By Sophia Mercado
With increasing awareness of the turmoil and injustice served to Indigenous communities in America, it has been brought to attention that there is a lot more we can do to support these communities. With Indigenous Peoples’ Day and Thanksgiving having passed, people may be curious as to how they can be allies to Indigenous people by amplifying Indigenous voices and recognizing their requests.
Address their requests
In 2019, Governor Gavin Newsom issued an apology to Indigenous communities. This apology prompted California Indigenous leaders and activists to urge for land reparations, correcting American history and addressing the mistreatment of Native people.
Indigenous communities want land returned to them so they can restore it and their cultural practices tied to it. Practicing rematriation, landowners have recognized Indigenous communities as their original inhabitants and returned land to them. But this isn’t a widespread occurrence, so organizations like Sogorea Te’ Land Trust raise money so Indigenous communities can gain back and redevelop their ancestral land. To support their mission you can donate here.
The current education system teaches fourth graders misapprehensions concerning the history of Native people. When talking about introducing a better way to teach Native American history and culture, Native Knowledge 360° manager Edwin Schupman believed that it was important to teach about it.
“If we had a better understanding of other people’s experience with things like immigration or activities like removing people—the impact that they have—I think then we would be less susceptible to inaccurate narratives and more capable of responding in thoughtful ways,” Schupman said.
To change this faulty curriculum, informing schools of Native Knowledge 360° as a valuable tool to teach children not only an accurate presentation of American history, but the importance of taking underrepresented perspectives into consideration for a well-informed view of history.
Writers Scott McLean and Sara Weisfeldt found that, according to the Department of Justice, Native American women are more than 10 times more likely than the rest of the population to be murdered. This goes to show the injustice that Indigenous people face in the legal system from the lack of initiative in finding and preventing crimes against Indigenous women.
Groups like Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women USA work to bring the missing home and protect Indigenous women through education and raising “awareness so that lawmakers and law enforcement can no longer neglect this issue.”
Buy from Indigenous people
According to Mic, Dr. Jessica R. Metcalfe discussed items stolen from Indigenous communities
“A lot of companies are making a lot of money off of the Native American trend and often selling the legacies that we’ve built, and none of that money or recognition goes back to Native people,” Metcalfe said. “So it is as if our culture has been hijacked without our consent.”
Indigneous people are open to people outside their communities wearing cultural items like moccasins and fringe with proper credits paid to Indigeous communities out of appreciation. But, to wear a headdress is disrespectful and those who appreciate Indigenous culture would know that a headdress is sacred and should not be worn outside of its intended purpose. According to Metcalfe, appropriating headdresses neglects the values and culture of Native people. Headdresses are sacred to Native people, not an item to be sold or worn by people who don’t practice their culture.
You can show your appreciation of Indigenous creations by buying from the sites that specifically host Indigenous creators like the ones on this list on Metcalfe’s blog.
Be an ally outside of monetary support
If you want to learn more about how to be an ally to Indigenous people, writer Simon Moya-Smith made a list “100 Ways to Support—Not Appropriate From—Native People” where he discusses situations people may find themselves in and how to avoid common, offensive behaviors.
Support Indigenous people’s voices
To connect and be informed of what Indigenous communities are experiencing, Native Hope is a newsletter that shares Indigenous stories and issues they are facing.
“The Cherokee Word for Water” (2013) directed by Charlie Soap, is a movie about Wilma Mankiller, first modern female chief of the Cherokee Nation, with a goal to bring water to her community.
“Crooked Hallelujah” by Kelli Jo Ford (Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma) is a story that follows a mother and daughter as they move away from their family in Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma and feel disconnected from home.
Donate
By donating to Native American Rights Fund you protect Native Americans rights, ensure that promises made to them are upheld and are recognized as individual communities that can govern themselves. The money collected on Native American Rights Fund goes to legal protection for Native Americans.
