9.13.19 Native American Race Relations and Healing Series

Native American Race Relations and Healing Series “For Freedoms”
Part of For Freedoms 50 States Initiative Billings 
Thursday, September 13, 2018, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.,
Billings Public Library
510 N Broadway, Billings, MT

• Moderator: Russell Rowland, Co-Director of this series and main contact for this event, rowlandrussell@gmail.com.
• Russell Rowland led a discussion with former Northern Cheyenne Tribal Chairman and current tribal judge John Robinson,  a member of the Kit Fox Warrior Society and veteran of the United States Army as well as a participant at Wounded Knee and the occupation of Alcatraz, and Carolyn Pease-Lopez, who represented District 42 of the Montana State Legislature for four terms, where she serves on the Agriculture, Human Services, Judiciary, and Legislative Administration committees. She was recently instrumental in preventing the passage of House Bill 615, which would have allowed county clerks to refuse to issue marriage licenses to gay couples, on the grounds that this kind of discrimination would spread to the way she and her people are treated as well.She is a native of Crow Agency, 

Fitzgerald Clark reported the following live on Facebook:

• John Robinson pointed out that the separation of migrant children at the border reminds him of the separation of native children from their families at boarding schools and all of these children will face massive PTSD as a result just like generations of native children did.
• One big myth about Native Americans is that they all receive free money from the government. This is not true!
  
•  Carolyn Lopez spoke about intergenerational trauma and how it can have physical and psychological effects. There is a great need for trained trauma informed counselors and professionals in Indian country. Especially to work with the children. She refers to these folks as "people whisperers".
  
• Many people don't know that you can find colleges on tribal reservations. Chief Dull Knife college is in Northern Cheyenne and Little Big Horn college is on the Crow reservation.
  
•  Bethany Yellow Tail is a Crow and Northern Cheyenne woman who has made a splash in the fashion world.
  
• Carolyn pointed out that while there are seven reservations in Montana there are actually eleven tribes.
  
• John spoke about the quandary of well intentioned people coming onto the reservation without any understanding of tribal culture and more often than not failing.
  
• ​Carolyn Lopez speaks about the importance of Native languages in preserving Native cultures.
  

• Table discussion leaders included Jade Bahr, Jen Lynn (Ph.D/Women and Gender Studies/MSUBillings) and Sonia Davis (SURJ Billings).
• We welcomed all voices and points of view in respectful conversation and encouraged questions and active listening as we sought to broaden our understanding of freedom in our community.
• Topics included: the entrepreneurship, problem solving creativity of native peoples, how tribes are reclaiming their languages, support for their sovereignty, how the Marshall Trilogy set up tribes in dependent status, response to shame can be either anger or humbleness, the need for non-natives to support their sovereignty, seeking out the humanity in others, the effects of generational trauma, tribal colleges ...
• Inspired by politician’s campaign signage, For Freedoms lawn sign were available for  participants to produce and publicly display their own definition of freedom by filling out signs that say: Freedom Of..., Freedom From..., Freedom For..., and Freedom To…
• Lawn signs were created to be installed on the Freedom of Speech lawn at MSU Billings during the Free to Be Me: Diversity at MSUB Town Hall, Saturday, September 15th, 2:30 - 4:30, MSUBillings Student Union Building, Rooms A & B
• Facilitation assisted Sherri Cornett (Artist Director/For Freedoms 50 State Initiative Billings).

More info at: https://www.sherricornett.com/for-freedoms-billings.html
"Native participants work to dispel myths, falsehoods as part of "For Freedoms" initiative"
by Mike Ferguson in Billings Gazette https://billingsgazette.com/news/local/native-participants-work-to-dispel-myths-falsehoods-as-part-of/article_b54f69af-a214-52ed-aab5-d86943c2b807.html