But what shall we tell the children?



Thank you for the marvelous attendance at last week’s Nation Officer’s meeting. Clearly one of the most important items discussed was that the Indian theme will be dropped from the program at the end of the 2002-2003 season.

I have looked to my Y-Indian friends, my extended family here and across the 180,000 strong membership represented by hundreds of web sites across the country to see how people are responding to this news. As you can imagine it ranges from optimism about building a stronger program for the future through a sense of loss, some anger, some hurt and some stuff that is downright ugly.

I have exchanged emails with the chief of the Cherokee nation and he has echoed the response I wish to see propagated across the entire Salinan Nation
  1. The Indian Theme will be extinguished at the end of the year. The nation will work with local and national representatives to develop a strong program to last the next 80 years. If necessary we will develop our own.
  2. We will not dwell on the passing of the theme this year. A year is a very very very long time in the life of a young person.
  3. This will be the greatest year in the history of the program!!!

But what shall we tell the children?

As chief it is your responsibility to pass on the news. Unless of course you invite me to your meeting to do it for you!!!

You know your tribe best but I would suggest that you email your braves before the meeting so they are not “reacting” as you pass on the news. You can forward this email if you wish.
I think it would be preferable that the girls hear the news together however if one finds out in advance it will spread quickly………..

I would prefer to simply state that we feel we are showing great respect for the Native American traditions and customs by adopting a Native American theme. However some native Americans have expressed their feelings that our ceremonies are not respectful. Because of this we have decided that we will not call ourselves Indian Princesses next year. We will work to develop a new name and new theme.

I think it would be counterproductive to try to cover racism, lawsuits, fund raising issues etc in a group setting. I also think it would be counterproductive AT THIS TIME to bounce “new theme” ideas off the girls.

I do think it will be productive to ensure the braves are briefed before the meeting and that they continue the discussion “offline” with their daughter.

I would emphasize, as I did at the chief’s meeting, that the program was never about Indians – it was, and is, about strengthening the bond between father and daughter.

It is also important to emphasize that we will all be here next year doing the dress up dance and the campouts, its just that the chief won’t be wearing feathers next year
-    unless we adopt some kind of bird theme.

In Summary:

Good luck with your tribe, lets exchange notes at the next meeting and Noonway!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Whitewisp