Destructive mentality threatens tribal culture
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Editor,
I have never been persuaded to write to your paper until today after reading Shayla Couture’s letter in the March 13 issue. Shayla, I feel you have been misguided as a “tribal member,” and there are a few points I want to make to you.
You wrote it is “disgraceful and racist” to hear tribal members not having anything good to say about non-tribal members. I have to wonder: do you feel the same way when non-tribal members have nothing good to say about tribal members? Furthermore, what about when tribal members speak in disrespect of their fellow tribal members and the tribe as a whole? For example, you dismiss the fact that our treaty is valid and you sum up our tribal sovereignty as a “so-called nation within a nation.” Is this not disgraceful and racist?
Overall, your letter demonstrates great dissociation from our tribe, and it makes me wonder what it means to you to be Indian. You mostly speak of per capita, medical/dental benefits, education, etc., as being associated with being from this tribe. People who associate tribal membership with money, assets, and services are the only tribal people I see thinking they are owed something. They are the proof that being enrolled does not make you Sqelixw. If these “handouts” are why you’re “very proud” of your native heritage, I suggest you get more culturally involved with your people to reexamine what it truly means to be Salish, Kootenai and Pend d’Oreille.
I want everyone to take note of the destructive mentality exemplified in Shayla’s letter that is surely in the minds of other reservation residents. This very mentality threatens our culture, values and way of life as Indian people, and because of it, I do not consider her nor others like her to be my people. Shey hoy.
Catherine Addison
Pablo
