Crystal Willcuts: Find common ground with urban Indians too

I worked to encourage the people doing good things on my reservation until I voiced my opinion on a matter and was told by a Native man that my opinion didn’t count because I didn’t live on the reservation. I was told I didn’t know what poverty, alcoholism, suicide, etc. was like, as if those problems stopped at reservation borders. So I stopped speaking. I stopped encouraging. Feeling shut out and unwanted by a tribe that I by every right belonged to; I let one man’s opinion stop me. But I won’t anymore.

To say Indians living off reservations don’t deserve a say in Indian affairs, mascot or otherwise or cannot contribute to the community unless we first attain the proper zip code is a ridiculous belief that excludes and divides Nations. It invalidates every Native on and off reservations. It disrespects elders and children and discounts experience. It throws another obstacle in the road of keeping our Nations, cultures, and languages alive. The message to all off-reservation Natives and non-Natives who do respect us and only want to help, is that they are unwanted and unwelcome, that their experiences and work are worthless. If one would want to bring Native people down and keep them down, this is the way to do it.

So what contributions are deemed worthy? What is it that makes us truly Indian then? Dancing, writing books, having long hair, doing sweats, being a tribal attorney or council member, overall, living where the government first dictated us to live?