CAPS #2

     The entire time I was reading chapter 4 I was thinking of the imprecise Native American history. History is always going to have a bit of confusion. Their are two sides to every argument. With two groups of people with vast cultural differences come together not by choice there can be hidden barriers in communication (Martin & Nakayama, 2013). The dominant culture has hidden certain parts of history from school books. Never once when I was in a history class growing up did I here about a successful Native in this world. Whether it come from the past or present, it was never found. This was in the reading, move on and forget was the plan.

     I want to examine history and identity. In many ways Native people kept their identity, but various laws and actions by the U.S. government had slowed the process. Things such as boarding schools where the culture and language was banned, or how so many cultural and spiritual events were illegal during a time. The identity was seriously in jeopardy.


     When in need of a push towards finding identity the American Indian Movement came. Much of any Native Americans culture can be linked to the AIM and what they did in the 60's and 70's. It's not a very well known part of U.S. history, but it's a huge part of Native identity history. AIM transformed Native people back to the past, where they could find their identity through culture. In the 70's Native people got religious freedom, which is a huge part of the culture.

     I understand I am familiar with this culture, but I did learn something recently that made me surprised I didn't know this. I had found out that for a long time at the Sun Dances held by Lakota, Ponca, and Cheyenne people that Native Americans aren't the only people in attendance to these sacred ceremonies. I had learned that people had traveled all the way from Japan to be a part of this. People across the globe are taking part in a religion that take place in a small region of this country. A religion that has only be legal for about 40 years. From this came an International Sun Dance. It has gone on for 8 years and happened in places like South America, Australia,  and Hawaii. It may end up traveling to Asia, Europe, and Africa. I found that to be incredible. 

Sources:

http://worldcouncilofelders.org/gatherings/international-sundance/
http://www.aimovement.org/ggc/history.html