Harold Monteau: Age, race discrimination in Indian Country

Opinion

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

"Age discrimination in Indian Country? Isn’t that an oxymoron. Sad to say, it is not. The traditional teachings of “respect for elders” and “ listen to your elders” are falling by the wayside as fast as an MTV video clip. Also, American Indians can be some of the most racially prejudiced people around. They even discriminate against other Indians and even against Indians in their own tribe that they consider “too white”.

My daughter Autumn and I are both big Celtics fans and when they beat the Lakers recently I texted her pointing out that the Celtics were indeed, old, but that it was their experience that won the game over a much younger Lakers team. Don’t get me wrong, when it comes to sports, I too put a premium on youth. Some of us should have retired from the courts long ago. I absolutely enjoy watching Indian Basketball Tournament, both men and women. Some of the women could have given me some lessons on the court when I was at my peak. The athleticism of today’s Indian Athletes is so far above what we exhibited. I think its nutrition and training. We existed on USDA commodities and subsidized school lunches and the only real court available was at the school. Our home courts were five gallon cans nailed to ply board. You had to be accurate since they usually sat plush with the backboard. But, I digress. My point is, there is a place for youthfulness in our Indian Culture, but there should also be a place for experience (age) in all facets of our culture. The call to “respect elders” and “listen to elders” should not only apply in the Sweat Lodge or Sun Dance Lodge or at other ceremonies. It should apply every day life.

I think it’s sad when you see a tribe that has benefited so greatly from the tough times that the elder generations have gone through turn around an kick out the very leaders that got them to economic success and replace them with “youngsters”, many of whom seem to have amnesia. Sure, our Indian Nations need the younger generations that may have had better access to education opportunities and have skills we need to improve the living conditions of our people. But, youth should not be looked upon as a total substitute for hard knocks education of our elders and the treasure trove of experience locked up in their brains. You need both kinds of leadership to improve the lives of the people while at the same time retaining who we are, our identity. We are Indians, not corporations."

Get the Story:
Harold Monteau: AGE AND RACE DISCRIMINATION IN INDIAN COUNTRY (Pechanga.net 6/16)