Date: Mon, 3 Apr 1995 20:09:43 -0600 (MDT)
From: marta henriksen <henrik-AT-unm.edu>
Subject: Re: Who can Native Americans trust?


On Sun, 2 Apr 1995, Robert Johnson wrote:

> 	
> 	Having recently returned from the meetings in Albuquerque of
>         the Society for Applied Anthropology, I have a suggestion for 
> 	Native American tribal groups.

 
> 	The next time there is a meeting of anthropologists or archaeologists
> 	which include those who work "for" your people, I would suggest that
> 	you hire yourself a white private investigator to attend the meetings.
> 	You should then instruct him or her to solicit the true feelings 
> 	of those white anthropologists and archaeologists towards their jobs
> 	and the tribal group that employs them.
> 
> 	I would suggest that you would have reports concerning the true
>         feelings of those white anthropologists and archaeologists that 
> 	work for your people.
> 
> 	I would further suggest, that after the reports you obtained on 
> 	those who work "for" your tribes, you may decide that you are 
> 	better off not trusting  white anthropologists and archaeologists,
> 	could go it alone, and redouble or begin to set up programs for your
> 	peoples in anthropology and archaeology.
> 
> 	
> 							Robert Johnson-
> 							Formerly of the Dept.
> 							of Anthropology,
> 							University of Colorado
> 	

Being a half Native American and half white person who attended these 
same meetings, and who is also a graduate student in Anthropology, I 
would suggest that there was some small representation for "our" people 
there.  Unfortunately that voice is small, but growing in strength.  My 
questions are: why a white investigator?  Why an investigator at all?  
I agree that programs from within the community are often far superior to 
those imposed from outside, and that "we" should be doing our own ethnography.  
I do not, however, agree that all the work being done by anthropologists 
who are of other ethnicities among the Native American communities are 
doing a disservice.  Maybe it would be more fruitful to speak in 
specifics than to make blanket accusations.

Mr. Johnson, I heard your paper at the meetings here in Albuquerque, and 
was moved by your point of view.  But, as I said to you in the session, I 
feel that there must be room for many different kinds of voices to be 
heard in the struggle to decolonize the systems of knowledge which are 
dominant in the world.  Some of us will choose to take up arms, and some 
of us will not.  A revolution needs both kinds of people, those who fight 
with their bodies and those who fight with their minds.  I am sorry to 
see that you are leaving the University, I have appreciated your insight 
into many things on the lists, and feel that anthropology could benefit 
from the conscience nudging of your persistent voice.

Marta Henriksen
Department of Anthropology
University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM  
henrik-AT-unm.edu


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