November is Native American Heritage Month, but before it was officially recognized, there were 71 years of debate between the states. Initially it was granted only one day of recognition, but eventually it evolved to become the entire month of November when President George W. Bush formally recognized it in 1990.
“I’m glad that it happens, but most people don’t even pay attention to it, mainly for the fact that most people don’t understand or even believe that we even still exist,” said Guy Jones, a founder of the Miami Valley Council of Native Americans.
Even with this viewpoint, Jones still agrees that it is a month that should be paid attention to.
“It’s an effort to educate people that American Indians played an important role, democracy was taken from the American Indian people – that’s how we governed ourselves,” Jones stated. “The only thing that [American] democracy left out is women.”
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“As far as celebrating Native American Heritage month, that’s an American concept,” Jones said, when asked what kinds of celebrations occur in Native American communities during this month of honoring them.
He stated that it’s only really recognized at the college level, and even then there isn’t really much done. There were little to no celebrations found on the American side, and Jones said the Council wants to teach the population about Native Americans.
“There is a lot of misrepresentation of the Native American culture and their people,” Jones said.
He added that the council’s goal is to teach about the principles and the values of the native people “to form a just society.” He said the way Native Americans have been treated in the past is unfair and unjust. These people just want to help others learn about who the Native American people are so they can better understand and respect each other.
“I grew up in a time where we referred to it as lakol wicoham. Which is a way of living. There was no separation of spirituality. There was no separation of tradition. It was exactly who we were.
But today, we begin to emanate American society, in a sense that, American society only worships God on Sunday morning at ten o’clock. Whereas, American Indian people, we don’t do that… Because in this society, God is separate,” Jones said.
How has modern day culture affected American Indians today? He went on to say that it even affects their language, and also talked about how guns and new diseases affected the Native Americans of the past. There are no reservations in Ohio, the closest ones are in Michigan and New York.
Zoe Hurley
Reporter