Clara Caufield. Photo from Native News Project / University of Montana School of Journalism

Talking with non-Indian journalists
A Cheyenne Voice
By Clara Caufield
www.nsweekly.com

“I want to have an impact,” said Paul (who desires to be anonymous), a young non-Native journalist from California who recently called me, engaging in intellectual discussion about some aspects of Northern Cheyenne history, thinking I might have the answers to many of his questions. He found me on the internet, due to some former stories I penned for Native Sun News.

“We are living in the same country, trying to understand one another. Yours is an under-told story,” he said. “I would like to help tell it in a good way,” he reassured.

In tribal tradition, I had to strongly demure. “I don’t have many answers, but plenty of questions,” I cautioned. Yet, I found our conversation enlightening, because he knows more about some details of our tribal history than I do, although from books.

It is curious that so many non-native, well-intentioned, compassionate and empathic journalists want to write stories about Indians, er..I mean Native Americans, er. I mean indigenous people, currently the most politically correct label. As stated before, I agree with Uncle Leroy Whiteman, age 78, who said “I was born an Indun and think I will stay one.

To read the rest of the story, visit the all new Native Sun News website: Talking with non-Indian journalists

(Clara Caufield can be reached at acheyennevoice@gmail.com)

Copyright permission Native Sun News