As we discussed in class, regional corporations are given the responsibility to invest in way that will bring the greatest returns to its shareholders. Does money cure what ails? It may for some. For others it does more harm that good. In a perfect world those who want to continue to live the way they have for generations upon generations would be left to do so, undisturbed. In the real, savage world we live in its every man for himself so to speak. Those who have power decide the fate of others. Even those who start with the best intentions cannot fulfill the wants and needs of everyone.
So what is my point? Human beings have done great harm to other human beings by trying to civilize them. Nothing will truly make up for what has been lost. It is my opinion that regardless of what they agree to the Federal Government can do pretty much whatever it wants to. If the land was taken before it can be taken again. That is not to say that people should not continue to fight for what they feel is right, but there is probably never going to be an end to those battles.
Well,
ReplyDeleteIf you are worried that the old way of life is subsidized by corporations, then fear no more. service to money is a superficial way of life. If a massive disaster happens, and people are left to live off of the land, Alaska Natives will be among the most successful survivors!
In all seriousness, if America never touched Alaska, and Alaska was what it was 10,000 years ago while the rest of the world lived in 2010, would anybody have been better off? No. Because 10,000 years ago, people had no choice but to live off the land. If washer machines and cell phones were available then, I'm sure folks would use the technology available to them. Humans always do.
Some people believe that humans are suppose to develop, and some believe that humans need to develop, but while balancing and preserving natural resources.
I also believe that eventually someone would have stumbled upon Alaska anyway. Probably better that it was America and not anyone else.
We can't change the past, but we can learn from it, preserve it and put it on a pedal-stool for future generations.
Hopefully Alaska Natives will continue to preserve their culture, and the land so that future generations can enjoy them.
On the track of preserving culture I think that Harold Napoleon has it correct. It needs to come from within the people. It would mean nothing as a whole for me to go into a village and say "you need to preserve your culture". I work with families and representing their differing cultures is important to us. At the beginning of the school year we ask them about their culture, what they would like to share with us and what they want supported in the classroom. We rarely have families who understand what culture is, and those that do struggle with explaining it.
ReplyDeleteDo Alaskan villages understand what is unique about them and worthy of preserving??
Harold Napoleon's letter which revealed many of the struggles of Alaska Native people was heart wrenching. It would be natural for any one who lost so many and so much to still mourn their losses no matter what compensation was offered. I agree that a healthy start to healing for the Alaska Native people would be to start from within. Rediscovering their cultural ways and language (if possible)might lead to a strong cultural bond that would sustain them through any future governmental actions.
ReplyDeleteMary
I agree it is extremely sad that Alaska Natives had to endure all of that. Especially after reading the letter Harold Napoleon wrote. However, what's done is done. That land isn't all going to be given back, so what can the government do besides offer the Alaska Natives money. I'm sure it's never going to be enough, but preserving their culture and retaining their ways is going to have to come from the Natives themselves. No one can fix those things for them.
ReplyDeleteHarold Napoleon said it best, once the spirit leaves the body there is no man made cure that can comfort the soul. All the money, drugs, or alcohol cannot take away the pain and suffering of losing one's cultural heritage. In order to become whole again it must be done spiritually. Harold felt this would be a good starting point and so do I. You cannot change the past but we can preserve the future.
ReplyDeleteI think it's important to note that if America hadn't colonized Alaska someone else would have. The Spanish in California and English in Canada (Nootka Sound) had a presence in the trade. The natives here did endure all kinds of troubles but I believe, at the time, ANCSA was a fantastic achievement, even if it was just a way to get to the oil.
ReplyDeleteI like the point about if the U.S. had not taken over Alaska, someone else(possibly alot worse) would have because of its abundant resources. I think alot of people are quick to criticize our government without seeing all of the good it does.
ReplyDelete"Does money cure what ails?"
ReplyDeleteThe above quote is taken from your post. Money can not make the pain go away of the loss of identity before the passage of ANCSA. Money does not ease the pain of being a child at a church run missionary school where they beat you every time you spoke your language, and at nights may have sexually abused you, and told you it was your fault. Money would not lessen the hurt when those who grew up in this time turned to drinking and drugs as adults and did not know how to care for their own children.
Money would not save those children from the pain of being racially attacked in the public schools.
A lot of the money given to those young children, the original share holders, I am sure, was spent on alcohol and drugs, and that did not ease the pain of having to know the hurtful history their people went through. That money did, however, offer some hope.
Perhaps the original shareholders who have died and passed on what they had to the "Newest Native" of their blood did do some good.
The newest generation of Native who has equal opportunity to make a life in this world and has the $ in the form of stock handed to them, well they may just live "The American Dream" Whatever they perceive it as.
Yes it will never be the way it once was, times have changed and so have the people. That's why we cherish the elders, and those who have lived thought the oldest of their traditions. Even without Russia or America choosing to take over the land and change it, it would eventually change. Once a story is told orally, some slight details would be changed and it could change the whole story. (that would be a fun game to play in class as an example, whisper a word one by one till the end and see what the word changes to in the end) Any ways! My point being, yes it was unfair for Alaskan natives to be forced to change, but the culture could have chosen to adapt to the modern society later in history.
ReplyDeleteMy comment is addressed to the other people who mentioned Harold Napoleon in their posts.
ReplyDeleteFor the most part, I agree with Harold Napoleon's argument that healing and spiritual regeneration can only come from within. At the same time, however, I think that restoring the community circle broken by the epidemics and the invasion of the white man is not necessarily a cure-all. Healing takes place on an individual basis. Sharing one's problems with others may help to assuage suffering and confusion, but everyone undertakes the final step toward recovery as an individual, without outside support.
Furthermore, as our classmates have mentioned elsewhere, Alaskan natives are straddling two worlds, stuck between preservation of their cultural traditions and assimilation into white society. They can't rely solely on one social network over the other; they must pick and choose between both. If community circles are to be effective, therefore, they must reflect the unique position of the modern Alaskan native, and include white people as well as natives.
Jackie,
ReplyDeleteIt's funny you should mention "living in two worlds" because that is exactly what I do every day.
When you hear elders talk they always say you must learn the way of the white man, but you must also never forget the way of your people, language and culture. It is a hard task and I feel bad for the young people now who have lost the opportunity to know how to live off of the land, speak their language and practice thier culture. In almost every village, Young people are drawn to the television or video games. You see garbage strewn everywhere and houses boarded up instead of fixed up. You probably think, it sure would be nice if they could just clean up their mess. Guess what guys, You need to teach us how. Native people are still closely bonded to the old ways in more ways than many think. We didn't have, for centeries like many of you, houses to keep, lawns to take care of, animals as pets. Society expects too much of an old generation of people. How long did it take the white man to be where he's at today?