Post by Katie Hester on Aug 31, 2014 16:52:37 GMT -8
"Pleasure to meet you, I'm Elizabeth Walking-Bear."
"Oh, you're Indian?! The first Native I've meet since coming to Seattle."
You're in the land of my mother's people and you know nothing of us. Of course I smile and nod my head before moving to the next person to repeat the introductions. The smile feels strained though and I hope that it's not noticeable that it's forced.
"What kind of Indian are you? Oh Duwamish, was the river named after your people or are your people named after the river?"
Oh, how sweet. The river's new name has spread far enough for it to be assumed that it was always called such. Polite reply and move on.
"...well I wanted to show my appreciation, so I gave her a wood bracelet. I hope it was appropriate according to your people's customs. I always like to pay the help."
I cringe and grimace. Of course we're nothing but help to you. My mother's people sold their land rather than fight. So damned helpful. Disgrace on both sides of the situation.
"Miss Walking-Bear, would you speak with me, I have a request that perhaps only you can assist me with. I wish to learn the language of your people. I am a collector of languages and have had so little chance to learn any of the languages native to this land. Would you be willing to assist me in this task?"
A raise of the eyebrow is all that reveals my surprise. "Professor, I would of course be willing to assist you. This would be considered a minor task for me to do. Do you agree?"
"Why, yes of course. Let us walk and talk of other matters this evening though. Such a lovely event with so many new faces..."
"Oh, you're Indian?! The first Native I've meet since coming to Seattle."
You're in the land of my mother's people and you know nothing of us. Of course I smile and nod my head before moving to the next person to repeat the introductions. The smile feels strained though and I hope that it's not noticeable that it's forced.
"What kind of Indian are you? Oh Duwamish, was the river named after your people or are your people named after the river?"
Oh, how sweet. The river's new name has spread far enough for it to be assumed that it was always called such. Polite reply and move on.
"...well I wanted to show my appreciation, so I gave her a wood bracelet. I hope it was appropriate according to your people's customs. I always like to pay the help."
I cringe and grimace. Of course we're nothing but help to you. My mother's people sold their land rather than fight. So damned helpful. Disgrace on both sides of the situation.
"Miss Walking-Bear, would you speak with me, I have a request that perhaps only you can assist me with. I wish to learn the language of your people. I am a collector of languages and have had so little chance to learn any of the languages native to this land. Would you be willing to assist me in this task?"
A raise of the eyebrow is all that reveals my surprise. "Professor, I would of course be willing to assist you. This would be considered a minor task for me to do. Do you agree?"
"Why, yes of course. Let us walk and talk of other matters this evening though. Such a lovely event with so many new faces..."
This is very fun, very condescending (to us poor white folk