Native People: I saw a commercial stating stay on the Rez (Reservation). Is that practical?

Question

It was by native people stating "it would please my family", "My culture will not die", etc, for Indian colleges or something.

I dunno how you feel about that, but I think it is in conflict. If I had that history, I would of course embrace it. At the same time technology will force you to learn new skills. (I'm in IT work.)

Wouldn't staying on the Rez limit social growth with your fellow man, and yet leaving jeopardize that unique identity?

PS, If this seems insensitive, I assure you I mean no offense, and offer heart and understanding.

Answer 1

~We're called Native American Indians and I have not seen this commercial. I would have heard about it through my tribe if I had heard it anywhere and haven't.
I don't think it would limit social growth, there is plenty to learn, especially from our ancestors.
I wish we had all stayed together, I think we would have been a lot safer and never have learned the white mans ways.
I don't mean to be insensitive either, this is just how I feel.~

Danagasta2000, I also disagree with your statement about the Cherokee "STILL the most educated Native American group in the Americas." LOL, that is an opinion. Judging by your spelling, I wouldn't say that you are very smart. There is only one "America." From what I hear among my tribe is that the Cherokee are the meanest of all tribes.

Answer 2

No. I think you are right, there is a lot to be said about embracing your culture and your ethnic heritage, but there is also a tremendous importance in this day and age to join the information age and become familiar with technology and join the work force. They can still be Native American but adapt to the growing and changing society, or they will run the risk of truly becoming extinct. It will soon be a matter of survival. Africa is a prime example. More and more that continent is developing and changing in many areas that were tribal communities. Most of them still recognize their tribal heritage and know which tribe they are from and do not shed that part of their identity. There has to be a compromise. My great grandmother was a full blooded Seneca, and I know that she and the rest of my family would agree with me.

Answer 3

My wife and child are native americans, I am not. Her tribe no longer has any reservation land, so it would be hard to comment on that really as they, and I, have no experience with choosing that. The only reason I'm commenting is that there are answers in to this question that show a complete lack of understanding regarding native americans, and even scarier, the concept that the person in question thinks they even understand what Karma is. Anyone who has even the most basic grasp of the Buddhist concept of Karma understands that Karma isn't about retribution or punishment for past acts. Karma is descriptive of the intention included in the act and is bad or good because of that. It is not fate or destiny. It is a realization of a specific state of being. The simple reference to Reds and Whites is enough to show a racial bigotry and bias by the writer. It is a toss-up which statement shows more of a lack of intellect, the skin color based ones or the Atlantis based ones. It strikes me that this person didn't even learn enough about the subject to differentiate between the non-theistic religions of Native Americans, and the Buddhist philosophy originating in India. Christopher Columbus could possibly be excused for such confusion, but in today's world, that level of ignorance precludes any intelligent statements from this person at all.

Answer 4

My father is full Eastern Band Cherokee, and his family didn't stay on the Qualla Boundary, so I may have a bit different of a viewpoint on this. I don't honestly think it matters where you are as long as you remember who you are.

And why on earth do people always think that reservations are inherently devoid of modern technology? There are ITs on most, if not all, reservations in the US. Trust me, we learn new skills just as often as non-Natives. And historically speaking, we Cherokee are a reading and intellectual people, not some sort of romanticized "noble savage." To this day, we're STILL the most educated Native American group in the Americas.

Answer 5

I hear many Natives stay on reservations because
they can get governemnt assistance easier, like for
college education and such. But they can get that anywhere.
The Red peoples are humans like everbody else and have the same shortcomings. If they knew what
happened to them was Karma, because their people
tried to rule the world on Atlantis. Maybe it would be
different. Because Atlantis was the greatest civilization
known to this world.
The Reds are supposed to be the teachers of the Whites
right now. But to help spiritually, they must first
overcome their physical nature to be self-righteous.
HARSH REALITY!

Answer 6

ben...I will send u my email address to send it to me....Im a sioux and i live now in ohio I'm sure theres some here who'd like to veiw that....I personally believe that the gov shudda left us be..but now we have too think about our elders who CANT pay rent or groceries or be able to get the not so good health care (bcos we have racist dentists and docs who come here to expieement on us indians...our teeth are LOADED with some form of cheap black lead...our limbs get removed wiothout counciltaions..you decide whut u american citizens should do to help us and our elders out..) i personally could care less if we dinna have them but its for our elders and the very young ones...some of us left to try to better ourselves and failed...but we're still repack our goods and start over again...thank you for the concern...i wish there were more ppl like u ,so ppl like us could all sit down and we could explain to u the REAL probs with rez's.. and it NOT just the cherokees who r the smartest,,,theres STRUGGLING 6nations up north ...theyre pretty darn smart too...the majority of cherokees I have run into are buckskinners who recently watched dances with wolves and NOW r cherokee..all our nations have some VERY intellegent ppls...ALL cherokee ppls we've met here in ohio r rendezviousers..and wknd indians..but lawyers n judges,their wives r snippity women who look at us real indian wmn and walk away cos we're dressed in goth....get it??? goood luck in life