End Racial Bigotry NOW

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RACISM AT THE YMCA
"INDIAN PRINCESS" AND GUIDE PROGRAM

For those reading this page who are Native, no words need be written concerning the images and words on this page.  We know, firsthand the knife pains of a plundered culture whose images and sacred symbols and roles are taken by another without understanding...and then made a mockery.
For those of you who are not of the First Nations, the following may seem a "bit of fun", a way of drawing families together...but at whose expense?
Are there no sacred symbols within your own heritage from which you may draw?  Is your history so devoid of honor and respect, responsibility, caring and faith that you need take the history of another culture as your own (for entertainment?)?  Where is the honesty in this?   the responsibility?

The following words and images come from various YMCA "tribes" sites.  clicking on the image will take you to the page from which the photo was obtained.  They are reproduced here as an educational tool under Title 17 of the International Copywrite law, Fair Use doctrine, in order to end this practice of casual racism.
 

Five Principles I- The YMCA adopted Respect, Responsibility, Honesty, Caring and Faith as the five guiding principles. Since we have six camp-outs, these scripts fit well. We used this in the 1995-96 season.
 

RESPECT?

The Medicine Man, newly inducted into  the secret rite of the Fire Maker, attempted the impossible flying flaming arrow technique to light the campfire.   While momentarily confused (the arrow flew over the target, but did not land!),  the necessary magic spells were invoked and the flaming arrow found its mark and started the campfire!

 From the YMCA "Sioux Tribe"  Longhouse (?)
 

HONESTY?

"Last years Sioux Tribe Chief Bald Eagle (Dan Flint) and daughter MoonFlower        ....... From the Sioux Tribe and Longhouse page YMCA Indian Programs"

CARING AND FAITH?

SUGGESTED CAMPFIRE SKITS FROM: April '96 - Akela's Council

Little Wolf and Crazy Bear     Little Wolf: wolf howl     Crazy Bear: bear growl     Cowboys: Yippeeee"     Buffalo: "Hides"      Now Little Wolf and Crazy Bear were from a tribe of American     Indians who got their food hunting buffalo. They roamed the plains,     always on the look-out for buffalo. But since the cowboys had come     to their land, the buffalos were scarce. Little Wolf and Crazy Bear     had a hard time finding any buffalo to feed their people. But they     didn't have any trouble at all finding cowboys. In fact, they had to     hide quite often so the cowboys wouldn't shoot them. Up and down     the plains Little Wolf and Crazy Bear roamed searching out the     buffalo and hiding from the cowboys.      One day, Little Wolf saw something moving through the brush and     he called to Crazy Bear. "Hey, Crazy Bear, what is that?" I don't     know, Little Wolf", replied Crazy Bear, "But it looks like it might be     good to eat." Little Wolf laughed and said, "I think it belongs to the     cowboys." "Well, I know it's not a buffalo" replied Crazy Bear. So     Little Wolf, a true Indian hunter, pulled back his bow and the arrow     went straight to the mysterious animal. Crazy Bear then went to work     skinning and preparing it to take back to the tribe.      After all this work, the two Indian hunters were hungry, so they built     a fire and cooked some of the meat. "This tastes too good to be a     buffalo" said Little Wolf. "Yea" said Crazy Bear. "Those cowboys     sure raise good meat. I wonder why they kill our buffalo?"      When Little Wolf and Crazy Bear took the meat back to the tribe, all     the women wanted more of this meat. So the hunters set out to find     the cowboys and find what this strange animal was. When Little Wolf     and Crazy Bear came on the cowboy camp, it was early in the     morning. The cowboys were still asleep. Little Wolf and Crazy Bear     saw one of those animals sitting way out form the camp, so they     decided to kill it and drag it away. "Hey Buffalo Bill, did you see     that?" asked one of the cowboys. "Sure did" was the reply. "I see     someone finally got Sitting Bull."    The Council Fire     Characters: Any number of Indians including one Big Chief.      Setting: Indians grouped around a campfire. All are very sad.      1st Indian: I fear big trouble in making. (all grunt)      2nd Indian: Must do big magic to stop many wars.      3rd Indian: How?      4th Indian: Big worry makes head ache with thinking. (all grunt)      Big Chief: Great Spirit give me wisdom to treat problem. I must go to     White Man. (Rises from campfire and goes to center of stage. He     addresses the audience.) We all wish for peaceful moons and plentiful     corn. Maybe we need know word from each other. Please help me     and repeat after me the words I say.      Big Chief: Oh Wa      Audience: Oh Wa      Big Chief: Ta Goo      Audience: Ta Goo      Big Chief: Si Am      Audience: Si Am      Big Chief: Very good, I think we are learning. (all Indians nod in     agreement) Please one more time to go faster into land of knowledge.     (Repeat chant as before only faster and faster until it is fast enough     so that they can combine syllables and come up with the meaning:     "Oh What A Goose I Am")

The "Medicine Man"

Cultural Exhibits: An Expose on Stereotypes