Has the information you have read thus far changed, in some way, your view of native communities? Provide at least one specific example and citation from the M3 Online Resources to support your opinions.
Yes. I recently went to Niagra Falls. If anyone knows Natives are very prime for that location. They have a Casino called Seneca Falls, they also have so much to look at and buy from what they believe in and what they value. "Modern American Indians no longer see themselves as victims of the
system as they exert their presence in public affairs of the nation or
the world. Neither are they willing to have the mainstream press speak
for them, but have developed their own "fifth estate" as a means of
voicing self determination (M3 Indian Power)." Native American were everywhere from Grand Island, NY to Niagara Falls, NY. What changed my mind was the fact that a lot of what we read explains what we did to the Indians and how they felt like victims, and were afraid of the whites so therefore they did as the whites wanted in order to be accepted. That wasn't the case at Niagara Falls. There was a movie about the land and the falls which I wasn't able to see but there was a land mark where the information center was and there were Tepees and such for people to learn what the Indians slept in. This reminded me a lot about the museum at Empire State Plaza. Where they explain about the Indians and show what they slept in and harvested etc. But back to Niagara Falls I thought they would have not been friendly but they were. I honestly thought because of what the government in America has tried to pull they would think that's what all of us whites thought about them but in reality they were friendly, helpful, and talkative. Some did not speak English which I thought was interesting as well just how they talked.
I was talking to a Gentleman at the casino up at the Mohawk Reservation and after awhile we got talking and he had a similar personality compared to your description. At first he was reserved as though he didn't want to get into it, but after awhile you could tell he was very thankful for what he had. Every time I visit the museum in Albany I can't help but to think that we drove Native's back onto small areas of land, then put fake displays of their way of life in a museum. My children love the longhouse and native sculptures but when they ask "what happened to the Indians" it stills makes me uneasy. Nice blog Brittany
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ReplyDeleteI knew that there was a casino by Niagara Falls and I also am familiar with the casino on the Seneca reservation that is just about 20 minutes from my house. Although, I didn't realize that both casinos belonged to the Seneca nation, I was just aware that they belonged to the Native Americans. This class has definitely opened my eyes in the sense of thinking about the different tribes of Native Americans separately and not all as the same. I wonder if it is the same Seneca tribe that owns both casinos or if it is two separate tribes as one casino is located in Cattaraugus county while the other is located in Niagara county ?
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