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Here's a link to the solution.

Big problem I see is putting one race, religion, sex or political orientation into the same shoe box and bad mouthing or stereotyping them. I have lived with a lot of different folks big cities and small, fought with and worked with people of all races, religions and political beliefs. One thing I learned is there is trash in all walks of life, I have know several trappers one in particular, I would put with the scum of the earth wife beater, child molester including his own and thief. For sure not a shining example of a trapper, I have even had two doors closed in my face because of his lack of ethics I guess those folks thought all trappers must be the same shooting deer for a bait. I guess my point being seems like there is a lot of bashing going on these days for unjust reason and I sure hate to see it on this forum.

I'm sure Metis Leader Louis Riel would beg to differ with you, but he can't since the Saskatchewan Government Hung him by the neck during the Native Rebellion in 1885.

OOPS !!!

w

out here in rural America if you go into a run down trailer park you will find out the stereotype is real. certainly not 100% but real all the same. people who sit around feeling sorry for theirself, taking whatever drug is handy, nicotine, ethanol, meth, marijuana, whatever they can get their hands on. waiting on their food stamps and cash assistance. both are all gone in two three days and they start waiting again. most of their stealing is from each other. it never stops. promiscuity and incest abound. never make any attempt to do for theirself but whine and cry nonstop about how bad they have it. I have little sympathy for them.

I don't mind helping somebody out of a hole. throwing money and food to them so they can live in the hole is just stupid.

There are a lot of problems, and unfortunately not very many today are doing much to help. Most people would rather be “right” than be helpful. You can be absolutely factually right about the problems, the victim culture, welfare etc, and still not contribute anything to the solution. Unfortunately that’s what most Conservatives are doing these days, which leaves the Liberals to try to “fix” things with their faulty systems.

Reading this conversation brings 2 specific things to mind, that badly need to stop:

1.Victim Identity. Quit telling people how bad you have it. Quit making it a goal to convince people that you had it as bad or worse than someone else. No matter what color you are or how hard you really did have it. If you feel that you need to explain your poverty or disadvantage to someone to explain your identity, then you have a victim identity complex, and you’re just as pathetic no matter what color you are. I’m straight, white, blue collar conservative male and I’m sick to the gills of hearing how “persecuted” straight white conservative males are. It doesn’t matter if it’s true! When did we become such whiners?? Once upon a time men took pride in overcoming disadvantages and wanted to be known for success, so they would downplay their hardships and brag about their victory, because that’s how they wanted to be identified. Today it seems that everyone just wants to win the moaning contest. We as a culture need to grow some pride again.

2. Stereotyping. There’s nothing wrong with noticing correlations, and there’s nothing wrong with stating them. Stereotypes exist because we humans as a species instinctively notice patterns and group correlations. It is wrong, however, to presumptively judge individuals based on them. It’s wrong to assume that a Native is welfare-dependent. It’s wrong to assume that a white person, or anyone, is racist. It’s wrong to assume that someone thinks you’re racist. It’s wrong to assume where someone gets their money, or what they do with it, or what they should do with it. We just need to stop. Stereotypes simply perpetuate stereotypes. Natives understandably had a strong distrust of whites for a couple generations. That caused them to make decisions that were often economically detrimental for them, such as withdrawing from white society and avoiding jobs. Then a new generation of whites started judging them for being poor and antisocial, and the Natives judged the whites for being racist all over again, and the cycle continued.

We as people need to simply refuse to act on stereotypes and evaluate each other as individuals. There is a difference between knowing a stereotype and acting on it. For example, I know that statistically Alaska Natives have a high rate of alcoholism. But I am still willing to hire them and give each one a chance on an individual basis. As a business owner, I’ve hired and worked with many natives and whites of different backgrounds, and here’s basically what my policy is:
“I’m an individual, and I’ll treat, respect and judge you as an individual. We don’t owe each other for anyone anyone else did, and we have no right to blame each other for anything anyone else did. You owe me the work I pay you to do, and I owe you the wages you earn, nothing more, nothing less.”

I think that’s the way it should be, and the sooner we all start acting that way, the better everyone will be.

Very true.

Maybe not. Maybe that is just where they belong, most would fail in the work force anyway and just be a headache to most employers.

Great post,Kenai Kid.

Anytime you pigeon hole any group based on a perceived notion your going to be more wrong then right often. You see it all of the time on here people will focus on or even search for what they "need" to confirm their created beliefs rather then think beyond what they want to see.

What happens when facts back up the notion ?

"And To you Profitt,I call out bigotry against Indigenous people because my wife and Kids are Cree."

Lol !!

Again , I appreciate Native's input on this matter .

The reports I've read say that Native women and girls are 10-25 times more likely to be victims of violent crime , specifically rape and murder, than women in any other demographic. Those aren't my numbers .

Secondly, we know that practically all victims of violent crime know their assailant. So, stands to reason that other Natives are the perpetrators.

Again, not Aaron Proffitt's opinion. Facts.

The solution lies directly within the respective communities.

Charles , how does that work as, last I'd read , DNA can't be used to establish tribal membership . Elizabeth Warren found this out .

You drive around the Rez pointing fingers at everyone your going to be wrong more then your right a higher percentage of problems per capita that comes with the substance abuse issues yes but not everyone. I have ran into more people trying to make things better then worse over the years but there are a lot of horror stories also but still it's not everyone!

At this time I’ll ask that everyone keep civil and refrain from taking scalps, women, and children...firewater and horses are fair game though lol

You be the bigger person and choose to treat people as individuals rather than the stereotype. You control your actions regardless of your opinions OR facts.

I could treat every Alaska Native I meet like an alcoholic child molester, and I might be right 40% of the time (more for alcohol), but it wouldn’t do anything to help any problems.

I choose, based on my own character, to treat every person as an individual with a blank slate until they show otherwise, regardless of the facts of their heritage, culture or family.

What it comes down to, Aaron Proffitt, is whether your own behavior is controlled by statistics or character. Or another way to put it, is your character bigger or smaller than the facts about other people?

kenaikid, might as well leave it alone. most of these people have their minds made up about Natives, whether or not they have any first hand knowledge. they watch their westerns, and type in "bad things about indians" on their google machines. But none of them know who we are. virtually none care. for 200 years the most powerful nation on earth has done everything it could to wipe first my people, and then our culture, off the earth. Yet, we remain. generations of my people were forcibly removed from their homes and taken to boarding schools were they were taught it was bad to be indian. brutally beaten for speaking our own language, and made to dress and act like "civilized" whites. But despite all that, i am a fluent speaker. Federal and State law made it illegal for us to practice our faith until 1978. Yet many of us still know what we believe and why. many states barred us from voting until 1957. Now there are native governers, and senators, and Representatives. It is in the darkest part of night that the lights shine brightest. and the same is true of the reservations. While there is undeniable darkness, it brings out some of the best people God has ever graced this earth with. Grandmas who raise 12 grandchildren with dignity and grace. never complaining, never failing. Women who have been the victims of unspeakable attrocities who stand back up to help others in the same boat. So you people can sit at your computers and talk about whats wrong with us all you want. If guns and cannons and prisons didnt break us then surely some stereotypes on a forum wont get me down. I am Proud of who i am. and i am Proud to call myself Lakota, because we are without a doubt some of the toughest and most stubborn and resilient people anywhere on earth.

Well said Nativetrapper10 and all the best to you and yours this day.

Seems as though you've ran into a few bad apples and used that as a basis to form an opinion about the majority...

There's a word for that.

Mike