Mino gigizheb!
That means good morning in Ojibwe. Personally, I believe it is important to be aware of other people's cultures. Culture shock is real, even when you live around people who act differently than you. Why is that?
In today's society, we are stuck in our own world, surrounded by people who behave like us, we can't even try to reach out or see any one else's point of view. But somehow, we expect people to do the same. There are many cultures just outside your backdoor. Asians, African Americans, American Indians, and so many more. They share classes with us, they shop at the same grocery stores, they like the same restaurants. They are very similar to us in many ways.
I grew up in Bemidji, MN. We were surrounded by 3 reservations. Growing up, I remember in elementary and middle school, teachers trying to teach us the Ojibwe language. In middle school, there was even an American Indian class that was an elective available to take. Walking in to buildings, the door read, Anishinaabemowin. But as I grew older, the culture teaching started to fade. Up until my second year of my undergrad, I had lost total connection to anything American Indian related. That's sad. I knew very little. Taking American Indian studies, I was opened to a whole new world, and all new information, that I had never known.
One of these things was treaties, and all about them.
As I leave you this morning, I hope you think about the different cultures in your community, and what you can do to understand more.
Miigwech!
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