"I grew up believing white people were stingy and greedy. They didn't care for their relatives -- putting their elderly in nursing homes and letting family members and other relatives go homeless. Here were people who I thought incapable of feeling compassion and love toward their fellow man, grieving for my son as much as his own relatives were. They obviously loved him very, very much. Their love for my son along with their kindness and compassion toward me made me reexamine my feeling toward them and I made this promise: 'I will never make a racist comment about the people, or the town, of Devils Lake again' -- a promise that I have kept to this day."
-
This past Thursday, I attended a State Board of Higher Education (SBHE) meeting because I had heard rumors that they were going to retire the Fighting Sioux nickname and logo. I wanted to be there to witness history. Although the name was not retired, I heard several board members and two UND administrators say the same things we anti-nickname Indians have been saying for years, that the use of the nickname and logo is hurtful and harmful toward Indians. SBHE board member Haugen concluded his argument for retiring the nickname and logo with this statement: "Even if we get an agreement with Standing Rock, that is not going to change the divisive nature of this logo and that is a bigger issue with respect for individuals, for harmony in the state. We see tribal members, family members, divided over this issue." For the board members and the two top UND administrators to state their view publicly, a view that was similar to our (Indians against the nickname) view, took a huge amount of moral courage. I left the meeting feeling pretty good toward my non-Indian fellow North Dakotans.
- I then went to meet with my CPA. After that meeting, I went to pick up my Pomegranate (POM) Juice at the health store. Medical research has shown Pomegranate Juice inhibits the growth of prostate cancer. Although it is expensive, I make sure I drink 8 oz. of it every day. Anyway, as I was getting out of my car at the health store, a non-Indian lady pulled up several parking spaces down. When I got to the door of the health store, the lady had stepped out of her car and appeared to be heading to the health store, also. I looked at her and reading my look she said, "You don't have to wait for me." I replied, "I'm so slow today by the time I get moving, you will be here." So, I waited at the door and held it open for her as she walked into the store. Once in the store, the clerk recognized me and went to get my case of POM juice while the lady and I continued to talk. The clerk returned, and just before she was going to ring up my POM juice, the lady told her, "Put that on my bill. I will pay for it" (my POM juice). I was surprised to say the least. Why would a non-Indian lady, who I never met before I held the door open for her a few minutes ago, want to pay for my juice? "Holding a door open for a lady is not that big of a deal," I thought. So I asked her, "Now why would you want to do that?" "Because I want to and because I can," she replied. Without hesitating, I told her, "One of our (Dakota) core values is generosity, so I will accept your offer." I then went on to tell her how my non-Indian friends had a hard time accepting my generosity because they do not understand our concept of generosity. When I finished explaining, she said, "You will honor me if you accept mine." So I walked over to her, thanked her, shook her hand and left with my $80 case of POM juice.
