NATIVE RESILIENCEUNDER ADVERSITY

Living with the past and wondering

Where the answers Will come and, from who?

Commissioner of Indian Affairs, 1887“This language which is good enough for a white man or a black man ought to be good enough for the red man. It is also believed that teaching an Indian youth in his own barbarous dialect is a positive detriment to him. The impractibility, if not impossibility, of civilizing the Indians of this country in any other tongue than our own would seem obvious.”

“Nowadays we undoubtedly ought to break up the great Indian reservations, disregard the tribal governments, allot the land in severalty (with, however, only a limited power of alienation), and treat the Indians as we do other citizens, with certain exceptions, for their sakes as well as ours.”

Theodore Roosevelt, The Winning of the West, Vol. I. 1889

These quotes about Indians from American leaders span from 1823 to 1889.

When their lands are destroyed in the name of progress their suffering is

obvious; alcoholism, chronic disease, infant morality and unemployment are,

more often than not the effects of forcibly assimilated into mainstream

societies. When tribal people are evicted from their homelands.

When native peoples were torn away from the lands that inspired

their creativity for their songs, dances, myths, and memories;

deep depression often follows.

The creative touchstones by which they know themselves; the ceremony rituals represent

a holistic component in their ways of interpreting the creation of life.

WITHOUT THEIR HOMELANDS, THE FABRIC OF THEIRIDENTITY COLLAPSES.

When natives dance, sing, connect with nature

they are celebrating their connection to each other,

and to the earth.

SEPARATION FROM THEIR HOMELANDSCATASTROPHIC.

Solutions to the problems, are the recognition of land rights,

for whichsurvival has campaigned for over

forty-years, is simple.To value the Life of those, who are

yetto be born.

I have built my house on the earth and mychildren and grandchildren

are happy around me. I have built our churchon the earth and our

naked feet have made the earth hard as we dance.

Tohono O’odham Poverty RateFamilies w/Children

44.3%

Extreme Poverty RatesTohono O’odham

20.7%National Average

4.0%

Tohono O’odhamRanks 3rd on the

list from national statics

San Carlos, Pine Ridge, then Tohono O’odham

1. What role do you play in your community?2. Are your eyes open or closed?3. Are you willing to be the change?

4. Does the next generation matter to you?

Mary Garcia Tohono O’odham

Traditional singer/healer

Maryf1902@hotmail.com