2008 Woodie Awards
Keeping Tradition Alive
Heather Brewer
Issue date: 10/17/07 Section: Campus
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In town, I'm poor. People see my shoes, my clothes, my lack of a car and they think I'm poor. On the res. I'm a good guy, I'm strong, I hunt, I fish, I take care of gram. There, I'm rich. I don't ever want to leave the res.
"Just like the anthropology/archaeology lab in the BSS building, there's a lot of resources for people to study us, but not a lot of resources for us," said Taggart, Yurok Tribal member, the advisor for the American Indian Alliance, and administrative support staff in the social work department at Humboldt State University.
The Yurok tribe was one of many local tribes involved in the 2007 12th annual Indigenous Peoples' Week hosted at Humboldt State University, Oct. 8-14. The week is a celebration of indigenous people around the world and a time to create community, reflect and educate. It is also a time for indigenous people to confront the problems they face at Humboldt State.
In 1992, a group of students started Indigenous Peoples' Week in response to the 500th anniversary of the national holiday celebrating Christopher Columbus as the person who "discovered" America, Taggart said. "We want to de-legitimize that myth."
Columbus' "discovery" began a long legacy of violence and cultural suppression for the indigenous people of America inhabiting the land centuries before his arrival, she said.
Many cultural groups, including Movimiento Estudiantil Xicano de Atlan (M.E.X.A), the Black Student Union, the MultiCultural Center, and the Native American Studies department, participate in the organization and events of Indigenous Peoples' Week.
The idea is to create a comfortable space, not only for local Native American tribes like the Yurok, Wiyot, Karuk, Tolawa and Hupa, but for all indigenous people.
"We are all the same, cut from the same cloth, from all different parts of the world," said Cheryl A. Seidner, tribal chairwoman of the Wiyot tribe, and Extended Opportunity Program admissions staff at Humboldt State.
Indigenous people living in Humboldt want to share with one another, and the community, their continual struggle to survive culturally and as sovereign nations. During the week, events celebrated the many aspects of indigenous history, beliefs and empowerment.
Pomo tribal member and Robinson Rancheria Elder Clayton Duncan spoke at the first event last Monday about the Bloody Island Massacre of 1850.
In this horrendous event on Bo-no-po-ti Island, in Clear Lake, Calif., a contingent of the US Army slaughtered as many as 200 Pomo people, including several women and children. This forum offered a chance for people to remember the brutal history and enduring spirit of indigenous people.
The movie "Smoke Signals" was facilitated by Oglala Band of the Lakota Nation member and Native American Studies professor, Marlon Sherman last Thursday.
Students were invited to deconstruct the imagery and implications of a movie made entirely by Native American people. Although Sherman strongly supported the idea of native art made by native people, he wants to see a more in-depth exploration of native life.
Sherman wants Native Americans to make movies about the protection of indigenous land and resources. He said the events of the week were an opportunity for indigenous people to build strength and look at the issues that face them today.
"We've searched for our identity long enough," said Sherman, "it's time to move on to the next phase."
David Gensaw, Yurok tribe member, Native American studies senior, and president of the American Indian Alliance believes preservation is paramount for indigenous people.
His friend Severns, caught Chinook salmon from the Klamath River last Thursday for the salmon barbeque on Friday wrapping up the week's events. Gensaw cooked it in the traditional Yurok way- skewered on long smooth redwood sticks stuck in the ground around a smoldering bed of coals.
The cooking process alone took Gensaw over three hours. He and Severns gave their time and salmon willingly to their indigenous family and all of the guests.
"Today is a day of sharing," said Gensaw "and salmon is a part of us. It is everything we do."
Traditional skills and values are part of what the Native American Studies department doesn't want to lose.
But the indigenous population at Humboldt State has to face the issue of funding. With the loss of nearly half of their classes and the dismissal of both of their adjunct faculty members, the Native American Studies department is suffering.
"The thing you have to remember when studying the indigenous history of oppression and attempted genocide on our people", said Sherman, "is that its my experience that the same oppression operates here on campus today."
The faculty and students of the Native American Studies department believe retention and support for their department are essential.
Gensaw said that they don't want to be regulated by the upper tier at Humboldt State and the excuse of the budget. He said the administration wants to show-off diversity on campus like a prize.
"But we're talking about education," said Gensaw, "Indian health care, preservation, running a sovereign government. This is our future."
With more than 10 Native American tribes in close proximity to the University, over 250 sovereign nations in California, and one of the few schools in the country that offers a Native American Studies major, you would think that David Severns could feel comfortable when he comes to town.
The Native American Studies department also thinks Humboldt State should be proud of its Native American population and build up their department.
Sherman said that his ideal for Indigenous Peoples' Week is not to need a week at all. He said the indigenous people of Humboldt State, and the rest of the community, should have the space, facilitation and acceptance for a culturally-comfortable educational atmosphere all year long.
Respect is everything, he said. Respect for each other, respect for the earth, and respect for yourself. But until the indigenous people of this area feel like they get that respect, Indigenous Peoples' Week will be a continual reminder. "It will allow the public to see that we are here," Sherman said "and we will not go quietly."
Heather Brewer can be reached at hib4@humboldt.edu
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