Indigenous Peoples March
Reflections from Native women scholars
By: Cecilia Marek
Tribal Affiliation: Diné/Nimiipuu/Hopi
American Indian Studies — Indigenous Rights and Social Justice, MS candidate
Growing up on the Nez Perce reservation, my parents raised me to have pride in my culture and feel empowered by it. They encouraged me to fight for our people and work to create a better life for the next generations. Advocacy for Indigenous issues has continued to be a passion and personal responsibility for me so it seemed destined that my first trip to Washington D.C. would be to attend the Indigenous Peoples March (IPM). As a student in the American Indian Studies (AIS) master’s program, I can work toward this goal while strengthening my understanding of Indigenous rights and social justice. My thesis, which focuses on Indigenous women’s leadership in activism and advocacy, was partly why I joined AZ Rally, and I felt fortunate to travel with Amanda Blackhorse to IPM to see first-hand how she works to combat racist mascots.
The Washington football team’s merchandise lines the halls of Reagan National Airport, and I found it ironic that my first experience in D.C. was being bombarded with the racist logo when we were traveling to advocate against it. I felt a mix of anger and frustration at seeing people in team jerseys and hats emblazoned with the racist logo and slur. The frustration remained the next morning as we met with D.C. Councilman David Grosso, and I shared my experience with him. To me, this specific experience and how it made me feel as an Indigenous person was the most impactful statement that I could have made. We were able to humanize the effect racist mascots have and do so in a place where Native representation is extremely limited.
The IPM left me feeling energized to carry on my life’s mission. Witnessing so many Indigenous people congregate at the Lincoln Memorial — a space that celebrates America’s legacy of displacement and white supremacy — affirmed that we can make a difference through direct action and asserting our voices. We Indigenized that space that day with our colorful regalia, traditional languages, and prayers and medicines that lingered in the air even after we dispersed. I felt so much pride hearing Amanda speak about racist mascots and the damage they do to our Native youth. I also felt humbled knowing that I have so much more to learn about fighting against institutions that manipulate our visibility and representation. It is important to me to honor my responsibilities in caring for my family and communities, just like many other Native students. Through my research and personal experiences like the IPM, I continue to learn from the strong Indigenous women who have come before me on how to best work for change, with the goal of building for the next generations who will come after.
By: Marlena Robbins
Tribal Affiliation: Diné/Mescalero Apache/Spanish
’18 MS American Indian Studies — Indigenous Rights and Social Justice
My dad’s generation was embedded in the Washington team. It gave them pride and validation to be acknowledged by mainstream sports. Despite his team choice, he has always been a supportive influence, with his willingness to openly discuss opposing ideas intended to broaden our minds in the process.
When I became a mom, my vision shifted and my son’s identity became a priority: his long term understanding of his place in this world and how it is reflected back to him. AZ Rally has been that support system: a group of parents, individuals, community members and activists determined to reframe a toxic perception that has plagued the minds of billions.
Washington was a new experience for me. I had only been to the East Coast once before when I was nine for my sister’s Army graduation. To see the famous white buildings in person as opposed to pictures in U.S. history textbooks made me feel conflicted. I thought about the many Indigenous leaders walking through these buildings fighting for human decency only to be ignored, lied to, manipulated or turned away. I thought about Hastiin Ch’il Hajin and Asdzáá Tl’ógí (Navajo Chief Manuelito and Juanita) and their journey here to advocate for Diné rights.
Amanda Blackhorse has advocated for the changing of the Washington team name and logo both in the legal and local realms of activism. Her voice opened the doors for AZ Rally to have a seat at the table in Washington, where we shared our stories with council members and representatives. It felt surreal to be in these spaces as a tourist with the mission of being acknowledged, heard and understood. I never envisioned this for myself as a young chizhi girl growing up on the rez. It is a further testament to the enrichment of our Native youth, that even in the most rural of areas, they should strive for a seat at the table.
The march is what brought us to Washington. Without the intentional planning of many Indigenous communities willing to make this day heard around the world, we would not have had these experiences to share. The many people from different nations convening in the same space echoed energy that can only be described as healing. By the end of the trip I felt exhausted, angry and blessed, conflicted about the atrocities this government has committed against tribes, and grateful for the lineage of our ancestors and descendants pushing for us to be here.
There is still more work to be done. I feel confident in the new growing movements taking place throughout Indigenous Country to be healthier, wiser and courageous in the face of a system designed to keep us compliant.
IMPORTANCE OF RESISTANCE
Q&A with Amanda Blackhorse (Diné)
What do you do when you see someone wearing a slurskin shirt?
AB: I approach them and ask questions like, ‘Did you know the logo you are wearing or the term r-word is offensive to Native people?’ In my experience, it’s always been that the fans either get super defensive, aggressive or they don’t want to hear it and walk away. Very rarely have I talked to folks who were open to the education. This may seem pretty daunting, but you never know whose mind you will change. I would definitely take precautions when doing this. Your safety is important.
Where would you recommend students start if they want to get involved in advocacy?
AB: Start by educating yourself about the issue(s) you are interested in. There is a plethora of information online. I would look into credible sources and websites. There is so much information out there; educate yourself and get connected with folks in the movement. Volunteering and getting involved is an excellent way to start. We have to put in the hard work and learn to be a good relative in activist circles. Most of the activist work is about being a good relative, kinship and learning how to be a better human so we can help others. Be ready to do some work on yourself and be open to feedback from your community.
What is the most impactful way to educate someone about cultural appropriation and/or Native mascots?
AB: We need to educate folks even if it’s scary or if it takes us out of our comfort zone. It can be intimidating, but you will find that after speaking up, you will be more comfortable with it and find that you harness the power of our people within. Education is important, but it’s not our only tool to get people’s attention. That is where protests, rallies and other forms of resistance are important. We need to demand to be heard. I also think it’s important to understand that the responsibility shouldn’t always rest in Indigenous hands. Why do we have to exhaust ourselves to address these issues? Where is the responsibility from the rest of the community? That’s what protest does: It demands accountability from the non-Indigenous community when education has been exhausted.
