Display mocked culture
Letter to the Editor
The brochure from the Junior Parents Weekend Gala last weekend listed a number of displays, including "Indians: A promotion of the Indian heritage through decoration and scenes."
If we are trying to better understand Native American cultures there are much better ways than inviting them to perform in a side-show style setting side by side with a cardboard "saloon" staffed with people costumed as cowboys and prostitutes serving "cactus juice."
I am sure that everyone who attended the events this weekend will join me in thanking the JPW committee for a wonderful weekend and for their hard work; I am sure that they did not mean to offend. I am not questioning the Native Americans who were present at the gala dancing, drumming and singing. I do not know how they felt about the event although I hope to contact them to find out.
My intent is to encourage questioning within the Notre Dame community as to why we were comfortable with the placement of Native American dancers right next to a fake wild West scene and a teepee with moving Indian statues.
When faced with this grotesque juxtaposition the majority of the people in attendance did not seemed bothered; on the contrary many cheerfully sported feathered headbands that said "JPW 2001." I admit, I too have worn a headband such as this ... when I was in kindergarten for a Thanksgiving celebration. Back then I was too young to know the tragic effects of the conquest and European colonization on the indigenous peoples of the Americas.
What is it about the Notre Dame culture that allows us to participate in such an event in which actual Native Americans performing dances could be placed amidst tacky displays, most significantly a campy wild West display that propagated stereotypes set in place by old television westerns? Do we see these things as deserving of equal treatment?
I may be accused of falling prey to the very racism and exoticism that I am trying to question in my failure to take offense at some of the other displays; however, none of this existed in a vacuum and the social-historical context in which Native Americans have been marginalized cannot be separated from this event.
The bottom line is that we invited these people to perform here and then we paid little attention to them and wore feathered headbands, actively participating in creating a situation which could potentially be very degrading.
I would love to see more events on campus that could work towards a greater understanding of Native American cultures and issues today; however these events should be held in a respectful setting.
Krista Schoening
junior
off-campus
February 19, 2001
All Viewpoint Stories for Wednesday, February 21, 2001
