I'm Native American, AMA :)
@RoseCS2018
Hi!
Does your family have any foods they make that are your favorite?
And what kind of music do you like to listen to?
@wittySpruce8187 howè! (Hello :) ) my family makes fried cabbage dishes and venison stew that I like, also dried venison. I was generally the cook in my family, I like Frybread tacos and Osage grape dumplings which is a native dessert of sweet little dumplings in a thick sweet sauce, I serve it with icrecream on top.
I love over all kinds of music! Oldies are my favorite :) I listen to anything from powwow music to 1920s music, to modern stuff :) I like Jesse Robbins music a lot.
@RoseCS2018 Awesome that you offered to do this. What conception or belief or myth, etc. about Native Americans have you encountered that needs to be addressed/fact-checked?
Do you prefer Native American vs. American Indian or NDN or Indigenous, etc.? I understand it can vary from person to person and there is no set or accepted thinking so sometimes I'm not sure what is the proper term/phrase.
@ReadBooksDrinkTea Hi :) Good Question, I'm really glad you asked this. There's a lot of misconceptions about natives, but one that really irks me is when people assume all natives look the same, or have to look a certain stereotypical way. There are over 500 tribes, and what people picture a native looks like is usually based on Hollywood more then fact. Some tribes have light complexions, some have dark complexions, some tribes have darker hair then others, we all have different facial features. Not everyone is dark with long black hair and the stereotypical Indian profile. People don't realize that it never has been that way, Crazy Horse actually had curly hair! :) All natives look different, we don't have a set look.
I use Native American most often just for clarity because I've found most people understand what people group I mean when I say it, but the one I prefer is First Nations. I have found that using American Indian can be confusing sometimes, especially when speaking with international friends, some have taken it to mean I am from India, or part Indian rather then indigenous, although I have nothing against the term American Indian, I just use Native American more often for clarity. On the reservation, or at powwows, we sometimes call each other NDN, or we just say natives :)
@RoseCS2018 Thank you for taking the time to answer, I really appreciate it. About "First Nations": I understood that was used by the indigenous peoples of Canada. Is it something that extends into the US/Mexico, etc.? I really like that designation myself but wondered if it was inappropriate to use.
I also forgot to ask: As you can probably tell from my handle I like reading. Do you have any literature recommendations? I probably prefer non-fiction overall but I do love a good fiction read. Some examples of books I liked included 'Rez Life' by David Treuer and Sherman Alexie's 'The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian' although I do not wish to read any more of Alexie's books. I'm looking forward to Tommy Orange's 'There There', Rebecca Roanhorse's 'Trail of Lightning and Cynthia Leitich Smith's 'Hearts Unbroken'.
If you have any recs I would appreciate it! Thanks again for this AMA. :)
@ReadBooksDrinkTea Howè :) We view ourselves as a native nation, whether from North America, or all the way to South America. We were the First Nation here, and before the borders were put down by the settlers, the Europeans, the indigenous people here did not have borders there; Canada, the United States, Mexico, South America- native land all through. Personally, although it is more often used for the tribes of Canada, to me we are still one nation, the people of the First Nation.
It's actually perfect timing on the literature question! I was recently at a book sale, and came away with 2 huge bags full that I've been combing through. I have different books I like for different purposes. Here are a few I like and why, I will add more as I find more, or if you have any special areas you're interested in reading about, or specific tribes you want to research let me know :) Bit of a disclaimer, many books on natives include a few inaccuracies or controversial ideas, I don't always agree with all parts of a book, just certain areas. Some may be difficult to find as they are old books.
-The Wounded Knee Massacre by James H. McGregor. Has some good info and is made up of personal accounts from the survivors. My copy is the 9th edition. Was compiled in a time when many survivors of the massacre were still alive.
-Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann. Read this one with caution, if you are easily disturbed or have a weak stomach, I don't recommend this. It is very graphic, but a detailed and informative book for anyone researching the Osage murders during the Reign of Terror. A story that many people do not know of, but was a very dark period in my tribe's history.
-The Native Americans edited by Richard Collins, technical consultant William C. Sturtevant of the Smithsonian Institute (couldn't find an author on this one) is a good overview on different tribes , has some good information on the tribes and some good pictures.
-Reviving Native American Identities: The Rebuilding and Reforming of the Surviving Indigenous Communities in the Ohio Valley by Dr. Paul Renè Tamburro. This one is good for in depth study, or even just for an interesting read. Has a lot of fascinating history and information in it. A lot of the untold history type info that you don't get out of history books :)
currently reading through some more books, will add to the list if I find more :)
