--------------
I am in complete sympathy with the above position (as a white). But I
am afraid that the effect of the dominant culture will completely
overwhelm even the best reasoned solutions to problems unless
sufficient tolerance or support for the native right to self-govern is
present. And certainly many of us whites have our own agendas - mine
involves a strong concern and love for the natural world, which I
believe the majority of native cultures held (and hold) in far greater
esteem than does my "own" culture. Thus native peoples, to the degree
that they revere and hold sacred the land, are my natural (no pun
intended) allies, and mutual beneficiaries to any progress along my
own agenda.
I believe we need each other, and I perhaps naively feel that our
goals are sufficiently similar that an alliance can benefit both. I
admit that my focus is not very immediate - I don't believe that
efforts directed to improved health care, etc., will have much impact
unless a way can be found for native peoples to regain the mentally
and spiritually healthy culture that many of them had in the past; and
And I have doubts that native cultures can again flourish without a
serious restructuring of my own culture (in the larger sense - Western
Civilization). For your sake and ours, we need your wisdom; but this
requires a willingness to achieve understanding.
My biases are obvious - I believe that many native cultures
(worldwide) would make role models for living which are far superior
to the dominant culture, and I believe that the number of disaffected
whites like me is growing. (I am by no means endorsing all of the
native cultures of North America or anywhere else). I hope that
bridges can be built between "us whites" and those native peoples who
also believe that formerly integrated native cultures are worth
striving for.
Let me close by saying that I don't believe in the noble savage myth,
only that some cultures seem to live in greater harmony than others,
and that Western Civilization is nowhere near the top of the list.
I would be very interested in hearing from others who have possible
suggestions. We seem to have had very few constructive solutions
offered during the existence of native net. I offer one admittedly
pollyannish compromise solution. It seems possible that different
native groups in collaboration with similar-minded non-natives might
band together to buy large tracts of viable land (unlike the majority
of reservations). Our notion of private ownership generally precludes
much cooperation in land purchase (part of our individualistic
inheritance), so I think this is a strength natives might capitalize
on. It could certainly supplement the so far meager success of
obtaining land through the courts and may even turn out to be cheaper.
Perhaps you could tap some of that white altruism. We whites may not
go home but most of us are already in the cities. My travels around
the country on back roads has convinced me that the countryside is
pretty empty, even if it is pretty sterile. Take it back through
solidarity with likeminded individuals of whatever stripe. I should
hope that the color of the skin should be far less important to us
than the color of the heart.
Art Souther
Austin (though i prefer the country), Texas