Engaging in another person\u2019s culture can be a touchy subject \u2013 learning about other cultures is valuable and even fun! In some cases, however, it\u2019s clear that some people overstep in their engagement of a culture that they\u2019re not originally a part of. Such is the case of \u201cnon-Indians\u201d mentioned in \u201cThe Oglala War Cry\u201d, a newspaper published in the 1970s written by and for residents of the South Dakota Pine Ridge Reservation. This newspaper centered events or happenings relevant to the Pine Ridge residents, which may have included job postings, advertisements, or achievements of students in the local school. The newspaper also included many warnings and informative articles to residents questioning practices and problematic behavior within the community, as well as articles targeting the exploitation of land and culture that took place in Pine Ridge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In a newspaper article addressed to the Editor of The Oglala War Cry, Debbie Rook writes a letter questioning the actions allowing Casey Tibbs, a cowboy and actor at the time, to record and possibly use film of a sacred dance, the Sun Dance, in a film he was producing, \u201cThe Wild Breed.\u201d Rook points out that the community \u201close[s] money each year on the Sundance,\u201d pointing out that this would\u2019ve been an opportunity for the community to be compensated. Rook parallels this exploitation with the sale of the Manhattan Island, which was sold from the Algonquin Indians to Peter Minuit for what today would be $24 in 1626. By comparing these events, Rook emphasizes the importance of the Sun Dance and the history that the community has between non-Indigenous people (and in this case, white people) and their culture. This brings to question \u2013 how should you collaborate and approach the culture of a people who have historically been exploited, deceived, or oppressed?
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Engaging in another person\u2019s culture can be a touchy subject \u2013 learning about other cultures is valuable and even fun! In some cases, however, it\u2019s clear that some people overstep in their engagement of a culture that they\u2019re not originally … Continue reading