A very important reminder that the Bison Genocide was a very real thing that happened and not just a shock factor thing for the Prey movie. (Predator series film that came out this year). Bison fur was sought after and their tongues were considered a delicacy by the colonizers.
But they also knew they were a main source of food for plains indigenous people. Plains Indigenous tribes would follow the herds over the year to be able to hunt when needed. Bison were quickly hunted to near extinction so that natives would be forced to depend on the colonizers for food and aid.
After the children were taken and forced into residential schools that were intended to "Kill the indian save the man." They cut our hair, made it illegal to speak out languages, made us catholic and kept the children at these "schools". Any surviving adults were sold into slavery and put into Ghettos. Many of which we still live on. Babies were sold as property. For a long while killing and keeping native scalps, yes their scalps, was done for sport some generals buying them for money.
This was one of many reasons on top of disease that nearly wiped us all out. The last residential school closed in 1997 the year I was born. My parents and grandparents all attended them. Bodies of children that were killed in the schools are still being found and we'll never really know how many there were.
I say all of this because the amount of people that aren't taught this is horrifying. Natives are treated like mystical story pieces or like we simply don't exist anymore. It couldn't be further from the truth.
If you take anything from this film please start by being educated since most of the land you stand on was taken. Your home, school, job. Everything around you exists because of this.
Only just now in 2022 are indigenous actors and media finally starting to get taken seriously. Our stories are finally mattering and not just dismissed. We're finally allowed to create our own worlds and stories that people actually like. It's so important that if you like these stories you get educated. You listen and donate. Share. Educate. Speak up for us when other white people try to silence us. Give reparations and actively try to unlearn your stigmas.
I'm so happy this film exists because I finally feel pride in a native role and like people are finally maybe going to listen.
turnnoffyourmind
kianamaiart
kaledo-art
germansingergirl
ellievsbear
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