I have noticed that what you say seems to be correct, Jay. When I lived in
Sitka, Alaska, and also with the NAvajos, most people were treated with
suspicion.
However, there are several cross-cultural communication problems here. Since
this network has all kinds of people -- Native Ams, non-Native Ams, and
others (like me!) it is not always easy to understand what is expected.
In mainstream Am culture it is normal to be short and to the point. In e-mail
writing too, there is an expectation that one comes to the point directly.
But as Jay says, the author/speaker/writer has to identify her/himself first.
I have also found this to be true.
I Alaska, many of the Natives kept their distance from me until they had heard
about me and that I was "acceptable" to the elders and other community leaders.
In trying to do my research, I did not find the people very forthcoming. I
understood this and was patient...and over 9 months won their trust. But, my
boss (your typical "just-out-of-school" psychiatrist did not understand this
and I was being judged on my ability "to deliver." What was funny to me was
the different responses to me.
One was that I could not be trusted when they learned that I was an academic
trying to gather some research data. The second was that I am "OK" because I
am working at the IHS hospital with the suicide patients (and other mental
health issues). The third was that since I was not "white American" I might be
trusted. The fourth was that since I was a Jew, there was a respect because
they admired the way that Jews have suvived their culture and history (knowing
their own culture and history were almost destroyed). The fifth was that as
"different-looking British citizen" my interest in NA problems was genuine.
They had a saying that they attributed to all "others" especially the "profess-
ionals from the lower 48." They said that those people "had one foot on the
float plane" meaning that they were "temporary" and could go away when they
had finished their job or could not face the problems, unlike the locals.
When they understood that I rejected the notion of having "one foot on the
float plane," because I saw myself as constantly travelling and not having
a home or even a home base, or owning property or having a family to return to,
they were more open to accept me. The most suprizing acceptance came from the
Bahai community. Those Native people who accepted this faith were the most
open to me and began to open other doors for me.
When I was in Navajo country, I had two things going for me. The first was
that I was a volunteer with the People's Legal Services, and they had a good
reputation for standing up for indigent NAvajos. The second was that most of
them identified me as an Australian Aborigine (and wearing purple clothes was
certainly popular with them since the NAvajos like purple).
I am sharing this not to provide "tools" to be accepted by NA populations: I
think one has to work at it. I am sharing this to communicate how difficult
the process really is. Add to that my British sense of privacy (and hence I
am not inclined to "blabber" my whole life history to strangers even in a
group); the reminders in mainstream culture here that we have to be precise
and direct; and that I "don't know where I'm from" whenever that question is
asked of me (it is never easy to answer in one or two words: too many places
and too many cultural and racial characteristics in me!).
SO JAY, YOU ARE RIGHT, and the person who asked the question about Cherokee
religion will have to be patient and not be discouraged. Actually, this is
also true of my situation presently. I had already arranged to do some
design projects for a tribal nation this summer while also using the tribal
members for a research project. In the end, I withdrew, because, I knew that
in this case, I did not have the time to put in (over the summer) despite the
support from the tribal govt, to get to know the tribal members. It was going
to be easier to do my research on local subjects!
Be patient...and learn from those we want to study. But to those NA subscriber
s on this network, please don't be too harsh on those of us who have a genuine
interest and committment to the quality of live of NA and to their history and
culture (including religion/spirituality), not to mention fighting the politica
l and legal battles together.
So, JAY, I have taken the time to "expose" myself in this narration (and I don'
t feel comfortable in writing so much) but I thought that sharing part of my
experiences might also warn others.
ALOHA, Shalaom, and peace. -- PLAY ON!
B Frederique S