N.A. Presentations

For the most part, I found the presentations about different facets of Native American culture last week very interesting. I was reminded of the white ethnocentrism Loewen talks about during several of the presentations. In particular, the fact that something like 60% of 19th century drugs had contributions from traditional Native American remedies is HUGE. Why isn't that in the textbooks? Ethnocentrism explains much.

I was also intrigued by the Native American art even though I had never heard of any of the artists. I especially liked Ernie Pepion's paintings. Much like with the non-white artists of Alexie's "Totem Sonnets," I was made to realize how unintentionally ethnocentric and blind I can be. Most of the books I read, songs I listen to, and artwork I admire are created by white authors and artists. It makes me want to broaden my horizons.

Reading Urrea's Six Kinds of Sky also has me wanting to broaden my perspective. I have never been to Mexico, am rarely in impoverished communities, and don't tend to delve much into other cultures/socioeconomic classes in general. Both Alexie and Urrea are opening my eyes to many modern realities I was previously unaware of while Loewen has opened my eyes to the past. There are many mistakes that have been made such as the concealing of the Native American genocide after the fact and conveniently leaving out Columbus, Helen Keller, and Woodrow Wilson's true identities. I don't want my generation to be like that, and I fear for our future as a nation if we continue in such a manner.