It's a Start...

“The Guthrie would like to acknowledge that we gather on the traditional land of the Dakota People and honor with gratitude the land itself and the people who have stewarded it throughout the generations, including the Ojibwe and other Indigenous nations.”

Many Twin Cities theater organizations now make a similar announcement before the start of a performance. Some have a comparable sentence printed in their programs. It’s called a land acknowledgment statement, recognizing and thanking Indigenous inhabitants of the land, property that now serves a much different purpose than it did, say 250+ years ago.

In recent years, there’s been slow but steady change in the direction of greater sensitivity and awareness. For instance, the Mason City school district mascot is now the River Hawks rather than the Mohawks, a switch advocated in a statement issued by the Meskwaki Nation, which several years ago called on Iowa schools to change “Native themed” mascots.

It's easy for someone writing a weekly ramble (like me) to weigh in on this, maybe even pontificate a bit about mascots. I’m going to resist. I am, however, eager to share words or phrases we may say that tend to be hurtful, in some cases inaccurate, even though it’s likely an unintentional foul. I’ll admit, I’ve said many of these before, unaware of the negative stereotypes. Perhaps you have, too. We’re all learning.   

     –“On the warpath…”  Probably a line uttered by the hero of a 1950s western, but when used today, it suggests a commitment to aggressive force inconsistent with Indigenous culture. One writer noted never having heard an Indigenous person say, “hey, we should go on the warpath.”

     –“Too many chiefs, not enough Indians…”  A tired colloquialism that should have been removed from our collective vocabulary many years ago. I’m sure I’ve used it within the last decade. I hope to avoid it in the next decade. 

     –“We’ll need a powwow to decide that…” In the Indigenous culture, a powwow is guided by a specific protocol for commemorating a ceremonial occasion. Using this word to describe an informal meeting attended by several stakeholders ignores the cultural significance attached to this term.  

     –“Hey, Chief…”  A casual salutation that trivializes a hereditary chief, with authority passed through bloodline, or an elected chief, chosen by band members. Probably a term of affection, nevertheless, the designation of "Chief" applied to someone who isn’t, is a misappropriation at best.    

     –“Circle the wagons…” A phrase that implies that “Native warriors are about to attack.” Probably another remnant of once-popular westerns that often feature settlers taking over Native American land.

     –“Indian summer…” The implication in this phrase is that Native Americans are perpetually late. If you use this term, this is undoubtedly not your intent, however, there’s a history behind these words pointing toward a subtle insult, making it another phrase that it’s time to set aside. 

     –“Hold the fort…” Another colloquialism suggesting that stereotypical warriors are about to launch yet another attack.  

     –“Low man on the totem pole…” Totem poles are sacred to those who create and display them, generally depicting family legends and historic events worthy of note. There are Indigenous communities where the greatest honor is lowest on the pole. It’s probably time to avoid this cliché altogether. 

     –“Bury the hatchet…” This expression is rooted in a tradition among some Indigenous Peoples, specifically Iroquois, to bury tools of war as an expression of their yearning for peace. Settlers soon began utilizing the phrase, which becomes meaningless unless there is an accompanying commitment to the peaceful resolution of differences, a practice all too rare throughout American history.

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This is NOT an exhaustive list; it’s a start. I didn’t include some more obvious examples – like “Indian giver” and “Columbus discovered America” – but it represents a personal effort aimed at greater awareness in my thinking and greater sensitivity in my language. I sincerely hope you’ll join me.    

Iowa Writers’ Collaborative Columnists 

Laura Belin: Iowa Politics with Laura Belin, Windsor Heights

Doug Burns: The Iowa Mercury, Carroll

Dave Busiek: Dave Busiek on Media, Des Moines

Art Cullen: Art Cullen’s Notebook, Storm Lake

Suzanna de Baca Dispatches from the Heartland, Huxley

Debra Engle: A Whole New World, Madison County

Julie Gammack: Julie Gammack’s Iowa Potluck, Des Moines and Okoboji

Joe Geha: Fern and Joe, Ames

Jody Gifford: Benign Inspiration, West Des Moines

Nik Heftman, The Seven Times, Iowa and California

Beth Hoffman: In the Dirt, Lovilla

Dana James: New Black Iowa, Des Moines

Pat Kinney: View from Cedar Valley, Waterloo

Fern Kupfer: Fern and Joe, Ames

Robert Leonard: Deep Midwest: Politics and Culture, Bussey

Tar Macias: Hola Iowa, Iowa

Kurt Meyer, Showing Up, St. Ansgar

Kyle Munson, Kyle Munson’s Main Street, Des Moines

Jane Nguyen, The Asian Iowan, West Des Moines

John Naughton: My Life, in Color, Des Moines

Chuck Offenburger: Iowa Boy Chuck Offenburger, Jefferson and Des Moines

Barry Piatt: Piatt on Political Behind the Curtain, Washington, D.C.

Macy Spensley, The Creative Midwesterner, Davenport/Des Moines

Mary Swander: Mary Swander’s Buggy Land, Kalona

Mary Swander: Mary Swander’s Emerging Voices, Kalona

Cheryl Tevis: Unfinished Business, Boone County

Ed Tibbetts: Along the Mississippi, Davenport

Teresa Zilk: Talking Good, Des Moines

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