Americana Indian -- thinking twice about images that matter: Nancy Marie Mithlo at TEDxABQWomen

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[@sheilamontoya5546]

Thank you for this talk. I learned more from this video than all my years in school. I have shared video with family.

[@judyhiscock5049]

Maybe you are not aware of the movement that started In Canada called Idle No More. Natives in Canada have invited people of all walks of life to stand with them and other indigenous people around the globe to stop the oppression, discrimination, violence against Native women and Native people in general, and to correct treaty rights, etc. etc. Native issues are everyones issues. There are some really amazing things happening.

[@kaywalkingstick2117]

Congratulations, Nancy! A great job, and really clearly stated. Thanks, K WalkingStick.

[@RavenThom]

Thank you, this is what I have learned by attending my local powwows, and always respect this.

[@bobcolebrook]

Thanks for the insightful talk.

[@pseudonamed]

So many say "but I'm doing it in honour of their culture", yet these are usually the same people who couldn't answer if you asked them "Ok, which tribe exactly are you honouring? what is the symbolism of your outfit, and what about you do you feel has earned the right to take sacred items and use them as a costume?" It's great when people learn about tribal cultures, and about what current aboriginal people think and do, but please, stop perpetuating stereotypes.

[@christinacody5845]

Thank you for some of these questions! I've heard the first question, but I hadn't heard the others. I struggle with the fact that my children's school mascot is the Indians. They mostly avoid specific imagery, but they still use Native terminology in Non-native contexts, which are uncomfortable. As I'm addressing it in my personal thinking (in the forefront rather than back of mind) I have stopped wearing the T-shirts of the team name.

[@Norascats]

Well put. Very true.

[@AhNee]

I will be sharing this wherever I have to 'do battle' with the colonial mindset about Natives.

[@Sharpandpointless]

Okay, you officially are too awesome!

[@BronzeSista]

Good presentation, but my question is how do you "Think Indian" if you've never been taught too? In order to do that you have to be taught to be proud of who you are, you have to see images of pride and have the community in which you live reinforce those ideas. As a Black American, I am just curious about that statement. In middle school we had history lessons about Indians, I asked my teacher where are they? I've never seen any, she said most of them died off. The first time I saw a Indian was in New York, I was in awe. It wasn't until I made an effort to read and research to find the real truth about what happened to the Indians in American history and I was horrified.

[@deneenhill5913]

I appreciate the deeper issue you raised. Residential schools have indisputably been the most pervasive attack on our culture as a people, the many original, Indigenous nations. Indigeneity, the ancient ways of thinking, living, practicing, being. Indigenous has been damaged and definitely been killed in very large number of surviving people today. Too many buy into the "American Dream" and reject what mainstream society deems uncivilized practices. The traditional people in all the nations have clung to whatever was possible and much of the ancient ways have been brought forward but there have been devastating loses. We are still unwilling travelers on a ride to extinction. Thinking Indian is the only thing that will divert that the sad possibility of the end of our people. More need to stop striving to healing with "economic development" which only means labour jobs for corporations or a few individuals "living comfortably" thinking they made it. We never wanted the white ways. The so called "Indian Wars" is one loud indicator we didn't want to be turned white. It wasn't war, it was slaughter and deception. There is only a few media publication that give a truthful version of genocide of the Indigenous nations of this continent. I won't call us American Indian because our existence pre-dates the creation of the corporation of the United States of America. We are not American. We are Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, Seneca, Chippewa, Ojibwa, Cree, Blackfoot, Lakota, Pawnee, Comanche, etc, etc. People who think Indian are known as terrorists, activists, left-winged, protestors, backwards, uneducated, uncivilized. I'm none of those things. I just won't allow my oppressors to kill my spirit or the spirit of my children anymore. I know what I need to be healthy spiritually, mentally, emotionally, psychologically and physically. I need to be Indian. Not a Westernized Indian who is educated by their definition, dressed to their standard, living to their standard, believing by their standard.

[@djspunkrat]

come to Alaska. Tlingit , Haida and Tsimshian greet you , as well as others in this great state. 229 tribes just in this one state!

[@CatsbyG]

I have great respect for Native American people. I admire your appreciation of the earth and animals and the environment from whcih we all get our sustenance. I admire your gentle way of speaking. I admire your longsuffering in the face of unbelievable odds.

[@LoveMe06HateMe]

g as a sexy hijabi (muslim head covering.) It's like Europeans celebrating Black History month by dressing up as slave masters and slaves. It's contradictory, and degrading to the history and people who practiced the beliefs. Although I now disagree with dressing up in a headdress, I think Native American people need to realize that it's thrown upon us by the media, and we don't realize it. So rather than just telling us it's offensive, tell us why, please. Hope I explained it okay.

[@gaybyingtonhillpsynp5068]

Yay, Chiracahua Apaches of Southern Arizona!

[@martindeleon7994]

This was a wonderful presentation. I will be sharing this in hopes that it will teach RESPECT for a culture, and create a campaign of disrupting cultural appropriation by non native people.

[@Prince_Charming_1]

I have great love and respect for Native American Indians. Good them all and give them strength and courage to stand up against their enemies.

[@MonstaMinnesota]

This video is on point! I likes... @PrinceCharming its not about "enemies", this video is about exactly your way of thinking. I get that it was a compliment but you dropped the ball at the end lol...

[@CatsbyG]

I am in solidarity with you about the missing and abused women. I never let the opportunity pass to expose this atrocity and others committed agianst indigenous people. Our government has not improved much its record concerning indigenous people since Europeans stepped foot on this continent. More and more pressure is coming to bear on the governments that continue to permit this outrage and more and more indigenous people are standing up against all these atrocities worldwide..

[@nariko47]

Image of "Latina" may be worse

[@RichardCorral]

What about Native American men

[@iliveinthewoods]

❤🤜🏻🤛🏾❤

[@PSYWARRIOR71]

I wonder what her CDIB says? 1/8? and that's being generous.

[@ahalenia]

Succinct-brilliant.

[@alexriosrox]

She kind of lost me when she said "Hispanic girl". I mean, does she not realize that 1) Hispanic is a derogatory term that lumps all Spanish speaking people together (which, by the way, includes people from Spain but doesn't include Brazilians or people from Central America, South America, and Mexico who don't speak Spanish, and instead speak a Native language). 2) Most "Hispanic people" (aka people from Latin America) ARE indigenous. Yeah there are black people, east asian people, white people, arab people, etc. in these countries, but the majority of the people are either indigenous or mestizos (mixed Spanish and Native blood, varying in skin tones and facial features). There are still Native tribes thriving throughout these countries, and mestizos connecting with their Indigenous heritage who identify as Native American. I mean, I get the point she was making here, and I agree with her wholeheartedly that the appropriation of Native American culture and sexualization of Native women has to stop, but as someone who is both Mexican American and indigenous it kind of irked me that she acted as if there are no indigenous Latin Americans.

[@alexriosrox]

Nancy Marie Mithlo Universally the word Hipanic is understood as "Spanish speaking people", regardless of race or ethnicity. The definition doesn't change, and the reason I call it offensive is that it's an outdated term and honestly most people who are called Hispanic find it offensive. It's more common to refer to a Latin America as their nationality (Guatemalan, Mexican, Puerto Rican) or as a Latin@ than as Hispanic, because of the ties to Europe that the word Hispanic gives us. Most mestizos and Natives don't want to be tied to the Conquistadores, their oppressors. I understand that the speaker probably didn't know the complicated history of the word Hispanic and of the issue of racial/ethnic identification in Latin America, but the casual use of the word to lump us all into a group is what threw me off with this speech.

[@minisnape]

+Alex Ríos I think there tends to be a lot of misinformation in the US about identity in Latin America. People just don't how complex it can be. Also when you type in Latina girl instead of Hispanic girl into google images you get just as many sexualised images of women, which is interesting...

[@alexriosrox]

minisnape Americans tend to treat Latin America as a giant monolithic country, similar to what they do to Africa, when in fact Latin America is a diverse place. That's true, I thought of commenting about that as well but decided it would only further confuse my point.

[@nancymariemithlo5178]

Please note the talk was held at the National Hispanic Cultural Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico: www.nhccnm.org/

[@fragolegirl2002]

Alex Ríos Latino is also european. And if christopher columbus was italian. technically it may not be true but if he was italian then he would be latin cuz latin originally was a tribe from italy rome which later expanded into an empire known as the roman empire that spoke latin.

[@gaybyingtonhillpsynp5068]

Native Americans were the first Americans. They deserve our respect and apologies for the way their ancestors were treated. Bury my Heart At Wounded Knee tells some true history. Respecting others improves one's own stature.

[@VesperFlama]

On a further note intention does not take away the harm of 'imitation' while we may all live under the same sun we do not all live under the same stigma. While you may go to powwows, I was told that if I show pride in my Apache heritage that I was a heathen, unworthy of God's or anyone's love. Straight up imitating Native cultures contribute to their erasure. Please keep in mind that respect is best shown through actions and listening, not intention. I hope you have a most wonderful night.

[@mcharley3933]

wha

[@CatsbyG]

June 1 - Aboriginal Day of Action for missing & murdered women. Hundreds of non-Natives are in solidarity.

[@minaminafat]

many do

[@LoveMe06HateMe]

Okay, in the past, I would have agreed with you, but recently someone explained to me why it's disrespectful. I don't think she did a great job of explaining why, so I'm going to try to, and if I get it wrong, Native Americans, or others, feel free to correct me, and I apologize. Although heritage is not a religion, people who are separated by it often feel as strongly about it as they do their religion. Sexualizing a headdress would be an equivalent of being a sexy Nun for Halloween, or dressin

[@ghostakita5438]

I totally agree with you.🤷🏻‍♀️

[@VesperFlama]

By all means support Native artisans and Native communities. But please recognize that there is a difference between appropriation and appreciation. Attending pow-wows, buying from Native artisans, and learning the meanings and culture behind what you buy are all great, I certainly don't want to discourage you from that. However, there are items that tribes do not want non tribal members, or those who have not earned the right, to wear. Respecting that is a part of appreciation.

[@CatsbyG]

I think you gotta tell American Indian women to flood Google with a diversity of images of themselves.

[@CatsbyG]

Your address considers only those who dress to demean or mock Native American women, but does not look at those who dress that way out of admiration and identification with Indian women.

[@keithdixon2054]

562 Nation's .

[@atomicgoblin]

your "admiration" is not wanted, it's just as harmful. just leave us alone.

[@judyhiscock5049]

Have you checked out "Asian women" on google? Have you checked out "Italian women" on Google? It's a problem that comes with being human. Native American women are not as alone in this as they think.

[@sammy9817]

I'm part Native American and when I see people dress like it. I do feel offered by those people think they are dressing up like Indians but don't know our history. our textbook lie to us to just saying one part of the story is not acceptable. why not tell the full story of our pain and lives. I'm very proud of being native American cause it me.

[@nub9688]

The so called Hispanic Girls she showed are actually Spanish speaking Native Americans, they don't look like White Spaniards nor Portuguese too me.

[@VesperFlama]

If you dress in sacred items or to assert yourself as a Native when you are not, then that is demeaning and an absolute mockery regardless of intention. Buy from Native artisans, they know which pieces are sacred and which can be distributed.

[@AhNee]

Problem is, you try to inform people, and they get in your face and defend their racism. That is willful ignorance. Then they try to excuse it with garbage ideology, or, "We're honouring you", and regardless of how many times you tell them you're not honoured, you're insulted, they just say it again and again, more slowly, like you are the dull-wit.

[@CatsbyG]

I was just at a pow-wow and there were all sorts of wonderful Native things to buy. We are all one ... Red, Yellow, Black and White. We all live under the same sun and drink the same water. Imitation is the greatest form of flattery. Perhaps you speak to those people who intentionally mock or demean Native Americans.

[@judyhiscock5049]

Are you stereotyping non-Natives? It works both ways, you know.

[@karmamichele]

it's more like stand up against our oppressors & rapists! :p

[@keithdixon2054]

Worm Springs people...

[@CatsbyG]

Sorry you are offended.

[@mauromazzorana3303]

I think what you call the stereotype Native American as we see in the old western movies is closer to the historic truth of the 19th century.What is wrong with the warrior character of Geronimo or his Apaches of that period? Later Europeans like Hitler and Mussolini did the same when they resisted the will of the US government. Concerning Native American women, I think they have their own ways of thinking and they act like women of other races, I do not understand them, they blame men in general for being neglected and sexually exploited, which is wrong.

[@atomicgoblin]

stop it. stop trying to take our issues and waving a big flag and looking for ally cookies.

[@RaeCarson]

Illuminating subject matter. But why. Must. You. Pause. After. Every. WORD?? Attempting to listen to your speech was nearly as terrible as listening to a verbal text reader due to the robotic nature of it. Alas, I could not finish because of that one quality alone. You desperately need practice and coaching on how to speak properly in public.

[@AZ-kr6ff]

This lady is a poisonous snake.