First of all, thanks for the support regarding typos and wrong spelling. And yes, this shouldn't be the issue here.
Trad Dancer, you don't answer questions in general? You ignored all I said. I do agree with many in here, you didn't get the point yet. I will give you an example you may understand. I do not know your life experiences, but do you know the feeling being different, a human being 3rd class? Do you know how it feels to be discriminated? Do you know how it feels to see your loved ones suffering? To be short on food, on heat in winter, on everything. No support from official side, no chance to get a job? Can you imagine how it feels to get insulted everywhere you go, to get spit on? You leave with your family in hope for the better and what happens? Your little daughter is afraid to go to school and gets real sick if she has to, because the other kids are picking on her, beating her up and so on. Can you imagine how it feels to hear people calling your wife and family bad names just out of the blue? All what is left is your way, your traditional way, your teachings and beliefs. And that makes you proud again.
Now Trad Dancer, can you imagine, that people like me don't want any white guys who represent us? Not even Mixed Bloods. Why? If you never lived that kind of life, you don't know anything about it, about the need of Native People. If you never walked in our shoes, how can you ever think you can represent us? These experiences you can't learn from the computer or out of a book. Our People live NDN, these guys only play NDN. They don't know what they are talking about. Coming again to the educational part. Where I come from, at least in the time I grew up, education was not available. We were busy to survive, to make it from one day to the other. No Mom and Dad who paid for everything. But we never lost our pride. And now we shall allowe people who have no climbs what they are talking about, to take that away from us while they play NDN? The point is, white or mixed blood, they can NOT speak for us, because they know nothing about our life. But on the other hand they claim to act and speak in our interest. What a joke.
You said, they have now new guys there. Well, the head and leaders of that group didn't change, right? Still a fake NDN group, just with more players. Weekend Indians who live a normal white men's life over the week. I couldn't choose what I am, I stuck with it, with all bad and good. I have to live every day the life I got, no matter what. And I am grateful to Great Spirit for what I am. Now do you tell me they may choose to live my life? Well, the nicer part of it, from the other part they have no idea.
We shall stop this and work together? On what? Let us hear your proposal please.
Thanks for the definition for autonomous.
Definition for autonomous
- self-governing: politically independent and self-governing
- able to choose: able to make decisions and act on them as a free and independent moral agent
- self-sufficient: existing, reacting, or developing as an independent, self-regulating organism
Encarta World English Dictionary
other wise not following or adleast adhearing to the guide lines and beliefs of the first AIM
First AIM? How many do we have? Sorry, I think I have there a lack of education too. Anyhow, regardles how you name the game, they still use the name AIM and their logos. With that they make believe they are part of what we know as AIM. Which is a misrepresentation of what you call first AIM and what it stands for and what people believed in. These guys have a nice ride on the back of Leonhard, Banks and others, who made a commitment for the People.
All that nice talking about this group and their leaders is a slap in the face of all true Native people. I disagree with Trad Dancer, this shouldn't be over at all. I don't get it. NDN's are so worried about mascots and all that other twinky, wannabe, New Age frauds, but here we do have something even worse. A group of NDN's by heart (?) or what ever, who deceitfully claim to speak in our names. How much worse can it get. send 'em on the Rez for the rest of their life, may be they'll get an idea what we are talking about.
Last but not least a special recognition of Critter. Good and strong words, a man with common sense and a clear mind.
Truth does not need many words or "big" words. Truth speaks in it's own words, simple and understandable.
In my life I learned one thing. Stay with your people, fight for your people. They are the only one's who are with you. I can not and will not accept, tolorate or support a group like that, lead from Non-NDNs.