NDN Talk-O's Podcast Season 1 Episode 2: Skookum

I wanted to do a quick podcast about a hot topic in Wenatchee, WA. The Skookum sign was removed from the top of the Office Depot building. I have been tagged in multiple posts regarding articles I have written, our design and my opinion on the image. 

I would like to reiterate the purpose of Wenatchi Wear reclaiming that image and the mission of Wenatchi Wear is to create awareness and empower Indigenous Peoples through authentic threads. Our designs are created by myself or husband, we also have owned and operated a graphic design business in the valley for the past 9 years - R Digital Design, and our goal is to educate and share history, stories, tales through art. Our Skookum image was created in 2019 with the intention of reclaiming & educating. 

Transcript

0:02

Ah, t̓il̓x̌wǝšT. OKI. Hello everyone. My name is Mary Big Bull- Lewis. And you are joining the second podcast of NDN Talk-O's. We have a lineup. I guess I shouldn't say we, um, this is me, myself and I, that are doing these podcasts. And I have a lineup of people that I want to share the space with and talk about the great things that they're doing in Indian country and, the positive influence that they are. So in my free time, that's what I'm doing. And clearly I haven't had a lot of free time but I wanted to do a quick podcast about a hot topic in Wenatchee, Washington. The Skookum sign was removed from the top of the office Depot building this past weekend, I've been tagged in multiple posts regarding articles I've written, our design and my opinion on the image. I would like to reiterate the purpose of Wenatchi Wear reclaiming that image. And the mission of Wenatchi Wear is to create awareness and empower indigenous peoples through authentic threads. Our designs are co-created by myself and my husband. We also have owned and operated a graphic design business in the valley for the past nine years, which is called R Digital Design. We have a long passion for art and creating art. Our goal Wenatchi Wear, where is to educate and share history stories, tales through our art. Our Skookum image was created in 2019 with the intention of reclaiming and educating. I do not speak on behalf of all Native Americans, First Nations, Indigenous peoples. And my opinion is just that, it's mine. I have family and friends that I've spoken with regarding the image and not once have we ever perceived or had seen that as representing our ancestors, the p'squosa Wenatchi tribe, nor our entire culture. I wanna stress how important this is to Native Americans. I'm not going to read the hurtful, disrespectful and ignorant comments on social media because it is not productive. The ones I've been tagged in have been appreciative and kind. So, thank you all for that. And honestly, the only people that need to be asked if this image is offensive to Native Americans, are Native Americans. That space needs to be given and honored, not demanded or exploited. I do not know what the company who owns the signs, intention, or plans for the future, with the sign. I would be interested in hearing directly from them and hope they do make a statement. I've heard people expressing how angry they are, that the sign is being removed. And some individuals are wanting to get a petition started in favor of putting the sign back up. I'd like to recommend a more productive way of spending your time. Take a moment to learn true histories of local Native American tribes. Rally to get the history curriculum that was created in 2015 into our schools. That's called Since Time Immemorial, Tribal Sovereignty in Washington state. I was born in Wenatchee Washington and did not learn about local tribes throughout school. If you do not see this as being problematic or a continuation of erasure of Native Americans, then I recommend just that you educate yourself. Our true Native American history has been swept under the rug because we don't wanna be known as a country who's referenced Native Americans as savages or motto such as kill the Indian save the man used in the founding US documents, and that have not been changed to this day. Generational traumas are not a thing of the past, but continue to cause ripples in families that stem from residential boarding schools. Take a moment to read about the unearthing of over 10,000 children in Canada's residential schools and the trauma that they and their families have and are still experiencing. The Indian boarding schools in the US have just begun to have the land scanned for unmarked graves. This is happening currently. This isn't something just in our past. Support local Native American, Indigenous organizations and the topics these organizations are passionate about, like real representation on our homelands, land back, clean water, voting rights. All of those topics are in need of support here in the US. Many non federally recognized tribes are advocating for federal recognition and honoring of treaties that left many away from their homelands. Tribes are becoming forcefully extinct and members fight for those rights to exist through treaties, like the Sinixt tribe. I have seen a lot of misconception of our Native American culture through old Western movies that sparked the cringy stereotypes. We're not only people of the past, but we're still here and working to create a better future for our next seven generations. Despite the continued oppression of our people. We have many things to be grateful for. I have an article, a blog on the Wenatchi Wear website that's been shared. That's uh, is titled Misrepresentation and Misuse of Native American imagery, mascots, caricatures, Native American titles. I wrote this piece back in 2020. Unfortunately, this topic is not a new one and has continued to be brought up throughout history. There is a huge movement to remove appropriated mascots after the 2020 rise of awareness about social injustices and racism. Several national leagues did remove offensive mascots, and I personally applaud them for taking the steps towards a collaborative future. Cultural appropriation images or naming said objects, land, et cetera were created years ago. Just like this one in Wenatchee. It's been in our valley for over a hundred years. And some may say out of respect, we're honoring native Americans. Although simply stating your attentions is not good enough to honor. It takes action to solidify that. How are these franchises businesses or individuals giving back or engaging with Native American tribes? I don't speak strictly of monetary, but through support, amplifying backing native American projects, movements, or fundraisers. As we have seen with many of these mascots, caricatures and usage of our names, the corporations or businesses are not contributing to the rising up of Indigenous peoples at all. They're simply profiting from these images or names. This needs to change the franchises, corporations, businesses need to be held accountable. It's not cute nor appreciated to practice cultural appropriation. These are the conversations we all need to be willing to have while the conversations may be uncomfortable. We need to listen wholeheartedly without judgment or preconceived ideas in order to understand. Ultimately, this sign being taken down can be seen as progress and an opportunity for positive change. If you'd like information on how to support local or statewide Indigenous organizations look on social media, that's literally at your fingertip. To, uh, look at accounts to find websites. There's so many that are fighting for not fighting, I don't like to use that term because it's been seen as a negative, but advocating for our rights. So, our image of Skookum, is again, the purpose was to reclaim that and to educate. And we do have those products here. I don't have any intention of removing or stopping any at a certain date, but you know, like all of our designs and products we do, cycle through those to make room for new ones. So I hope that you all can take a moment to read about local native American history, visit our museums. There's a great display at the Wenatchee Valley Museum and Cultural Center. Right now that has information and stories that my uncle, Randy Lewis, has shared. His movie is on a loop down there. There's great, images and pictures and stories available. We have his books in our store. His books are available pretty much at any museum. I believe. Take the time to read about the curriculum that was written and still hasn't been implemented in many schools and teach your children about that.