“Native Americans have fought hard to be allowed to have cultural identity -- a basic right that was outlawed by the government until relatively recently. So yes, seeing a spray-tan sexy Pocahontas raising her hand in "hau" is more than an annoyance. It trivializes the fight that my parents and grandparents devoted their lives to. It trivializes my life and my sense of self. And I refuse to believe that any decent person would tell me to move on, to get over it, or to be flattered by it. My great-grandmother is not a Halloween costume. This shouldn't be so hard to understand. ”
—To the people who like to appropriate Native American culture. Take very close notes.
Native American student denied diploma after wearing tribal feather in her mortarboard
salon.comOfficials are withholding Chelsey Ramer’s diploma and transcripts until she pays a $1,000 fine
Fined for being educated while indigenous.
Support Navajo-Made Film, Monster Slayer
indiegogo.comfrom their Indiegogo page:
The Monster Slayer Project is a contemporary visual retelling of the story of the Navajo Hero Twins, Monster Slayer and Born for Water. This project attempts to explore who these figures might be today, and what foes they might face. Our film is set in a small town on the Navajo Nation and follows our protagonists, Shondiin and Nathan Yazzie as they follow in the footsteps of the legendary Hero Twins to gain the ability to defeat fearsome monsters that have been emerging from the wilderness, and to solve the mystery of their origin.
Our film seeks to bring the story of the twins to a younger generation, and to create mainstream images of native characters who are strong, self-reliant, and motivated heroes. We want to make something that will appeal to a large audience, but especially to youth from the Four Corners region…The end goal of this project is the production of a feature film or television series to be produced in the Gallup area, and on the Navajo Nation. By melding the ancient storytelling traditions of the southwest with current revolutions in digital image-making and special effects, we seek to bring these characters to life.
“Through the centuries, while their European counterparts in Europe grew up on stories that depicted women as weak, helpless, sinister, or untrustworthy, Native American women grew up hearing tales about the powers and strengths of women. They heard stories about women healers, women warriors, women artists, women prophets. But above all, they heard stories of woman as the divine creator, woman as a supernatural power, woman as a force of transformation in the universe. There are dozens of variations in the details, but the core meaning is consistent: women, and the female forces of the universe, are strong. Sometimes they are so powerful that they can change the course of the world. Often, once they take a stand, they change their own lives and the lives of those around them. ”
—Susan Hazen-Hammond, Spider Woman’s Web: Traditional Native American Tales About Women’s Power
[This quote is from the FIRST TWO FUCKING PAGES of the introduction.]
Native American Student Denied Diploma, Fined $1000 for Feather in Cap
local15tv.com
ATMORE, Ala. (WPMI) - An Escambia Academy High School student said she was denied a diploma and fined $1,000 for wearing an eagle feather at her graduation.
For 17-year-old Chelsey Ramer, graduating on May 23 was supposed to be a joyous occasion.
“I was excited,” said Ramer.
It has been more than a week, and she still does not have her diploma. She said it is all because of her feather.
“They told me that if I wore it that they would pull me off the field,” said Ramer.
The eagle feather is part of her Native American Heritage. Ramer is of the Poarch Creek Band of Indians. She wanted to wear the feather as a show of pride for her heritage.
“Being honored with a feather for graduation is a wonderful experience. It’s a lot more than showing off your culture. It has ties into our spirituality as well,” Ramer’s former teacher Alex Alvarez.
According to a school contract, Ramer must pay a $1,000 fine to get her diploma and transcripts.
“I don’t think it’s fair at all. I feel like its discrimination,” Ramer stated.
The contract states, “Students and staff shall not wear extraneous items during graduation exercises unless approved by the administration.”
Ramer stated she asked the Headmaster at the time for permission to wear the eagle feather.
“She told us we could not wear our feathers,” said Ramer.
Shortly after inquiring, Ramer said she was told she must sign the dress code contract to walk on graduation.
Ramer stated, “I never signed it,”
Instead, she still walked across the stage proudly with her feathers and family’s support.
“It was worth it. It means a lot to me,” said Ramer.
