Re: Comparison Hopi/Navaho - Lubicon/Woodland Cree
Dr. James May (jim_may@msmailgw.csuchico.edu)
Mon, 18 Nov 1991 14:59:52 U
I should clear up some misunderstanding I may have caused by reference to the
Lubicon/Woodland Cree controversy when discussing the Hopi/Navajo conflict. We
have been indiscriminantly overloaded with material supporting the Lubicon on
NativeNet. Once it tied up my machine for over 20 minutes when I needed to get
other work done. Of the scores of messages I don't think a single one came
from a Woodland Cree. The Lubicon side of the story may well be right and
worthy of all our support. To get that support they have an obligation of
letting us hear from their opponents. That has been my same concern on the
Hopi/Navajo conflict.
If an outsider like me is to support a cause I want to know the real core
issues. I also like to know at least a minimum of what BOTH side claim from
their own spokesmen. That, I believe, is the way most Indian tribes work. We
seek unity and compromise after hearing all sides of an argument. In contrast,
too many issues being discussed here on NativeNet are done the European way.
That is, one side is ALL right and the other ALL wrong. Rarely is that the
case.
I don't know enough to make judgments in either the Hopi/Navajo or the
Lubicon/Woodland Cree situations so I've taken no sides. I have merely raised
the issue that we have heard nothing from the smaller tribe or band in each
dispute.