¨Sharing One Skin¨

Having a strong sense of identity is something that we all need to uncover and cherish. No matter what the race we are and where we come from Identity defines us. I am from Tesuque Pueblo and as in the reading from sharing once again I was born into a traditional community and I share ¨one skin¨ that has given me this identity carried from one generation to another. Identify with the Okinawan view of ¨one skin¨ so much of what we are interconnected. what we eat, how we pray our love for the land and all our natural resources and of course our language makes this one and her whole skin when y'all need these things to survive.

Armstrong, Jeanette. “Sharing One Skin: The Okanagan Community,” in Jerry Mander and Edward Goldsmith (eds), The Case Against the Global Economy. San Francisco, CA, Sierra Club Books, 1996. Pp 460-470.

Native American Languages Act 1990

On October 30, 1990, Congress enacted a policy that would avail the education of Indigenous people. Mr. Campbell, from the Committee of Indian Affairs, made a report to support the bill (S. 2688). Campbell goes in-depth on past actions forced upon Native Americans, he first starts with the commence of the Residential schools. The intention of the school was to convert or mold Native Americans to Christianity by taking the youth and transporting them to be isolated by White Christians. Who ended up cutting their hair, forcing them to wear uniforms, and forbidding them from exercising their religion, or speaking their native language. In the report, he also talks about how the Native American Language Act (NALA) would input school programs to teach the right material the children should be learning. Over the years this program shut down because no funding was going into those till Esther Martinez Native American Languages Preservation Act of 2006.

S.2167- Native American Languages Act, 101th congress (1998-1990), congress.gov

The Indian Relocation Act of 1956

August 3, 1956, The Indian Relocation Act was first in place. This act was another way to annihilate indigenous peoples and take the land. The plan was to shift indigenous people to the White mainstream so they could get them off their reservation, raise land taxes and seize the land. The cities would advertise new jobs, more money, housing Available. The reservations were quite far from the city so to some it was gold tickets but meant to leave everything behind. A lot relocated because due to the lack of money and hospital care. Still, at the same time, the Residential schools were still happening. It was so-called the ¨Indian Problem.¨ Goverment also thought with the relocations indousgnes people would erase out of existence. Their plan to “Kill the indian and Save the man” did not fully work.. Although there was an increase of native americans living in cities, still some stayed back and rebuilt what was left. Today indigenous people still uphold their culture and preserve the knowledge of their ancestors. As time past, poluation rises, housing are being built in the commuintitys but there still that gap of loss culture.

author, Max Nesterak, Uprooted, THe 1940n plan to earse INdian counrty, Illuminating journalism From American Public media, APM REPORTS

“Stay With Your Words”: Indigenous Youth, Local Policy, and the Work of Language Fortification

By Elizabeth Sumida Huaman Nathan D. Martin

Martin starts off the reading with two main issues, one being the lack of planning and policy of the language towards the youth, second is the results of mainstream widespread language shaping the youth characterizations. When a language becomes endangered the perspective of the youth changes into conserving the language but media took that toll of distracting us from the main problem. Martin says,¨We argue that this type of research is vital for examining not only are methods of communication that are important for individual and community relationships and cohesion threatened, but so is the sociocultural knowledge, environmental knowledge, and status of Indigenous nations.¨ Communications through our language can have multiple meanings, whether it’s giving advice, having conversations, or listening to our songs. Martin explains how we grow in a fast-paced society and we don’t see the change of the importance of our land and culture and how we take granted. Seeing how our cultural sites are being disturbed because of fracking, lack of maintenance of our forests, and our water rights. It ties in with our traditional practices and the songs and stories we hear. The loss or damage of these will give a different perspective to youth, as to me I see as our mother hurting and calling for help, may to others don’t see the problem or isn’t as major to them. As Martin said ¨Youth are typically asked by tribal leaders and family members to pursue higher education or other opportunities (i.e., to leave home) while also maintaining tribal connections in an increasingly globalized society,´ brings out the difficulty of trying to be connected with your traditional side to mainstream society. Our older generation may not see it as challenging but in all reality, we see the statics of drug abuse and Alcoholism rise.¨ 1 in 6 Native Americans, ages 12-17 participate in underage drinking, making it the highest rate of alcohol usage in any ethnic group.¨

Benjamin Din.‘Race against time’: Pandemic propels fight to save Native American languages.Politico.04/13/2021 12:55 PM EDT

American Addictions Center.Risks of Alcoholism Among Native Americans.October 26, 2021.https://americanaddictioncenters.org/alcoholism-treatment/native-americans. Access December 10, 2021

Land and language: Indigenous cultures key to protecting Amazon biodiversitya

In 1930, born Iawa, also known as Odete Kuruaya from the Kuruaya Tribe, now today is the last standing fluent speaker of the Kuruaya language. There are only now 160 Kuruaya people left in Brazil. The tribe was hustled by settlers, killing the men and taking the women, some were forced to work for non-indigenous people, working on harvesting nuts and rubber. While they worked for this industry, nobody spoke or knew the Kuruaya language. The land was taken from the people but in 1980, lawa successfully captures and secured her people's territory. Living off the Xingu river, soon taking place was Belo Monte was being built not too far from her reserve. It was another major disruption in their culture rives. Kuruaya and other communities started to notice the bad quality, water shortage, and the lack of fish in the stream, which impacted the biodiversity negatively in the water. Iawa passed as much as she can to younger generations but with her strong power to keep pushing on, fight for their future, she hopes they live on the culture.

Richard Mccoll/The Nukak's traditional homeland is an area of extraordinary biodiversity/18 September, 2010/accessed 3, March, 2022/BBC NEWS

Colombia's last nomadic tribe in despair at the loss of culture

San Jose del Gaviare, Colombia, locates the Nukak Tribe, being the last know nomadic tribe. At 27 years old, Joaquin Niijbe was tSan Jose del Gaviare, Colombia, locates the Nukak Tribe, being the last know nomadic tribe. At 27 years old, Joaquin Niijbe was the tribal leader for the Nukak tribe. 10 years ago his tribe was demanded to leave the rainforest by the Revolutionary Armed forces of Columbia rebel group. The Nukak tribe relocated to the town of San Jose del Guaviare and since then Niijbe started to notice the loss of their culture. The community lost their motherland, as well losing their natural resources such as animals, fruit trees, and fish. Since they moved a lot closer to the town, the community was not getting the same resource they did in the forest. Food was no longer easy access but the government deploying their modern food supplies change the way the Nukak people dieted. The younger generations were influenced by drugs, liquor, and suicide, causing them to steer away from their culture and whole other dark pathway. All Niijbe wants is for his community to go back to the motherlands and fears if his tribe members keep going down this road their culture will disappear.

Pinheiro, Miguel. “Iawá.” Mongabay Enviromental News. Published on 05 November, 2020. Accessed on 03 March, 2022. ttps://news.mongabay.com/2020/11/land-and-language-indigenous-cultures-key-to-protecting-amazon-biodiversity/#:~:text=Land%20and%20language%3A%20Indigenous%20cultures%20key%20to%20protecting%20Amazon%20biodiversity,-by%20Miguel%20Pinheiro&text=Languages%20are%20going%20extinct%20at,%25)%20or%20birds%20(13%25).