Thanksgiving Day Collage

This collage has taken me a while to think over because I've had to mull over all of my feelings about it, and what I really think when I think of Thanksgivings Day. First things that do are Pilgrims obviously, Squanto, and Pocohantes. I think of those two Native Americans in particular because when I was growing up, those are the two that I heard had helped the colonizers to survive. Their knowledge aided John Smith, and those with him. I think the reasons that I link the two Native Americans and Thanksgivings Day is because what I have heard about the holiday is that Native Americans sympathized with the pilgrims, and helped them grow and find things. So in a sense, I relate the two. I have always known, as a caucasian, Thanksgivings Day to be a time to be thankful for what you have; and to be thankful for the people who are around to help you. Unfortunately, as I have grown up and learned new things, I see that quite the opposite happened in the past. I suppose it is hard to accept truth on some levels. Not all of these Europeans coming across had good intentions, if any, and the true story often tends to be different than those that we have learned. So, getting to the point, when I think of Thanksgivings Day, I think of materialistic things like food, a break from school on first thought; when I think deeper, I think of things like what the pilgrims went through to get to the place they were, and how they took advantage of those people who were living there first and who were so kind to them.

I have no collage because there are no pictures that portray what I'm truly feeling about Thanksgivings day.

Everyday is a Good Day; Gail Small and Wilma Mankiller; Women and Spirituality

Women are a very important part of spirituality, and an integral part of spiritual leadership. Native American women define their spirituality as their identity, yet neither is more or less equal. Spirituality and their identity are connected. Christianity does not affect these women's spiritual lives, and Native women do have a place in the Christian community. Women are spiritual leaders. I grew up learning this, and came to a harsh reality at some churches I went to that would not allow women as leaders. I ask the question; how are men more equal than women that they are able to advise people???

Don't Let the SUn Step Over You: Ch 9

In the Apache tribe there are some methods that are thought to cure sicknesses. One can go down to the river in the winter and go in it; also herbs are used to help flush out the system. These methods have been learned over time through tradition, trial and error, and knowledge of nature. Many of the medicines we use today, the Native Americans were using. 

Sons of the Apache tribe went through rituals while becoming men. These young men were kept out for 4 days to prove themselves; they came back men. Superstitions and traditions are associated with many parts of Apache life; during childbirth a pregnant woman would not look at non-human things, would not eat liver (only plain meat), and would not turn their backs to the sun. While I was reading this, it reminded me of faith. Although I feel as though some may think of these rituals as unneeded and frivolous, this is no different than any other religion.   

Strong Women Stories Ch. 1& intro

Gertie Mai Muise's story was told in this reading. She was of the Mi'kmaq women that travelled to Newfoundland for a visit. The Canadian government refuses to recognize them under the Indian Act. Because of the poor economic situation she had to live away from her home town, and is hoping that by traveling back she will be able to help her community. Because of the push to assimilate, and because of the genocide experienced their people are disappearing as a race. After just one meeting, Muise was able to inspire some motivation. It's amazing what one women can inspire in others.  Seeing someone from where you are from that has succeeded is uplifting and encouraging. I want to look further into this story.

Warrior Women and Women Chiefs: Alternative Identities and Genders for Native Women

This chapter brought up the idea that women in the Western society must act in a certain way. Indigenous women choose not to mold to this, which is why they're not able to get any significant or good attention from white "Amerikka". Native women have been pushed into the background and brushed under the rug because they're the 'Other'. Along the east coast there were many Sunksquaw "woman chief". These women provided ways to gain leadership roles and opportunities. 

In my personal life, I wish that I could make my own mold, and not be forced into what I'm expected to be. As much as I do to try and be my own person, I see that in some ways that I'm not seen as feminine. When a woman takes steps outside of the mold that is given her, shes not seen as feminine. 

Class Thoughts

Today in class we talked about some of the different priveledges we as women have, and we were asked to ask ourselves what we have and don't have. Equality is not reached yet, even in the US. I believe, though, that Barak Obama will help lessen that gap hopefully for everyone... not just women.

CH. 10

This chapter talks about Baja California area, and the women on the border. It talked about how their leadership is changing and shaping the communities.

GO OBAMA!!

GO OBAMA!!!!

Maquilapolis

The film that we watched helped me to better understand what is going on in this factories. Before this film, I had wondered what resistance was going on; the film answered this question. Listening to these women speak about what they are going through, and what they had been through was extremely interesting, but also disconcerting. It's amazing what these women have been through.
Something that stood out to me was when they were talking about the color of smocks that the workers were wearing. Even, or especially, in this setting there are class systems. Seeing and realizing this helped me connect and in a way understand in my own way these women.

Abstract

After watching the documentary on the Ipperwash crisis, I've decided to look further into the subject. I want to find a First Nations woman to compare with a woman in the Zapatista (indigenous) movement. I think it would be very interesting to see what both went through, and the reasons for speaking out. 

Dissident Women

Without Dissident women, like the Zapatistas, the rights of indigenous women would be worse than they are today. Reading about these women who are fighting for their rights gives me hope for the future. Indigenous women have been pushed aside long enough, and I hope that in the future there will be big changes. Already, according to the reading, because of the Zapatista movement, other indigenous groups have started talking; this is what I'm hoping is a domino effect. Every human being deserves the right to live they way they want, in the place they want, with the people that they want. This reading was very eye opening to me because it shows that women are starting to say something, and have been in the past.

Conquest

Some things that stood out to me in this article was how talked about how Native American women have been dubbed rapable. These women have been turned into something that they're not in order to benefit the majority. To this day Native women have been looked over, and put in a 'dirty' sexual place. They are not truly recognized and that is something that desperate needs to be remedied. 

Gender in Inuit Society

There were a few different things in this article that jumped out. The first thing was that women and men have very different roles in society. Each gender has their specific role, and are separate from the time they are children on.  Women are expected to fill the role of the domestic worker while men fill the role of hunter/gatherer. The second point that I noticed was the similarity between the last reading in "Many Tender Ties";intro and CH.1 and this article. Husbands trade their wives or just 'loan' them out to other men for any length of time, even permanently. I feel that this is an example of early prostitution. The fact that the same thing happens in both societies makes me wonder whether or not it is prevalent throughout North America. 

Coffee Video

This video really brought out the idea of gender division. Women and men in this movie have very specific roles of they're supposed to be doing. Each has their own job that they need to get done. Children play a role in this also. You can see that the children help (or try to) the workers with what they are doing. It's somewhat suprising to see small children doing jobs and working along side the grown ups. These people want a fair system, but they're not getting it. They're not always getting the money that they deserve, the land that is rightfully theirs, or benefits that they need. I want to find ways to change and challenge this system.

Many Tender Ties: Into,CH.1

These two sections in the book that I read were very interesting to me because I was able to learn about some native american women's experiences. In some tribes they were not treated very well, or even as human it seems. What I found most suprising is that some husbands would willingly trade their wives or 'lend' them out to strangers for any period of time. I feel that this is an early form of prostitution. In some cases, men would wrestle to trade wives, or win a wife from another man. Women were often put up as the prize; therefore considered as property. Their life was very hard from what I've read. My question is, are there tribes where women were considered an important part of the economic, political society?

9/8/08 - CH.4+6

I grew up very close to Canada and never was able to learn about its history. Chapter 4 was interesting to me for several reasons; I never knew much about what happened in Canada during the Revolutionary War, and how it came to be an abolitionist country. The second point that was brought up was the 'the cult of womanhood'. I think that it's interesting that the British were so adamant that women should be frail, submissive, etc. when there was so much work to be done. In reality, women were hard laborers working on the farms, teaching, cooking, mothering, etc. Not only were women a driving force for the economy at that time through their hard labour. When  talking about hard labour it's also very important to remember the Aboriginals. When they were no longer needed for their labour or indigenous commerce they were pushed out of their land by series of treaties and acts.     

In Chapter 6, I found it interesting in the discussion of ethnicity in Mexico. In the twentieth century the term 'mestizo'  was reconstructed therefore causing a 'fusion' of the ethnicities.  By doing this urbanization was embraced, the Spanish language was used, and heroes were acknowledged. My question is, was this to raise people's spirits and create proactive people to look up to. Of course this has something to do with some of the choices that were made, but is there an anterior motive to these changes than the obvious, by this I mean... who is benefiting from these changes? 

Week 1 Reading

In the reading I thought a few points were very interesting. One in particular jumped out at me; the four nations who opposed the declaration of indigenous peoples.  It's ironic that the U.S. says its a free country, and is the super power of the world, yet there are these injustices going on. If the U.S. is not developed enough to recognize it's mistakes,  how is everything going to pan out? What I mean by this is, if we're not able to look back on our history and correct mistakes how are we going to move forward?