A disservice: Thanksgiving as Native American Month

[Rita Mayer <RickAcousticRick@AOL.COM>]

I think that Native Americans, as well as Americans of all descents,
particularly African- and Hispanic-Americans and women (because of their
prominence as some of the largest "minority" populations here), deserve to be
recognized accurately throughout the year, not just one month of the year.
The history and current status of all these groups, I believe, should be
infused in our curricula always, not as a special "aside," as if their
histories are separate from what some people consider to be the "real"
America, or white and European and male. Our "real" America is influenced by
Native Americans, African-Americans, Hispanic-Americans, Asian-Americans,
Arab-Americans, women, etc., just as much as by European-American males. It
is everywhere in our music, food, language, in everyday items we use invented
by these peoples, etc. Right now we have months set aside to celebrate the
heritage and contributions of all or most of these peoples, and I understand
that that makes planning easier for teachers, but we are doing a great
disservice to these cultures and to women as well as to our students, as this
gives our kids the impression, at least subliminally, that these groups are
not "really" a part of our history, culture, and country.

It wouldn't be that hard to infuse these cultures as a given into our
curricula every month of the school year if we try. As media specialists, we
have the perfect forum to expedite this.

Dissenting opinions are welcome and encouraged.

Rita Mayer
Media Specialist / LIS Grad Student
Biscayne Gardens Elementary / Univ. S. FL
Miami, Florida USA
RickAcousticRick@aol.com

In a message dated 3/2/01 3:00:58 AM Eastern Standard Time,
LISTSERV@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU writes:

<< Date:    Thu, 1 Mar 2001 22:15:27 -0600
 From:    "Brian A. Doxtator" <bdox@EARTHLINK.NET>
 Subject: Thanksgivng as Native American Month?

 I read an email providing good ideas regarding library themes.  I do
 realize that the ideas provided were examples only.  However, I would like
 to respond.  One idea was doing a Native American theme during the month of
 November.

 This is not a good representation of North American Indian people.  Young
 people are given a view that North American Indians are of the past.  We
 North American Indians deal with misconceptions all the time.  There are
 Congressman who still believe we all live in teepees(Honest).  And for the
 record, me or my ancestors never lived in a teepee.

 Anyway, I would hope that librarians and teachers promote North American
 Indians as contemporary people and incorporate as much as they can into all
 displays and/or curriculums.  Doing a North American Indian theme during
 thanksgiving is not a good idea.

 Yawa'ko(Yah-want-go)
 Thank You.

 Brian A. Doxtator
 UWM Student - Slis Program
 bdox@earthlink.net >>

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