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Your explanation makes no difference, not sure I buy it anyway. You're assuming stupidity. I obviously need to explain myself. You may define culture differently for Indians than other ethnic groups, I don't. I expect some unique cultural traditions in art, music, language, cuisine, etc. to be retained and cherished in some way. This is what is lacking. It's not completely devoid, as there is a travelling Pow-Wow that stops by, there are a couple museums, there is a privately run school desperately trying to keep the language alive (very few Indians here know the traditional language). What I see instead is a huge number of the things I listed in my original post.
My reasons are partly selfish... culture is interesting. But I also hate to see little interest and pride in one's cultural traditions, for any ethnicity.
Actually, I was going to post something similar to ABQConvict's post saying that you aren't going to see Native Americans in traditional dress any more than you'll see German Americans in leiderhosen or Mexican Americans in sombreros ... except for ceremonial or cultural events. That doesn't mean that German Americans or Mexican Americans or Native Americans don't retain at least parts of their culture but I think, for the most part, the unique aspects of their cultures are rather limited in every day life, and most of their "culture" is ordinary "American" culture. I think that was ABQConvict's point, also.
My ethnic heritage is European: Italian and Polish. After three generations in this country, my siblings, cousins, and I retain very little of our European culture: nominally Roman Catholic, know a few words and phrases, and celebrate with Christmas Eve dinners with traditional foods while Christmas Day is for traditionally "American" traditions and foods. Our children and grandchildren, who are also more ethnically/racially/religiously mixed, are even more disconnected from our "traditional" culture. It's just what happens to families as they become "Americanized" over generations unless they live in self-segregated communities determined to maintain their culture like the Amish or Hasidic Jews.
I live in the western Southern Tier of NYS where there's a sizable Native American presence, namely the Seneca Nation of Indians, which has three reservations in Cattaraugus County. In my city, Native Americans and Hispanics vie for standing as the second largest ethnic/racial group behind whites, something like 8-10% of the population each, and there are numerous residents of mixed European/Seneca heritage who don't necessarily identify as "Seneca". In Salamanca, 30 miles to the east, has a much higher percentage of residents who are either full or part Seneca as the city itself is located on the Allegany Reservation. Indeed, non-enrolled Senecas cannot actually own land in Salamanca any more than they can own land on any other Seneca reservation; they own their houses but lease the land that houses sit on.
Both Jamestown and Salamanca high schools have school nicknames that would be taboo elsewhere in the state: the Red Raiders (Jamestown) and the Warriors (Salamanca). Jamestown High did dispose of its former "mascot", the Big Indian, years ago. He now stands alongside the NYS Thruway north of the Silver Creek exit, marking one of the numerous smokeshops/gas stations that line US 20.
I grew up near Gowanda, NY, which is next door to the Cattaraugus Reservation, where most of the Senecas live. As part of school centralization in the 1950s, the Thomas Indian School on the Catt Res was closed and the students attended public schools in either Silver Creek or Gowanda, so through HS, I had "school friends" who were Senecas. There was a strong racist element among some whites in the area towards Senecas when I was in school, but I've been away too long to judge whether it still exists as strongly as it did 40+ years ago.
What I do know is that the money from the casinos and the smokeshops/gas stations has resulted in a small almost village-like area developing in the heart of the reservation of the Catt Res. This little settlement has always been there as there's several churches and church cemeteries that predate the Seneca Nation of Indians' current prosperity. The SNI government administrative offices are there, including a health center, library, community center, and a Head Start pre-school. There's subsidized senior apartments, a laundromat, a large gas station/car wash/restaurant business. There are several other businesses in the area. The Catt Res has its own its American Legion post located here as well as a brand spanking new "safety complex" housing the volunteer fire department, ambulance corps, and SNI police. It probably has an emergency command center as well. There some additional housing in this community, not sure if it's SNI owned or private, as well as lacrosse fields (lacrosse is a traditional Iroquois game), baseball diamonds, etc. The community center hosts annual events including pow wows and festivals. The thing is, unless you're local or have some reason to drive between Gowanda and Silver Creek, you would never know that this community existed.
The Senecas maintain their own peace keepers courts which deal with family disputes(which can be complicated because the Senecas are matrilineal) and other purely Seneca issues. There's considerable tension between NYS and the Senecas over the sales tax issue, but generally, much better relations between the Senecas and the Catt County government, so the Sheriff's department handles most criminal matters on both reservations, including security at the Seneca Allegany casino in Salamanca.
The Allegany Reservation is much more sparsely populated, and I think more Senecas live in Salamanca than out in the rest of the reservation. One of the reasons for this is that many Senecas from the Allegany Res lived in the valley that was flooded when the Kinzua dam created the Allegany Reservoir back in the 1960s and were displaced to either Salamanca or the Catt Res. BTW, nearly 50 years later, the loss of the valley is still a sore spot for the people and their descendents, white and Seneca, who were displaced. Those people sacrificed their roots to save people living along the Allegany from Warren to Pittsburgh from flooding.
The Seneca Museum is located off I-86 in Salamanca. I think if you're interested in finding out more about the Senecas, that's the place to start.
First off let me apologize for any implication of stupidity on anyone's part, I was reacting to the fact that I felt my original post had been wildly misinterpreted.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Krisps
I obviously need to explain myself. You may define culture differently for Indians than other ethnic groups, I don't.
I certainly don't define culture differently for different groups. If anything my definition of culture is overly orthodox as a result of my academic background.
My point is that while you may not be able to casually observe how modern Native Americans are culturally distinct from other modern Americans, that doesn't mean that there aren't distinctly indigenous traditions alive in communities that, from the outside, look like any other town in the country.
Ultimately, to exist in America means following the greater economic and cultural trends. As Linda_d pointed out, there are precious few communities that do this, the Amish, ultra-orthodox Jews, and the Fundamentalist Church of Latter Day Saints being a few of the chief examples.
But consider that they are only able to maintain these observable distinctions from mainstream society as a result of conscious self-segregation to the point of prohibiting even superficial social interactions with people outside of the group. This is bolstered by socially repressive cultural institutions that completely circumscribe the minutia of acceptable behaviour. To buck the cultural trends in the Amish and Hasidic communities means to be shamed and shunned. It is a double edged sword.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Krisps
I expect some unique cultural traditions in art, music, language, cuisine, etc. to be retained and cherished in some way. This is what is lacking. It's not completely devoid, as there is a travelling Pow-Wow that stops by, there are a couple museums, there is a privately run school desperately trying to keep the language alive (very few Indians here know the traditional language).
I entirely agree with you on this point.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Krisps
My reasons are partly selfish... culture is interesting. But I also hate to see little interest and pride in one's cultural traditions, for any ethnicity.
I get your point, we're good. I should highlight that I'm looking beyond the superficial (most importantly the language), but yes I should better acknowledge there are many things I can't observe, and rightfully so. I feel a bit like a jerk now for the initial criticism b/c it was so negative and since it's really none of my biz. It's mainly just a disappointment on my part.
I also know that there is a Native American studies program at Syracuse University and I believe that through the University's University College program, you can learn a local Native language. Native American Studies Interdisciplinary Program
Something I noticed earlier today was that I saw a license plate that said "Onondaga Nation" at the top, with a number in between and "Wolf Clan" at the bottom. Has anyone else ever seen such license plates in other parts of the state?
School districts like La Fayette, Silver Creek, Salmon River, Akron, Gowanda, Salamanca, Southampton, Evans-Brant(Lake Shore), Onondaga Central, Massena and Niagara-Wheatfield, among maybe some others, have above average to high Native American student populations.
Cities such as Buffalo, Niagara Falls and Syracuse also have relatively visible/notable Native American populations as well. Stockbridge Valley and Oneida City are also districts where native American students(most likely Oneidas) make up about 2-3% of the student population.
Here is some information on the Thompson Brothers from the Onondaga Nation south of Syracuse, who are stars in the game of Lacrosse: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2CmZbuVMtE
Those from the Onondaga Nation attend the Onondaga Nation School until 8th grade before they go to Lafayette Jr/Sr High School. There are also Natives that live in the district outside of the Nation. LaFayette School District
This is an arena on the Onondaga Nation on Route 11: Home
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