Missing out on good blood

Page 5

Dear Editor :

In response to the "identity" question posed in your December 2000 issue by Drew Hayden Taylor:

I think it's as important for Natives not to judge each other as it is in any other community of human beings.

Ultimately, every so-called "Indian" knows themselves best. We all know to what degree we understand traditional culture, but I'm not sure that's what defines being a "Real Indian." Traditionalism is sometimes dangerously close to "stereotypism," and the closer one gets to the postcard Indian does not deem that person holier than another.

I think that it's up to each "Indian" to be as open as possible to really dropping some of the more-Indian-than-thou egotism! That attitude both prevents us from having a respectful understanding of each other, while at the same time forces others (and ourselves) into the narrow box of what Indian-ness is. This is what makes Hollywood money. This is what makes kids and adults lonely. Our cultures are growing, changing, mixing Maybe it's giving ourselves more honor to recognize our diversity, which extends beyond full-blooded, card- flaunting purists! Maybe a "100 per cent Indian" person is just different than a mixed-blood Indian. Maybe a skateboarding Indian is just as valid as a hoop dancer.

An example I want to offer is the Oka situation. I was living in Kingston at that time. As a person who is "part Mohawk" (all the best parts too, I must say) I obviously have an allegiance to the Mohawk Nation. I was as actively involved as I could be. I urged my father to become involved, too. He is my Mohawk bloodline. But he wouldn't, and he cannot even today, because he felt he wasn't a "Real Indian."

So let's count all the valuable Native Canadians like him who sit on the periphery of the "Indian elite" and who won't self-identify or join in the struggle of creating a strong healthy people simply because they fear judgment from some "club Indian" committee. If we do the math, we'll come up with thousands of bright minds, hearts, opinions, convictions, talents and skills that are missing from the picture. So what type of Indian gets to draw the picture?

With respect,

Kinnie Starr