I found discouraging and a little depressing. It seemed that so much of what we talked about was telling the people there what we are not as a community and people instead of positively asserting who and what we are. It reminded me of a quote from Cherokee Principal Chief John Ross. “Convince the world by your character,” he said, “that Indians are not as they have been shown.” That’s an unfair burden and expectation, but it is a reality for Native people. After 50 years of Hollywood stereotypes and erasure from the history books Native people—Native youth especially—confront so many ignorant tropes that we always begin with a deficit model in our conversations. Last Wednesday, we told those gathered that we are not all dark skinned. We are not all enrolled. We do not all come from cultures that use dreamcatchers. We do not all get to attend college for free. We are not all diversity admissions. And on and on.

 

But if we had the opportunity to tell campus who we are, what would you say? For me, I would let the world know that we are a community not merely of survivors, but of thrivers. We are a people with an extraordinary reserve of resilience, and a relentless people who for five centuries have resisted colonialism and attempted physical, cultural, and spiritual genocide. We are a community that cares for one another. We have a culture with much to teach the rest of the world about matrilineal cultures, consensus government, and being caretakers of the planet. That’s only a tiny piece of who we are, and we need to let campus—and the world—know. 

 

Take some time this week to consider how we may reframe this conversation from, as John Ross said, proving to the world what we are not, and instead proudly showing who we are. Who. We. Are. Together we can move the conversation in that direction. Our people and the world will be better for it. S’gi.

THIS DATE IN AMERICAN HISTORY

 In 1969, American Indian Movement activists first occupy Alcatraz Island.

Happy Veterans Day!

Did you know that American Indians serve in the United States military at 5 times the national average? Or that, since 9/11, nearly 19 percent of American Indians have served? Happy Veterans Day from the Gadugi Partnership and s'gi to you all for your service to this nation!!

Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Medal of Honor recipient
Charles George statue in Veterans Park on the Qualla Boundary

THIS DATE IN AMERICAN INDIAN HISTORY

In 1871, the 2,854 square mile San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation is established. The reservation became the home of Apache, Mohave, and Yuma Indians.  

 I am SO excited about these events next week! It's International Education Week, and Gadugi has partnered with App State's Office of International Education and Development for two great programs! At 4 in the Student Union Ms. Miranda Stamper will be speaking about her work during the pandemic lockdown to emphasize traditional education and make sure that, even though schools were closed, education continued! Then at 6 in Greenbrier we will be showing the film "Another Word for Learning," which emphasizes decolonizing education. Please join us if you can!

THIS DATE IN NATIVE AMERICAN HISTORY

In 1811, the Battle of Tippecanoe is fought. Shawnee leader Tenskwatawa (The Prophet) and his followers took on General William Henry Harrison and his 1,000 soldiers near Prophetstown. The battle was a victory for the Americans who destroyed the town. The loss was the beginning of the end for the confederacy that Tenskwatawa and his brother, Tecumseh, had sought to establish. 

Tenskwatawa 
1775-1836

THIS DATE IN NATIVE AMERICAN HISTORY

 In 1868, Red Cloud and his warriors signed the Treaty of Fort Laramie, ending what came to be called "Red Cloud's War." After several years of conflict and embarrassing defeats at the hands of the Indians, the US government sued for peace. 

Red Cloud
1822-1909

THIS DATE IN NATIVE AMERICAN HISTORY

 In 1862, 303 Santee Sioux were sentenced to death by a military commission after a 37 day resistance to US treatment of the Sioux and the breaking of a treaty between the two nations. President Abraham Lincoln personally reviewed the convictions of all 303 and, finding many of the convictions corrupt, tossed out the majority. In the end, 38 Sioux were hanged the day after Christmas, 1862. These are now remembered as the Dakota 38. 

Abraham Lincoln & the 
Dakota 38

THIS DATE IN NATIVE AMERICAN HISTORY

 In 1879, the great Cherokee humorist Will Rogers was born in Indian Territory (present-day Oklahoma).

Will Rogers, Cherokee
1879-1935

THIS DATE IN NATIVE AMERICAN HISTORY

 In 1892 former Cherokee Tribal Senator Ned Christie is murdered by a posse outside his home in Indian Territory. Christie had been on the run for over five years after being falsely accused of killing a US Marshal in 1887. #nativeamericanhistory

Ned Christie

New Youtube Channel

 Shiyo! The Gadugi Partnership's youtube page has a new name that's easier to remember and to find!! Find, subscribe, and follow us at YouTube.com/@appstategadugi!!

Trick or Treaty

 Eight years ago, I was teaching at Cherokee High School on Columbus Day. That day, my students and I discussed the truth of Columbus and his bloody legacy. I reminded my students that my work at App State involved working with future history teachers. With that in mind, I asked them what would they want me to tell my students back in Booneabout them? What did they want future teachers to know about Indians? After a brief silence one student spoke up: just tell them we are human, she said.

 

I’ve never forgotten that answer—just tell them we are human. The answer betrays centuries of efforts at dehumanizing American Indians, Indian culture, language, values, and heritage. Each year at Halloween we are reminded of the impact of these dehumanization efforts. Amazon offers quite a few selections for “sexy Indian” costumes. Dollar General stores near Cherokee sell “Trail of Treats” costumes. Sacred feathers, religious regalia—all reduced to cheap dress-up outfits for white children and adults to “play Indian.” Native people and cultures are reduced to mascots and tropes. A lingerie company offers an entire line of “sexy Indian” attire, even in the face of Indian activists informing them that the outfits “sexualize us and dehumanize us, and in a very serious sense, they also can harm the community. They play into very harmful representations of us that lead to non-Natives committing assault towards Native women.” In the face of the tragedy of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women this is not an academic argument but a literal matter of life and death for Indian women and girls. A 2016 Department of Justice survey found that “of over 2,000 women surveyed, 84 percent of Native American and Alaskan Native women have experienced violence, 56 percent have experienced sexual violence, and, of that second group, over 90 percent have experienced violence at the hands of a non-tribal member.” Native women are 2.5 times more likely to experience sexual assault and rape than any other ethnic group in the United States. Certainly Halloween costumes are not solely or even primarily to blame; but the callous and willful objectification and sexualization of Native women absolutely plays a role in this crisis. 

 

The Lakota Law Project calls Halloween “a reminder of the seemingly willful ignorance that remains in this country surrounding culturally appropriative and insensitive costumes.” There are real world consequences for this cultural appropriation and insensitivity—such as Native youth asking to simply be seen as human beings. Doing away with these ignorant, offensive and harmful “costumes” is not about being politically correct—it’s about being morally correct. If there are parties or gatherings on campus where these costumes are worn there should be accountability. These vile outfits are a form of violence against Indian people. If you see them and you feel safe doing so, call them out. If not, reach out to me or someone you trust on campus to confront the issue. There is no room in an educational institution for these expressions of colonialism. American Indians are not mascots or Halloween costumes. America needs to be reminded of this truth. Native youth deserve better. 

S'gi App State!

 A BIG s'gi (thank you) to Appalachian State University for hosting our Gadugi scholars on campus yesterday! We had a terrific time. Thank you to our Athletics Department for providing us with tickets to last night's exciting game against Georgia State and to the Office of Diversity for helping to arrange the visit. Thank you all for all you do!!

The Other Voting Rights Crisis

 Please join the Gadugi Partnership and the Office of Diversity on Monday, October 24th as we welcome Dr. Jean R. Schroedel to campus to speak on the voting rights crisis in Indian Country. Efforts at the disenfranchisement of Native people have increased in recent years, and Dr. Schroedel has done groundbreaking and vital research on this topic. The presentation is a brown bag lunch with the Office of Diversity providing drinks and dessert. Looking forward to seeing you there! S'gi 

Help Us Celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day

 

The Other Voting Rights Crisis

 We are extremely excited to announce this program! On October 24th Gadugi and NASA will welcome Dr. Jean R. Schroedel to campus to discuss the continuing battle to secure and protect voting rights in Indian Country. Please join us for a brown bag lunch with drinks and dessert provided by the Office of Diversity. S'gi!

October 24th
Anne Belk Hall Room #119
Noon

Brown bag lunch
Drinks & Dessert provided

Invitation to Wreath Laying Ceremony

 This Friday, September 30th, please join the Gadugi scholars at the old Cherokee Training School silo (by the EBCI transportation office) for our wreath laying in memory of the children who died at the boarding school as well as in honor of those who survived. The ceremony will begin at 12:30 pm and will last approximately fifteen minutes. All are welcome! S'gi

2021 wreath laying ceremony