How To Be An Ally To Your Native Neighbors

Becoming aware of native history different from the one most of us were taught in our american history courses will hopefully provoke a desire to speak in support of native initiatives moving us from friendship to being an ally.

How to be an ally to your native neighbors. How to be an ally to indigenous peoples artwork. In recognition of the season let s start with 100 ways you and yours can be allies toward the indigenous peoples of this continent our ancestral land. Don t be an ally to alleviate feelings of guilt. Donate to a non profit or charity.

If they don t need any support stand back and allow these groups to take action. For example dressing in native outfits on halloween or wearing native items while cheering for native themed mascots in sports teams are harmful appropriations of native cultures. Two row wampum renewal campaign an educational and advocacy project. Many people believe native americans are taken care of by casinos or government entitlements such as free housing education and healthcare but that s not entirely true said helen oliff the public relations manager for partnership with native americans.

So if you are not native avoid appropriating tribal cultures. People will detect your lack of pride and will not trust you. Many of us grow up learning a history that doesn t fully teach the horrors of colonization or the. If you don t like your own group or background you won t be effective with people in different groups.

Supporting the efforts of native people around the world to retain sovereignty of their lands to prevent further. Being an effective ally starts with listening and learning. The two row campaign and syracuse cultural workers have just published a beautiful new poster titled how to be an ally to indigenous peoples. Don t be an ally to diverse groups as a way of avoiding your own group.

If you want to educate yourself and become a better ally to native communities here is a good place to start. David mcnew stringer via getty. The full color poster features an onondaga gustoweh headgear by onondaga artist josephine m. Stop using the word powwow when you plan.