In the article “And then I went to school” by Joe Suina, he discusses the life he had before attending boarding school along with how his community was before. We see his uncomfortable and harsh transition to boarding school. We learn throughout that he wished to transition into a more “white man” outlook. We then continue with him moving into another boarding school away from his community. When he returns for holidays he finds himself distant from his community but learns to reconnect with his community. Leaving him split between two worlds. 

Perez, Anna. 2023. "Family." Personal Collection.

In the article “How place names impact the way we see landscapes” by B. Toastie discusses the effects of naming places after colonizers, and how stories play to the Navajos cultural and physical connections to the land and how places carry a story in every place. A way to remember the past. 

Perez, Anna. 2023. "Boyfriend." Personal Collection.

In the article “sharing one’s skin” by Jeanette Armstrong. It discusses the connection between identity through spiritual, intelect, emotions, and physical connections by retelling Okanagan ways. Along with showing the struggles with keeping our identity in the modern world. Throughout the article, she retells ways of the Okanagan about physical, emotional, intelect, and spiritual connections. For physical she mentions her parents who created her, and how the word for themselves is “the ones who dreams and land together.” We then move onto emotion where it is summed up by having emotion is what makes you whole, human, and okanagan. For intellect it's “directed by the ignited spark” and for spirituality essentially you need to have other partners for it to work. 

Perez, Anna. 2023. "Cuzes." Personal Collection.

In the article “The Urban Indian Identity Crisis” Donald L. Fixico discusses the identity crisis experienced by Urban Indians, and the struggles of trying to fit into a Mainstream America. The article discusses alienation, blood quantum, favoritism towards mixed bloods, and personal experiences from Urban Indians. 

Perez. Anna. 2023. "Y mama" Personal Collection

In the Article “Stereotypes and self concepts” By Donald L. Fixico. This article breaks down the stereotypes and self concepts felt by native people, and the “Urban Indian” stereotypical meaning. He discusses the feelings of frequent prejudice and discrimination faced by both Full blooded natives, and those who are of mixed blood. The article also discusses the public's attitude and the Native attitude towards the stereotypical “Urban Indian”. 

Perez. Anna. 2023. "Mother and Child" Personal Collection

In a documentary called “Urban Rez '' narrated by Moses brings plenty, bringing light to the controversial legacy & current day aftermath of both the relocation and Assimilation act. They use stories from elders from different tribal nations to tell their stories, struggles, benefits, and challenges of Relocation and being an Urban Indian in America's current mainstream society. 

Perez. Anna. 2023. "Uncle and Cousin" Personal Collection

Some of the current issues we face as indigenous people are some of the social and economic issues. These issues are faced with both urban and reservation communities. But we sometimes fail to acknowledge that most of these issues are started inside of communities. Which leads me to my first article, “Lateral Violence” from the book “Killing the Wittigo” By Suzanne Methot. The article discusses how lateral violence among natives stems from colonization and intergenerational trauma. And how lateral violence can be mental, emotional, physical, sexual, and spiritual. The article also discusses how people are often afraid to talk about lateral violence in case they are attacked for revealing what happens in the community. Lateral Violence is never addressed in our communities. It’s always present but we ignore it. It’s always bothered me that as native people we collectively ignore it, but we still manage to hold onto dead peoples grudges for generations and for what? That does do anything for you.

https://www.wernative.org/articles/lateral-violence

We now move into issues Urban Indians face in urban settings with the article, “Natives Americans in Contemporary America: Population Recovery and Modern Demography” Kurt E. Kinbacher discussed the modern population regarding urban natives' social, economic, and healthcare issues. He also talks about communities that formed from established urban native communities. From Living in Santa Fe I was able to find a community somewhat at SFIS? I could be around my own people but in an urban school setting. I can see the economic, social and healthcare problems we face as native people everywhere.

McNickle, D'Arcy. "Urban Rez" and "This is Indian Land".The Newberry.

And into my final current topic issues, a video called “A conversation with Native Americans on Race” directed by Michele Stephenson and Brian Young, interviewing natives on racial contradictions, of a country who feels the existence of Native peoples is bothersome. Stephenson and Young also show what it's like to live in a country who feels like Native peoples shouldnt exist. This video made me really question/observe my own opinion of blood quantum and what it means to be a native person. It also really pointed out how I feel less as a native person because my blood is tainted or diluted with Anglo blood, but when that happens with other races, that doesn't magically count?

Stephenson, Michele, Young, Brian. “A Conversation with Native Americans on race” Youtube, uploaded by the New York times, Nov, 28, 2023.

In the article "Ainu peoples reclaim their rights" By Dev Kumar Sunuwar Discusses the history of the ainu people of japan, and the colonization of the ainu people, and in the later part of ainu people the recognition of the ainu people. the article also discusses the struggle the ainu people faced and still currently face from the japanese people. 

Miyazawa, Eiji. “Japan’s “Sky People” The Vanishing Ainu. 1967

in the article "Japan's hafu stars are celebrated but some mixed-race people say they feel like foreigners in their own country" By Emiko Jozuka talks about the racial disparities faced among mixed blooded japanese people, mixed blooded Japanese celebrities, and the history of mixed blooded japanese people. The article touches into experiences faced by japanese mixed people, and even including the japanese terms the some mixed japanese poeple are called.

Miyazaki, Tetsuro “Hafu2Hafu” Sept.23, 2023

In the video "Japan's Indigenous peoples fight stigma to reclaim Identities" it talks about how indigenous Ainu and Ryukyu youth are fighting to reclaim their identities by reinventing or practicing traditional practices. They touch on traditional hunting, the benefits of using native language in music, and the reinvention of traditional arts. 

"Japan's Indigenous peoples fight stigma to reclaim identities | AFP." AFP News Agency. Uploaded to Youtube Febuarary 20, 2023 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNca1l9Q9Po&t=1s