I forgive Kris Jenner for her "Indian Giver" gaffe

Photo from HuffPost Celebrity

How ironic during National Native American Heritage Month, Kris Jenner's use of "indian giver" spotlights the challenge of racially biased stereotypes in our language.  Yesterday on Good Morning America Kris made her gaffe as she commented about Kris Humphries' request to get back the engagement ring he gave Kim Kardashian.

I highlight two posts that cover the story better than I.

• "Indian Giver" comment. Jen Chaney & Sara Anne Hughes provide a quick overview of the issue, then direct you to a Seinfeld episode where Jerry struggles with the language of prejudice. I wonder if you laughed at his gaffe or gasped at his insensitivity. 
• HuffPost Celebrity provides a response from the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI). Please read their comments to get a snapshot of the wide perspective of people concerning this "incident."
• Indian Country posts NCAI statement 
• Indian Country reviews origin of "indian giver" term

I forgive Kris for her thoughtless gaffe. "Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us (Luke 11:4)." I make careless remarks too. I do hope she offers an apology though. 

I believe what Jesus says is true regarding careless words, "But I tell you that men (humankind) will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words, you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned (Matthew 12:36-37)." 

May our words be careful rather than careless everyday.

[POST] Today starts National Native American Heritage Month

Today is November 1. All Saints Day and the first day of the National Native American Heritage Month (NNAHM) emphasis. I intend to share a post each week or more as time allows.

Today I want to direct you to the Presidential Proclamation for the NNAHM.

As a Navajo, I am proud of who God created. I believe God placed me in my people group. He orchestrated all the nations to spread over all the earth (Genesis 11:1-9). I am so grateful that I can understand Navajo and speak it adequately. 

Here is an excerpt from the Bible in Navajo from John 3:16:

Háálá Diyin God éí nihokáá’ dine’é t’áá’íiyisí ayóó’ájó’níigo bąą haYe’ t’ááłá’í há yizhchínígíí baazhníłtį́, áko t’áá háiida boodlą́ągo baa dzólíhígíí éí doo ádoodįįł da, ndi iiná doo nińt’i’ii bee hólǫ́ǫ dooleeł.

May these 30 days enhance your understanding and learning about Native Peoples. I praise the God of all nations who made me in His image for a lifelong relationship with the Creator God. May I glorify the Creator and enjoy Him forever, the infinite, limitless God of all Tribes.  

Real Native American reacts to Reel Injun

photo from toronto film scene
Last month, I watched PBS and the Independent Lens show, "Reel Injun." It was on late about 11:30pm (or 10:30pm daylight savings). View a clip from PBS here. In the clip cited, two Navajo elders view the finished film for the first time. I recall that my grandpa Richard was also an extra in the John Ford movie, "The Searchers."  I'll have to ask my relatives what he said to them about his experience.

I digress.

"Reel Injun" was thought-provoking. I felt all the basic emotions. I felt anger for the misrepresentation of Native Peoples. I felt afraid that what is misrepresented will remain as the permanent caricature of Native Americans. I felt sad that we were not part of the process of film-making.  Non-Native Americans made the films.  We were merely in the films.  I felt glad that others are telling their stories now in film. I felt giddy as translation of the Navajo in some films were revealed to others. I had not viewed all the movie clips where Navajo was spoken.  It was intriguing how these emotions emerged.  Overall, I am so glad that Reel Injun was made.  Thanks!

The mis-portrayal of Native Americans is not only centered on movies, but also found in "Blood & Thunder" books. Scott Simon of NPR interviewed Hampton Sides (9 min interview) back in 2006 when his book "Blood & Thunder" was released recounting the manifest destiny of Kit Carson's campaign against the Navajo people.  Author Hampton Sides describes "the blood and thunder" reports caricaturing Native Americans as blood-thirsty savages in paperback stories in the Old West. 

What the Native American is or was, is lost when viewed through the prism of manifest destiny.  Yet the documentary "Reel Injun" shows a different view.  It provides a different perspective on Native Americans in film. I wonder what you think. One of the online discussion questions provided in the discussion guide states, "Before seeing Reel Injun, what [is] your image or idea of the American Indian? How did you develop that image?"  Please answer that question in the comments below.  I'd love to read your comments. 

Other reviews of Reel Injun:

• Trista Devries at Toronto Film Scene
• Tom Brown from SXSW 2010 at twitchfilm.com 
• Megan Lehar from The Scorecard Review.
• Mark Moring from Christianity Today 

You can also read director Neil Diamond (not Jazz Singer icon) share his thoughts on the Independent Lens blog. Incidentally, the Blood and Thunder book is a movie in development with DreamWorks Studios for 2012.