Guest Posted November 24, 2000 Report Share Posted November 24, 2000 Well I just got back from a stuff-your-face-fest at my aunts house. I feel like I should do some commentary on Thanksgiving Day, being the resident Armenian who has American Indian blood. Many of my Chicano activist friends eschew this day, and mockingly call it "Thankstaking" day meaning the Whites took rather than gave. They are amazed that as someone with Indigenous blood, I would even partake in the perpetuation of this holiday. Well, the other 15/16 of me is non-Indigenous, but that is not the only reason I celebrate this day. I think the concept of the day itself is great and should be in all cultures. Its a time to sit back and really reflect on the fact that all we have is not really ours, it is on loan from the Creator. This is where the Indigenous in me kicks in. We don't own anything! With that said, I think it is also a time to remember how that first celebration between the First peoples and the Invaders was an exception. I needn't go on about the centuries of genocide, exploitation, cultural deracination, broken promises and treaties that has been the Calvary of the people who first came to these parts 20,000 years ago. My people's (yes they are my people too, I carry their blood in my veins as well) are still suffering with alcoholism, high unemployment and a general ignoring of their existence. It is important that occasionally we sit back and meditate on the fact that this country has been built on the broken dreams of the Indigenous peoples and the broken promises of the Europeans. Armenians as you have you barbecues, Church gatherings, dances etc. here in the New World, just remember that for thousands of years there were peoples who had ceremonies, dances and rituals in perhaps the same places! America was not a blank slate, but filled with living cultures. And also remember that the First Nation people are still around, we are among you, even here on this forum you have me to remind you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 24, 2000 Report Share Posted November 24, 2000 Beautifully put, Steve You're right; this country has been built, at least partly, on the blood and tears of the indigenous population. That's why it always strikes me as rather hypocritical (although you know I love the U.S. of A.) when our leaders freely point fingers at human rights violations in other countries. The very near extermination of the natives in this country has been kept under wraps, quite well at that. My question has always been: why doesn't this population (the natives) organize and demand better treatment from the dominant culture? Are they satisfied with the economic gains they've made over the years (most recently evidenced by the gaming industry)? Why not push for more civil rights gains? Lest Garik should start pointing out that this has nothing to do with Armenians, let me say that in a strange way it does. It has something to do with us in that we could learn to organize better ourselves; perhaps even learn from the Chicano experience. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 24, 2000 Report Share Posted November 24, 2000 quote:Originally posted by Half Breed:I think the concept of the day itself is great and should be in all cultures. Its a time to sit back and really reflect on the fact that all we have is not really ours, it is on loan from the Creator. Although the holiday does have dodgy beginnings, I agree that it has morphed into a day for everyone to get together with family and count their blessings. AND A DAY TO EAT! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 24, 2000 Report Share Posted November 24, 2000 Gayane jan, as usual you bring up good points to think about (organizing, economic gains, relevance of this topic for Armenians). First of all most Americans don't even realize there are still Indigenous peoples among them. Even here in California it is a much larger population than we think. We often take the Indians we see here to be Mexican, who are also a people with heavy Indigenous blood. Also most Americans, and I would probably add Armenians, have the stereotyped view of Indians as the Red Savage. Yet the Cherokees and Chocktaws in the early 1800s were prosperous plantation owners. The Cherokees had a higher literacy rate than the Whites. The Cherokees also have their own 85 character alphabet developed by Sequoyah, but now some archaelogists believe it is older, and was revived by him. The Iroquois Nations had a much more advanced form of democracy in the 1700s than any European nation. Native peoples have always known that the earth is spherical, and revolves around the sun! The main problem for the First Nations organizing themselves is the fact that they are a very diverse group of people. A Cherokee is as different from a Gabrielino as an Armenian is from an Abkhazian. Some Nations are doing better than others. The Cherokees of Oklahoma for instance have been relatively prosperous, while others are still mired in poverty that is reminiscent of Nepal or Somalia. As for gaming, it seems to be the answer to bringing the Tribes out of the poverty cycle. I just worry though that gaming will become the only thing that they are dependant on, I think high tech industry (software etc.) should be developed afterwards, once there is a youth with a high level of education. As for relevance to Armenians, I think just about everything is relevant to us, as we live in , for use of a cliche, a Global Village. Especially the plight of oppressed peoples should be of concern to Armenians, as they have been in the same boat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 25, 2000 Report Share Posted November 25, 2000 quote:Originally posted by Half Breed:As for gaming, it seems to be the answer to bringing the Tribes out of the poverty cycle. I just worry though that gaming will become the only thing that they are dependant on, I think high tech industry (software etc.) should be developed afterwards, once there is a youth with a high level of education. Aren't some share of the proceeds generally being funneled towards education of the next generation? Or is that pro-tribal gaming propanganda? Is the assumption that the younger ones will be educated and then leave the tribe?[This message has been edited by Pilafhead (edited November 24, 2000).] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 25, 2000 Report Share Posted November 25, 2000 Yes, a lot of the money is being used to help educate the new generation. The life of many of the California tribes has dramatically improved over the last decade, thanks to Indian gaming (I know I sound like the old Prop. 35 commercial). But I worry that gaming will be the only thing that Native Americans depend on. I also worry that Native Americans themselves will get addicted to gambling. The last time I was on an Indian Reservation casino, about half of the players looked like they were Native Americans themselves. This was worrying. I would love to see the US move in the direction that Australia is beginning to( I am not saying Australia is perfect, they are in some respects more racist) where Indigenous culture is seen as part of the greater culture, rather than an isolated oddity. I would love to see the inauguration of the President or opening of Congress with a Native American ceremony! PLus would it kill Armenians here to incorporate some Indigenous steps in Shourtchbar? LOL! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 25, 2000 Report Share Posted November 25, 2000 Gaming IS a dicey industry (pun intended). A big part of it is basically a tax on the poor. I wouldn't be surprised if it is essentially redistributing funds already within the tribes. That is, as you say, many of the players are also Indians (is that an OK word? ), so the tribe as a whole is not gaining as much as would be apparent on the surface. Reagrding gaming in general, there is an entertainment aspect though, so there is some value to those playing and therefore, society at large. I do think it's great the tribes can use it to elevate the next generation out of lack of education and poverty. The question remains as to how long to focus solely upon it. It would be a waste for those that receive educations to apply their knowledge strictly to the gaming industry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 26, 2000 Report Share Posted November 26, 2000 Mike, "Indian" is ok, I use the word myself, as do most Native Americans. I never have been one to get caught up in semantics. I try to use "Indigenous" more, and even the new preferred term "First Peoples" or "First Nations" but sometimes it sounds too contrived! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 28, 2000 Report Share Posted November 28, 2000 By the way, are there any other Armenians with Indigenous (Native American) blood out there? Surely Im not the only one! Let me know. I remember hearing something about Cher having some Cherokee background, but Im not sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 28, 2000 Report Share Posted November 28, 2000 How do you say Indian in Armenian? Hntgagan is someone from India. I can see there being no real way to say it--no need. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 28, 2000 Report Share Posted November 28, 2000 Mike hntgagan is not correct.Hndik - from IndiaHndkatsi - American Indian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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