White kids don’t get pow wow’s, longhouse, and Native funerals. They keep mocking stuff that i have shown that I have made for those events. How do I make them stop?
It can be hard when things you hold sacred are mocked or made fun of by others. How do you not take this personally when it’s something that is a major part of you?
You can’t change the way people view or think about your culture. That’s their job. Everyone comes to the table with their own personal readiness for change. What that means, is that people will either be ready for change or they won’t be. People will move through these phases at different points in their lives.
So what you can do is keep on keeping on. Keep in mind that you can influence the way people see your tribe and its traditions by being a good representative of your tribe. Share the things that you are proud of.
It’s not your job to change the way people think and feel about your culture. It is your job to be the best person you can be. It sounds like you’re doing that already by participating in your tribe’s traditions and teaching other about them regardless of whether they don’t get it… because at some point they just may. 🙂
Hope this helps and best of luck!
Auntie Manda
