MANDAREE, N.D. -- It is not an issue of "his-story" or even "her-story". It is twistory which keeps us divided and defeated. Twistory is what enables an Indian Studies teacher to embrace the pejorative word "Sioux," and then go the extra mile to prostitute the identity of the unborn for a few worldly goods.
I'm not talking about the individual; I'm talking about what twistory can do.
Our old people spoke to us about who we are, and they never used the labels of the oppressor to identify who we are. We should oppose the use of the word "Sioux" on that basis alone. We should oppose the phrase "Fighting Sioux" and the associated caricature used by UND on the grounds that both are racist and dehumanizing symbols of the oppressor.
We should never compromise the sacredness of our yet to be born; especially not for some mere trinkets. The seven items identified by Vernon Lambert, while laudable, should be pursued in the political arena, not as poker chips for preserving our identity ("Sioux tribes should negotiate with UND," Viewpoint, Page A4, Oct. 10).
We must reject the victim/blame approach to asserting our human rights. The respect for, protection of and the honoring of our human rights are protected by the laws of our respective tribal nations, the laws of these United States and by international law.
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Let us hold the citizens and the institutions of these sovereigns to the letter of the law. If we refuse to succumb to twistory's divide and conquer and stand as one people (red, white, yellow and black), we will prevail, and our unborn will be the better for our efforts.
L. Buddy Gwin
