If I had not seen it with my own eyes.

     I worked at the Girl Scouts for 13 years and one day. While I was there I saw racism and sexism and ageism in each of it's ugly forms. I'll give you an example. I was in charge of the Pow Wow that Girl Scouts held at Camp O' The Hills, when I say in charge I mean I handled the MC duties, recruiting the dancers and drummers and vendors and everything else you could think of. The staff helped the first year but after that they didn't do a damn thing. That's not my story, one day we were getting reservations for the program, yes I even designed a program and patch for the pow wow, this woman who looked like a bad transvestite came over with some paperwork and said 'HOW", I said, "No let's not get into that, that's racist" she was taken aback, shocked that she would be called out, White people hate when you talk back to them. "No it's not!" she exclaimed loudly. I explained to it that she didn't get to decide what was racist, it's up to the person that a racist statement or act was directed at she told me I was sensitive. She then said, "you make White people jokes" and when I asked her to tell me the White people jokes I made she couldn't. That's when the manager of the office Priscilla Smith came out and attempted to diffuse the situation and of course stood up for her White companion.This entire thing became my fault. Now while I am used to Whites making excuses for each others behavior I thought that at least in Girl Scouts a bit of honesty and diversity or sensitivity to racial matters would play. That was not the case and thus if I had not seen it with my own eyes.....

     When I got to Eastern Michigan University I was 20 years old and so excited to be at a school of higher learning and away from home. My home life absolutely sucked but that's a book and not a blog. My roommate and I had known each other for a couple of years and our plan was to be dorm mates for a year and then get an apartment the next. We moved in a week before everyone else because we had jobs in the cafeteria and thus got a good deal to get acclimated with the area. I did not have a car I had a bike to go everywhere and so I was up close and personal with the terrain. The day came when everyone was moving in and getting books and such. The was a ton of commotion, the book store had a van coming by all of the dorms to take people over to the bookstore, the restaurants and stores were passing out coupons and flyer's and student groups were making themselves known. One group had a van and members with clipboards and free shirts and what have you. They were loud and enthusiastic and very much in your face. They were so enthusiastic that I couldn't tell what they were about I only knew they were pissed about some injustice. I've been Native American for 20 years at that point and injustice especially social injustice was an interest of mine. I approached and saw that they had a Indian logo on their shirts and on the side of the van.

     A girl about my age, long brown hair and pale as the horse of death came over to me and asked if I wanted a shirt, I looked at it and it read ONCE A HURON ALWAYS A HURON. I was confused as hell. Ghost girl told me that the beloved logo of EMU, the Huron, was unjustly, " without a vote and everything" was removed because of a small band of politically correct American Indians who coerced President Shelton into changing the name to Eagles. When she said "eagles" it was like she was spitting it. I looked at the shirt and then at her and told her she was not a Huron, at least she didn't look like any Huron I ever saw in my life. She then told me that the Chief of the Hurons was appalled and that he supported having the logo because it was an honor. I found that suspect but didn't say a word. I told her to keep her t-shirt and I would have to learn more about the situation than just one side before I could make a judgement. That's called 'critical thinking' and it's an acquired attribute.

     I joined the EMU English club because I am a intense nerd. I need info and I read two to three books a week and have since I was young. While in college I grant that the majority of my reading was for class I did enjoy the occasional brain candy and that's what the group provided. It was a great little group with kind and very intelligent people. We would share things we wrote or tips on writing better and even our poems. The student advisor was this little old white woman who also was the student advisor for the Native American Student Organization, NASO, and I should go to that group and help. There was a pow wow they were planning and could use the help. I went to the group and met two women who would become closer than family and my mentors, idols, and biggest influences when it comes to love and appreciation of Original People. Barb Gentry was the head of the Multicultural center and she was like a mom. She and her good friend Connee Sagataw, who is my big sister, welcomed me and then had me get to work putting together packets to send to dancers and vets and vendors and assorted others. While I was there I met Kevin Gasco who is still my big brother, he was cracking jokes and working on something much more important than what I was doing but he and I would end up traveling the road together sharing many memories. Barb and Connee were asking questions about my background, my family, my views on some social issues and such. I told them about meeting the Huron Restoration League, HRL, and how weird they were over something as un-important as a mascot. Connee then began to break down the psychological effects of the logo on Original People and then gave me a short history of the struggle to get rid of that logo. Two members of NASO that had graduated from EMU were in fact the most instrumental in getting rid of the logo were coming next week and I could ask them more about it. Barb told me to join NASO and since I was raised by a Indian woman I was used to taking orders from them so I did as I was told.

     In the meantime I heard about the logo issue from many of my dorm mates who were actually ambivalent about it or actually understood why it was removed. The word Politically Correct was bandied about quite a bit but I never saw it that way. My classes were a different story, many students there were pissed off and vehement that the logo should be brought back. I didn't speak out because I was still shaky on my info, not that I was afraid. The issue seemed to be a touchy subject even off campus. I would hear about it in restaurants and even in the coffee house in Ann Arbor.

     As the months went by Kevin began taking me to drum practice and there I met Joe Braveheart and joined Massasauga Hill drum. We were a traditional drum group that did not 'practice' we 'performed imperfectly' as Joe would tell me once. The older members of the group, Joe and Kevin were the leaders and they were big brothers to us and teaching us traditional ways and protocol. They both assumed the role without being asked they just naturally wanted to help those of us who were younger to become good and honest Original Men. Joe is Lakota and he stressed the spiritual aspect and Kevin is Anishnabe and he stressed the more intellectual side of gatherings and treatment of each other and elders. He had a pipe and was always willing to get it out for us whenever needed. Joe ran the swealodge and we became a force to be reckoned with on the pow wow trail because we stood out. We were traditional drummers, prayerful and sober, honest and kind. We would go where ever we were wanted for gas money and nothing else. Sometimes we didn't even get that, we were there to serve. As I was on my travels and would hang with Connee and Barb I listened more and began to understand why it was important to remove that logo and political correctness did not come in to play. I wanted to serve my people more than anything else and Barb had just the opportunity for me to do that.

     The members of NASO, except me, Stacie Sheldon - the original rabble rouse, Tom who was president and Connee and Barb had purchased a painting of an Eagle for President Shelton as a way of saying thank you for his support and the Monday before the pow wow there was a board of regents meeting. Tom and Stacy could not make it and Desha had a full time job and could not be there but he would be at the pow wow. That left Connee who laughed when I asked if she was going to present it. Barb told me I would be doing it and to come up with something good. I had five full minutes to fill and I did not want to leave time to anyone else as there would be HRL members there. I declined saying that Connee was the font of information and I was just the newest member of the tribe and had never spoke to a group of people before. Barb said, "We like the way you put things and explain things. You have good passion and we need that." I politely declined and Barb said, "You're the only one to do it and I will buy you dinner if you do." Being a college student living on starvation wages and eating cafeteria food I would give out a lap dance for restaurant meal so I accepted. I read up on Eagles in the library about their nature and habits, I called Kevin and he gave me may examples of Eagles and why we Anishnabe looked at them in such high regard and Joe and I talked coming up with a small outline of what to say. This was important, this would show everyone in attendance that we, the original inhabitants of Turtle Island, were smart, educated and thankful and caring of our living and vibrant culture.

     When Barb and Connee and I walked into the building I could sense that these two beautiful Original women were tense, that upset me, I could also tell that the vibration in that building was heavy with anger. Not a great environment to debut my speaking skills to the world at large. The foyer leading to the Board Of Regents room was packed wall to wall with people. There were a lot of those "Once a Huron Always a Huron" white t-shirts and many old people dressed in church clothes. As we filed past them I heard them name calling us under their breath. Barb physically pressed my shoulders leading me into the room. I was told to check in with the secretary and I would be given a indication as to when it was my turn. I was asked to phonetically spell my name and I repeated it to her three times. I was right after a woman who wanted to commend the board and the faculty for helping her and guiding her in getting her degree under crazy difficult circumstances. She wanted it all on record. I thought that was awesome and EMU seemed like a legit friendly place. It came my turn and the HRL members hissed audibly. I turned to look at them and they all sat still like manikins. My speech lasted four minutes and 38 seconds. I used my stopwatch and was quite pleased with myself. After me came a long line of HRL members and they were unhinged. I could not make sense out of anything they were trying to say, I got the point that they were angry about the logo, I understood that some "liberal agenda" was at work but everything else they spoke about was garbage. They berated the board and President Shelton, they talked about a boycott of all games and school activities and the withholding of alumni donations until the name was returned. Garbage.

     As we left Barb pointed to a guy, a tall smug looking frat boy type, and told me he had kicked Connee and her before. He led a group of people who threatened them with physical harm and violence. I asked what Tom did while all this was going on and was told he did nothing. I would come to find out that Tom was a coward and a two faced political game playing punk. He would downplay his role in NASO during classes and would fence walk when asked for his stance on issues pertaining to American Indians doing a ton of double speak. He would not face down these demon coward bitches that threatened OUR sisters and had the gall to touch them. Where I'm from when you see a person, especially an Original Woman, mistreated you step in and rectify that situation.When Tom was out of college and safely away from campus he wrote a article for the student newspaper and came off strong and militant even. Truth is he's an Uncle Tomahawk then and now. Real talk? I got no love for someone like that.

     Barb gave me a huge hug and so did Connee. She told me how proud she was and that she had a lot more talks for me to give. The deal became that after every talk I would get a meal that was not dorm food. I think they regretted it.

     HRL became a very vocal group and I was the only on campus resident student counteracting them. Sure there were elders to help and of course my brothers at the drum but they all had full time jobs and this group was working every day all day. They were constantly having "mixers" and recruiting people for the cause. I had me. They grew in numbers and threats against me grew. The pressure I was feeling was immense. I would go to class and some asshole would tell me to shut up or " you got a casino so give up the name" or "maybe if we gave you some firewater and a blanket we could trade for our logo" or the old "we are honoring you and you're being politically correct". I was trying to turn over a new leaf and not be violent so I would count to ten or do deep breathing and try to explain our side. They were never interested in hearing it. I would ride my bike and hear shit yelled out to me from cars and windows. I would be eating in the cafeteria and people would put flyer's for the HRL on my tray.

     Like a moron I went to one of their mixers and thought I could talk some sense into these people and I was dying to meet this chief everyone was talking about. Bad idea. I went there and that frat boy was there with a three of his buddies. Everyone was wearing a HRL t-shirt and here I was, long black hair, brown skin and a AIM shirt......yeah I know but hindsight is 20/20.

     I found the leader and told him I wanted to discuss this further so we could stop wasting each others time. Maybe there was a compromise or something. I told him about the threats and actions against us which he immediately disavowed. I told him that there had to be a way to solve this and he agreed. He wanted the logo back. I told him that was not going to happen but if he was genuine in wanting to honor Original People I had some ideas. He wanted his logo back. Here is what I learned. White people do not compromise, they demand, they take, the rob, appropriate and steal but they do not compromise. To them a compromise is you giving in to what they want. Think I'm lying? Look at politics. They invented that shit storm and they play it like no tomorrow. I told this little hobbit looking 'leader' I could see he was not interested in honoring us or in compromise. He winked at someone standing over my shoulder and the guy grabbed my arm. 'Time to leave" this lurch looking fuck said as he turned me towards the door. I shook him off and told him to not put his hands on me unless he wanted to swallow his Adams apple. I got to the door and frat boy and his buddies followed me out. I got outside next to my bike and stopped. "Be fair ladies" I said, "Let's dance one at a time" just them a bunch of people from the dorm across the street came out singing some show tunes. Drama department. They went inside and I went home. I was awake all night thinking about how I would have gotten my ass kicked and how I was trying to be nice but nice wasn't working. Maybe they could sense that I did not trust them or like them and that just fed the fire they already had going. I needed help and I needed it immediately.

     After speaking with Joe at whose suggestion I sought out the presidents of other student groups to stand with us. My mother is Brazilian and to top that off she is of a certain Amazonian nation. My father is half blood of a certain nation here in North America. I don't stress any nations because we are all in fact Original People. I went first to the Latino Student Association. I figured since we have a similar background they seemed the natural choice. What I stumbled on was a group of elitists who denied the Indigenous nature of themselves and instead considered the Spanish culture their own. They confused Indigenous adaptations to a European culture to be their own. I was not received well. The leaders of this group actually made jokes about me to one another in Spanish because they thought Portuguese and Spanish were far removed and I couldn't possibly understand them. Some Mexicans make jokes about Indians like people here in Michigan make jokes about the Polish. I would be getting no help from them and honestly didn't want it. I thought they were timid and cowardly in the face of White people. They acted like if they only had their own little spot they would not bother anyone or become too political a long as they could be left alone. I was right. I asked the leaders to explain to me why they considered themselves "Latino" and never got a good answer. They provided no support as they saw themselves beyond such an issue. I was offered a declaration of support and a fat lot of good that would do me when our women were being assaulted and we were being verbally harassed everyday. I made an enemy when I told them to roll it up like a burrito and stick it up their collective asses. If I had not seen or heard what they said I would not have believed it.

     The Christians, The Jews, The Homosexuals, The ROTC and the Student Council all offered support in the form of a declaration but nothing else. I found out that day that there were three members of the HRL on the student council. I thought that was a good thing to recognize my enemy and at that time the HRL was most definitely the enemy.

     I went to the office of the Black Student Union, BSU, and met Charity Hicks. She was glorious in her African dress and her manner was stately and motherly. I was immediately comfortable with her and explained my plight. She was very close to Barb and wondered when she would send someone to ask to join the cause. She told me that whatever I needed, manpower or anything else, let her know and she would ask her group. I told her about the abuse and threats and she told me to go see a man named Steve 2X. I said, "2X like a Malcolm X?" She smiled and said, "you two could be twins".