Brian
Moore, a Native American from Michigan, visited West Middle School recently to
talk with eighth graders about his role and responsibilities for his tribe and
the history of the tribes in the state.
Part
of the Ojibwa tribe from Mackinaw Island, he spoke about his experiences as a
Native American growing up. When settlers came to this country, Indian
children were sent to boarding schools for generations, which made them lose
much of their culture and taught them it was bad to be a Native American.
This
brought much shame to their people who turned to drugs and alcohol to cope. When
he was sent to the boarding school he was terrified and wanted to get out. The
men running it were Monks and wanted him to cut his hair. Native
Americans grow their hair as a symbol of respect for life and usually only cut
it if there is a death of a loved one, representing the loss of life.
But these men knew that he was terrified of cut off his hair, as they did to
many of these children.
He
also related what he knows and remembers to what our students are studying in history
and mentioned that Native Americans are the only ethnicity that have to carry a
card to prove they are actually Native American.
He
now works in Detroit at the Indian Center Support Service helping other Native
Americans better their lives. It was a very interesting and engaging
discussion and students asked a lot of great questions.
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