Ask me about: living in Indian Country or frontier Montana

[Fishwhenican]

Hadn't seen am "Ask Me" post in awhile so I figured I would throw this one out there.

Qualifications:
I have lived in SE Montana on the eastern edge of the Northern Cheyenne Indian reservation for almost 8 years now.
I work for an organization whose mission is to help Native American people.
My two best friends here are 1) Cheyenne 2) Living on the reservation itself and married to a Cheyenne.
My Boss is a Crow Indian.
I have many other friends and people I know who are Native American.

The Northern Cheyenne reservation is a very very poor reservation. No Indian casino money or anything like that. Unemployment runs at a very high rate, figures I have seen run from 60% to 70%. Drug and Alcohol problems are huge here.

The Crow Indian reservation is directly west of the Northern Cheyenne reservation and is where the Custer Battlefield is located. It is interesting because the Cheyenne and Crows were bitter enemies in the old days and still to some extent now!

The town where we live is very remote and very small. We actually had our volunteer fire department classified as "frontier" instead of Rural because we are so much more isolated than the traditional definition of "Rural". Town consists of about 1/2 mile strip along a Hwy that contains a couple of small Grocery/General stores (one still has the original old wooden floors in it), a couple of small bars, a couple of small family restaurants, Post Office, Bank, Hardware Store and a couple of small gas stations/Convenience stores one of which is only open sometimes. Lots of dirt/gravel roads when you get off of the main highway. 75 Miles to the nearest stoplight. When we go shopping to WalMart or the Mall it is about 130 miles, same for going to the airport.

Yes, I have seen horses tied up in front of the local bars.

I am not claiming to be the foremost authority on Native American culture but I have learned a heck of a lot and if I do not know the answer I will try and find the answer for you.

So go ahead and ask away!

[diebitter]

I'd be interested to hear if there's anything equivalent to the 'genesis' story in Crow or Cheyenne lore.

[Fishwhenican]

[ QUOTE ]
I'd be interested to hear if there's anything equivalent to the 'genesis' story in Crow or Cheyenne lore.

[/ QUOTE ]

All of their history is an "oral" history. Stories were told and passed down from generation to generation so some things are foggy at best and depend on who you talk to about history.

Here is an excerpt from a webpage that tells the story well:

[ QUOTE ]
In the beginning the Great Medicine created the earth, and the waters upon the earth, and the sun, moon, and stars. Then he made a beautiful country to spring up in the far north. There were no winters, with ice and snow and bitter cold. It was always spring; wild fruits and berries grew everywhere, and great trees shaded the streams of clear water that flowed through the land. In this beautiful country the Great Medicine put animals, birds, insects and fish of all kinds. Then he created human beings to live with the other creatures. Every animal, big and small, every bird, big and small, every fish, and every insect could talk to the people and understand them. The people could understand each other, for they had a common language and lived in friendship.

They went naked and fed on honey and wild fruits; they were never hungry. They wandered everywhere among the wild animals, and when night came and they were weary, they lay down on the cool grass and slept. During the days they talked with the other animals, for they were all friends.

The Great Spirit created three kinds of human beings: first, those who had hair all over their bodies; second, white men who had hair all over their heads and faces and on their legs; third, red men who had very long hair on their heads only. The hairy people were strong and active. The white people with the long beards were in a class with the wolf, for both were the trickiest and most cunning creatures in that beautiful world. The red people were good runners, agile and swift, whom the Great Medicine taught to catch and eat fish at a time when none of the other people knew about eating meat.

[/ QUOTE ]

Here is a link to that webpage for more of the story:
Cheyenne Creation Story

I know I had a book that was basically a collection of Indian legends and it included creations stories as well. I will look for it tonight and see if I can get more for you.

[Mr. Orange]

Here's a few general questions

1) Why is there such a big alcohol problem among native Americans? I heard this many times but never really been clear on the exact causes.

2) Are Native American's really offending by pro sport teams using Indian Mascots? (redskins, braves etc.) It's never been clear to me if this is the general feeling among Native American's or if this is just a vocal minority.

[lozen]

Is Poverty that bad?

I also believe a balck person has not experienced discrimination at its worst. The Native community has

[Fishwhenican]

[ QUOTE ]
Here's a few general questions

1) Why is there such a big alcohol problem among native Americans? I heard this many times but never really been clear on the exact causes.

[/ QUOTE ]

It's not just alcohol, drugs are a huge issue on this reservation as well. I think it really boils down to a poverty issue, here at least. With huge unemployment rates and not a lot of job prospects there are huge percentages of the Indian population with nothing better to do than drink or get high. As with many people it is an escape from the crappy conditions they are faced with. This is also a vicious cycle kind of thing here as well. Mom and Dad (if Dad is around even) are drunks, the kid grows up dealing with all the issues of a horrible family life and cannot stay in school drops out and turns to drugs and alcohol to escape the [censored] life with no real skills or job prospects on the reservation.

[ QUOTE ]
2) Are Native American's really offending by pro sport teams using Indian Mascots? (redskins, braves etc.) It's never been clear to me if this is the general feeling among Native American's or if this is just a vocal minority.

[/ QUOTE ]

Some are and some are not. I asked my boss this question and his explanation was that names like Braves and Warriors are things that are part of who they are and not a baseball team or whatever. These are their things and it just falls into even more stuff that we have taken from them. He particularly mentioned the Atlanta Braves fans doing the tomahawk chop with stupid "Indian sounding" music playing as being one of the things that is a good example of offensive. This kind of thing is just mimicking the "Indian" stereotype and really chaps them. Our schools team is the Braves and I asked him why that was OK then. He said that it was OK because they ARE Indians and braves is part of what and who they have been and are. It is kind of like they can be braves but a white guy can't be a brave because it is an Indian thing.

On the other hand I know Native American people who's favorite team in the Washington Redskins. It is a weird issue but the answer is yes, many are offended by it but not all.

[Fishwhenican]

[ QUOTE ]
Is Poverty that bad?

I also believe a balck person has not experienced discrimination at its worst. The Native community has

[/ QUOTE ]

It is really bad. I didn't have any idea how bad it was until I was out here.

I often compare the reservation with the inner city of any big city. The biggest difference is that the reservation is in the middle of nowhere with no industry, not very many businesses, nothing like a McDonald's or Wendy's or anything for people or kids to even hope for a job. Pretty hard for someone to get ahead and make money when there is no jobs to be found at all.

Native Americans have really really been crapped on badly for many years and are still discriminated against now. I see it all the time and hear the stories my friends and co-workers tell all the time

[Mickey Brausch]

[ QUOTE ]
With huge unemployment rates and not a lot of job prospects there are huge percentages of the Indian population with nothing better to do than drink or get high.

[/ QUOTE ]

Hmmm.

People at the bottom of the ladder who are unemployed, poor or generally downtrodden, turn to drugs and alcohol to escape reality. But then the people at the top of the ladder, those who are wildly successful, rich, and famous, turn also to drugs and alcohol - for kicks.

Guess it's the middle area, the folks trying to make it, who just say no.

[whiskeytown]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Is Poverty that bad?

I also believe a balck person has not experienced discrimination at its worst. The Native community has

[/ QUOTE ]

It is really bad. I didn't have any idea how bad it was until I was out here.

I often compare the reservation with the inner city of any big city. The biggest difference is that the reservation is in the middle of nowhere with no industry, not very many businesses, nothing like a McDonald's or Wendy's or anything for people or kids to even hope for a job. Pretty hard for someone to get ahead and make money when there is no jobs to be found at all.

Native Americans have really really been crapped on badly for many years and are still discriminated against now. I see it all the time and hear the stories my friends and co-workers tell all the time

[/ QUOTE ]

I grew up across the mountains from Browning -

amazing how the Rocky Mountains can seperate multi million dollar homes and rich white guys from the third world existance that is many native American reservations -

of course, our experience is in their casinos alone, but driving thru some of those towns can just crush your spirit -

every time I drive thru I think "hmmm, if I HAD to drop off the face of the earth" would I come here? - LOL

rb

[LandonM]

In the case of Native Americans, how much "poverty" do you believe is lifestyle choice or culturally dictated versus being the result of some sort of broader societal "oppression?"

The reason I ask- many reservations are rich in minerals or other commodities (not to mention a very healthy supply of able-bodied manpower with nothing better to do) and are essentially fiscally autonomous (save for Federal jurisdiction for crimes).
If I put a few thousand white guys in that exact same situation, there's no doubt in my mind that they would have something going in a years time. However, native culture puts different emphases on lifestyle that, by our standards, might be classified as "impoverished" when often times, it's really a case of cultural minimalism and an acceptance of austerity (similar to that of the Amish. )

In short- do you believe the rampant poverty that pervades native communities is a result of their own collective decision making or something else?