Projects
American Indian Community Data Profile, 2002
Namadji Youth and Elders Project Report, 2001
Forum Reports
1997 Fall: Tribal Sovereignty and
American Indian Leadership
1996 Fall: Tribal Governments: What will they look like in the year 2010?
1996 Spring: The Threatened State of Tribal Sovereignty
Intergenerational relationships crucial to Indian communities
Albert Whitehat, luncheon speaker, put words to the thoughts of many elders on the importance and difficulty of handing down traditional Indian values to the next generation.
David Baldridge, commenting on this in his keynote speech, said, "It's a tough racket forwarding traditional values and forwarding the wisdom of our elders."
This message formed the theme of many elders' comments during the break-out sessions. Whitehat, instructor of Lakota studies at Sinte Gleska University, eloquently expressed this in his talk during lunch.
Whitehat talked about the reemergence of Indian languages and traditional values in the last 20 years. For many years it was not acceptable to speak Indian languages or practice traditional ways. Beginning in the early 1970s, "people grew their hair long and began to speak their languages, taking pride in themselves as Indians," Whitehat said. "I believe the heart and soul of Indian culture is in the language."
Indian elders, as keepers of the languages and traditions that are vital to the survival of Indian cultures, have to find a way to connect with young people to pass this on. This is difficult because many young people have not learned to be respectful of elders.
"To learn from the elders, we must be patient enough, respectful enough and able to show we can handle the information they have to share," said Melvin Eagle, an elder man at the forum.
"We need to train our children to approach (the elders)," Whitehat said. "Nobody is going to help us in this situation. Nobody is going to correct our children. This is our job. I think it is time to take a position. Our children are starving for knowledge, discipline and attention."
Whitehat told the story of a young boy who was beaten at school for excelling in his studies. His grandfather said to another man, "My grandson was attacked by a pack of dogs."
"Yes," said the other man. "If you starve a pack of dogs they become vicious and dangerous."
"What dogs are you talking about?" asked the grandfather.
"We are talking about those boys," the man said.
The many injustices that Indian people have endured through the centuries can overwhelm people, filling them with hatred and bitterness, Whitehat said. He shared his vision and healing experience when he discovered that "If I want to live, if I want to be happy, I had to forgive."
Elders can help many young angry Indian men and women heal themselves by sharing their experiences and telling how they survived many years of hardship, Whitehat said. He emphasized the importance of relationships and mutual respect between elders and young people, not only for healing, but also to ensure that traditional ways and languages pass to the next generation.
"Don't give up on the young ones. If they ever need you, this is the time," Whitehat said.
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Tuesday November 1, 2005