RESERVATION (REZ) RACISM VIA ASSIMILATION: In the case of Big Mountain

Background: The First Round-Up for the Boarding Schools

The current Dineh resistance and their history of the mid-20th Century has drastically gone through much changes due to industrial modernization and the progress towards the outside, high-tech world. Black Mesa and Big Mountain communities in particular have undergone the sudden introduction of a greater dependency on the Department of Agriculture's commodity food program and the modern American, trading post's grocery supplements. These semi-convenient services has gradually taken the traditional Dineh from their full reliance on subsistence like livestock, hunting, forging or seed gathering, and vegetable harvests. The BIA through the Navajo Nation also instituted a Welfare Program for the traditional Dineh who weren't able to have working skills that normal Americans have and so, monthly welfare and tribal general assistance checks are issued. Those who've entered the BIA boarding schools (forcibly throughout the 1930s and into the early 1970s) were de-cultured and were 'brain-washed' to only live or to come out with the American way of thinking.

Assimilation on the Navajo reservation, like all other Indian Boarding Schools, was very systematic and harsh whereas, these are the underlying factors of assimilation. Very few Dineh who've been institutionalized in the earlier stages (1930s-1950s) were able to return to their birthplaces to live the original, traditional ways of teachings. Some left to work in small industries in places far from Black Mesa. These earlier but partly educated (3rd grade to 6th grade level) were less reluctant to accept dependency upon the new trading posts, commodity foods and tribal assistance checks. Many with no American education have kept their full dependency on ancient and traditional methods of diet and economic subsistence, but conducted occasional experiment on these new processed food and political participation.

Current: "BIA Human Products" with a Disability in Competitiveness

The latter portions of those Dineh with American education (from 1960s to the present) were more able to blend into the constant introduction of new America styles and thoughts. However, this wasn't a pure mainstream American participation or mentality, but was purely a mainstream based on the reservation. This experience occurred with two equal influences of America's modern conveniences and traditional Dineh lifeways. Of course, the American ways had to be considered more superior so, it overcame the less resisted, traditional ways of life. The BIA schools and the assimilation processes of "taking the savage out of the Indian and save the man" had nearly accomplished its goal. Furthermore, there were the more effective establishments of the BIA designed, tribal government that broadcast its Americanization constitutions. But remember that this is all taking place on the reservation among a decreasing number of traditional people. So, the type of attitudes among the American-educated, 'rez' Indians was beginning to be capsulized into a very narrow-minded society.

Today, all you have to do is listen to or read all the available media on the reservation that basically blurs out, on 24-hour bases, "Paul Harvey-type, right wing rhetoric." Though still very culturally intact, the former "savage" and "saved" huMAN, seem to not know where to place themselves in this 'American' world. There will be an outside impression that the Dineh of Black Mesa are purely traditional, and this may be a misguided encounter. Certainly, there are still some very honorable and respectful Dineh people or resistors. Then, there will always be an encounter that can be a disappointment. For instants, as a supporter or a sympathizer might find themselves being offended amongst a household or a community within which they are attempting to lend support. This is a subtle, 'rez'-form of racist attitudes coming from certain native persons of the area or from another region of Indian country.

Discussion: America Re-encounters or Rediscovers the Indian:

Unlike the white 'American' racism that is fueled by superiority attitudes, the 'rez' racism is merely a disrespect of Thy-indigenous-self attitude fueled by insecurity or helplessness. It is an attitude that has originated from hand-outs of commodity food and welfare dependency which makes some Dineh feel that white supporters have genuine bank accounts or that white supporters' property is at their disposal. This subtle form of racist attitudes might come from anyone and sometimes, it can happen without the knowledge of the hosting traditional elders. Supporters must become aware that, this type of dehumanizing attitudes doesn't represent the struggle for cultural survival at Big Mountain or Black Mesa!

Besides outside supporters being aware of such 'rez' born racism, outsiders must clearly realize that, they can possess the 'American' colonist, racist ideology, too. Racism within an individual is very elusive and can easily be denied. For example, it is very noticeable when key supporters might represent themselves as, "I know the solution to this and smartly, based on my American intelligence, I can move and think upon my own discretion as to seek what is beneficial for these helpless Indians!" I, as a non-psychologist, call this, The 'Dances with Wolves' or 'Man Called Horse' Syndrome. As long as supporters don't mistreat the peoples' needs, your support will be cherished highly among those respectful and honorable resistors. Thereby, your time and sacrifices in your contributions will be greatly beneficial to all of us globally, locally and futuristically. Your support is continually invited, but lets be Safe! With understanding, we can endure and overcome.

Written by Bahe Y. Katenay, A Dineh activist/resistor from Big Mountain and original interpreter for the Dineh resistance.

Black Mesa Indigenous Support P.O. Box 23501, Flagstaff, Arizona 86002  Message Voice Mail: 520.773.8086 Email: blackmesais@yahoo.com