Why are natives ignored ?

[Myal]

Natives ignored ?
Am I on your ignore list ?

kidding, I am Australian Aboriginal tho , Barkentji people .

I believe that by showing the how to of the original peoples , it includes showing a sense of the orignal peoples having had a society structure , and could lead to bad feeling about the amount of bloodshed it takes to displace a nation and resettle it .

there is a hell of a lot of politics involved , here at least .

 

[willseeyalater]

Minnesota PBS stations have produced a good number of shows on traditional native culture. They have the advantage of not needing to be commercially viable to put programs together. Someone mentioned about folks needing to hide the chainsaws when anthropologists came to visit. That's a good point in that the stereotypes are so deeply established that it is a huge obstacle to honest learning about people. I live in MN but when I tell people that I grew up in KY their eyes glaze over and they shift over to the stereotypes in their head but I don't have a strong accent, I don't fit their idea of what they sometimes think a person from KY should act like. If I put on a show and act like the stereotypes it would be a hillbilly version of "Chief-ing" or "Uncle Tom-ing" and really is just a way to perpetuate the stereotypes. For Native folks to have to wade through all that with the weight of centuries of accumulated knowledge of plants, animals and life that is a tall order. Would an Irish American person want to be the embodiment of all that is and was Irish? You just name the group of people who have a long history and see how many individuals can stand in as the best person to represent that. For people who come from tribal or group cultures that is a difficult position to be in.

 

[upnorth]

there is a hell of a lot of politics involved , here at least .

Lordy don't I know it. The native issues in Canada have always been a point of contention. My wife is full blood Cree. We have lived on two reserves during teaching contracts. And we both majored in Native Studies at university. The warden and I are both beyond tired of Aboriginal politics. I remember classes discussing how the Canadian reserve system was studied in the late 1800's by a representative of the South African government, who in turn created the Apartheid system down there. Basically it just comes down to the individual for us now. You can either cry about how s....y your life is and blame the world, or you can get off your azz and make changes. Our life is what we make of it. But yes, discussing sex, religion, and or (Aboriginal) politics can be a recipe for heated arguments around here. And I am soooooooo tired of it. Like I said, the warden and I take people by their charactor now. Whether black, white, brown, yellow or martian.

 

[22-rimfire]

I don't worry about race much. If there is a concern, it is usually related to my safety in a particular area. As far as TV goes, choosing the "actors" is a matter of business practice and what the producers believe will gather more viewers.

 

[James Y]

A friend and myself were both just talking about what exactly constitutes a "Native American" just a little while ago because we both are taking part in a human genome study that is taking place. This film is a result of that same study that is still ongoing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAnx_487if0

Anyway, my reasons for taking part in this study were many fold. As is usually the case I researched the crap out of it verifying the PHD for each person studying me. They find me quite interesting you see. I took part in it because they took advantage of my lack of information about myself. I knew nothing about my bio father and my mother was very tight lipped about it. All my life I was a salesman on the road social as hell. The butterfly and I was quite good at it. I rocked for many years. I was fortunate but in Aug of 98 I nearly died in a car accident. I hit my head pretty good. They cut me out with the jaws of life and when I recovered I was different. As it turns out I was always borderline Aspergers Syndrome but after the accident it kicked in worse. I became awkward socially and if a customer was bored or angry, sad or flat out hitting on me I didn't get it. It changed and as a result I could not do what I did for all those years so I was in good shape although I had no idea what I'd do. I sold my interests and moved on where I started doing what people with my syndrome do. I zeroed in on one or two things which I became quite masterful at. Guess what they were?

You are probably asking about now so Steve what the hell does this have to do with this thread? Esav is probably sitting on the trigger wondering if I've gone off the deep end but I assure you I haven't. I bring it up to point out that in the course of taking part in this DNA human genome study I have also had an intense and completely different history lesson from the one I was brought up to believe. The DNA and archaeological record both indicate that Caucasians were the original occupants of North America and parts of Japan as well as China, Turkey, Scandi countries as we know and a land now gone, a real life sunken continent called Doggerland. This is what our grandchildren will be taught. The dark skinned peoples came here making us move before we came back and we being whites since I'm white as can be apparently and from Dogglerland Scandinavia, Finn, Denmark, Ireland Scottish Brit origins.

In Japan, the first inhabitants were the Jomon, of which the Ainu are the last remnants. There are few 'pure' Ainu left in Japan, as most have been intermixed into the Japanese population in greater or lesser degrees. It's pretty clear from my physical characteristics and those from my father's side, that his side had a high degree of Ainu blood. He and his brothers were often asked if they were 'Indians' (Native Americans). In the past, Western scientists mistook the Ainu for a Caucasian race, which has since been disproven through genetic testing. They are indeed Asian, but are considered 'proto-Mongoloid'. Admitting to having Ainu blood is not something many Japanese would admit to, as Ainu still face much discrimination in Japan. However, they are Japan's First Nations people.

Jim

 

[Esav Benyamin]

In Japan, the first inhabitants were the Jomon, of which the Ainu are the last remnants. There are few 'pure' Ainu left in Japan, as most have been intermixed into the Japanese population in greater or lesser degrees. It's pretty clear from my physical characteristics and those from my father's side, that his side had a high degree of Ainu blood. He and his brothers were often asked if they were 'Indians' (Native Americans). In the past, Western scientists mistook the Ainu for a Caucasian race, which has since been disproven through genetic testing. They are indeed Asian, but are considered 'proto-Mongoloid'. Admitting to having Ainu blood is not something many Japanese would admit to, as Ainu still face much discrimination in Japan. However, they are Japan's First Nations people.

Jim

If you want a topic that's really not something many Japanese would admit to, check into the antecedents of the modern post-Jomon Japanese people and language, which originated in Korea.

 

[James Y]

If you want a topic that's really not something many Japanese would admit to, check into the antecedents of the modern post-Jomon Japanese people and language, which originated in Korea.

True.

I'm a sansei (3rd-generation Japanese-American), and speaking personally, none of that bothers me in the least. If something IS, then it IS. I would be surprised if that weren't the case. I believe you are referring to the Yayoi, who pretty much displaced the Jomon/Ainu.

It also wouldn't bother me if some genetic testing revealed me to have some Portuguese or other non-Asian blood. Not very likely, but it also wouldn't be all that far-fetched either, since my father's side comes from Kumamoto in Kyushu, not too far from Nagasaki, where the Portuguese were allowed to set up a trade colony for a while.

Jim

 

[Sullie]

Canadian history and Aboriginal affairs is a topic I can easily get fired up about so I will leave the politics alone. Back to your question about TV programming, I think people want to see a big buck shot more than anything. So many shows are filmed on a farm or of baited deers with unnatural sized racks people can drool over. I have worked with American hunting shows that appreciate the "real hunt" experience but its just not as appealing to the masses.

 

[James Y]

It is clear that TV wants what the public wants. They would rather watch Bear Grylls than Les Stroud, though IMO the latter had a far better and informative show. Grylls demonstrated a lot of things that, while he might be able to pull some of them off in some situations, are patently unsuited, dangerous, or plain stupid for the average person to attempt. Other things he did were strictly for the 'gross factor'. It's about ratings, not necessarily the best information.

Jim

 

[leghog]

I find it very sad that they are losing the skills they spent so many years honing,...

They? You men so much of man kind across the continents and ethnicities?

...many have already lost them completely. The trappings of modernization have caught up with most of them now just as with nearly everyone else.

Like those of European ancestry?

UPNORTH who posted in the OP, "they're just people", nailed it.

 

[springnr]

A couple weeks back, somebody on one of these forums posted a link to:
The Snow Walker

I enjoyed it, take that with a grain of salt though, I don't have a TV so do not see many movies.

 

[Myal]

OK
I have been thinking of this some when I was driving down to see my wife in hospital

Kinda hit home to me when I was driving past one particular place that had been a sacred site , but is now an open cut coal mine .

Before it was an open cut coal mine , it was dairy farm with a rock ledge , and caves that were sacred , before it was cleared for that , it was pretty dense bush , that supported two tribes .

The point is , it is hard to explain what was done where and when , when the places have changed so much .

I have a feeling that this may be a contributing factor at least ..

 

[JayGoliath]

This thread is juicy and fresh. A lot of 411!

 

[Ponsau]

Going back to the OP, Les Stroud tried to show native and aboriginal survival. The series was called " Beyond Survival with Les Stroud". I've watched them all. Not quite sure if he succeeded all the time. But it wasnt too bad. His intention was to show the survival knowledge of indigenous peoples, which is slowly disappearing.

Watch the trailer for the series here:
http://youtu.be/DOAzRvsla7g

I watched them all on Netflix. I'm not too sure if they are still available on there though. One thing I did notice about the tribes and people he stayed with, they really like having dogs for hunting.

 

[Grayzer86]

I think the issue is also target audience. Who will actually watch it. Also, it may be different in many places but around few to none of the natives hunt or live in traditional ways. They can hunt any time they want, with guns, so they don't have to have the same skill set they used to and now are for the most part hunting like everyone else, just without a season or tags. Same goes for fishing, it's no longer a willow branch and a hook carved from bone. It's a Lund and an ugly stick or a cutter and a net. The vast majority of their skills and tactics are no different than ours

 

[plue]

I think the issue is also target audience. Who will actually watch it. Also, it may be different in many places but around few to none of the natives hunt or live in traditional ways. They can hunt any time they want, with guns, so they don't have to have the same skill set they used to and now are for the most part hunting like everyone else, just without a season or tags. Same goes for fishing, it's no longer a willow branch and a hook carved from bone. It's a Lund and an ugly stick or a cutter and a net. The vast majority of their skills and tactics are no different than ours

Totally agreed. There's certainly some isolated groups of Native people living around the world, which are worth exploring. However, the majority do not possess a unique/traditional skill set that the group once used to. I don't see a reason to push the Native angle except for some romanticized fantasy notion of Native people, it's just too controversial. Kind of surprised this question was asked by someone from Northern Sask.

 

[STR]

If you want a topic that's really not something many Japanese would admit to, check into the antecedents of the modern post-Jomon Japanese people and language, which originated in Korea.

The Zuni tribe in the USA speak ancient Japanese.

 

[Faiaoga]

There are some shows that emphasize native peoples and their skills - National Geographic and Ray Mears are some examples. Unfortunately, the majority of people expect to see "survival" shows where people endanger themselves by lack of knowledge and skills. I suppose that is what sells.

A recent program had a Westerner barely surviving on a beach in Fiji next to a coral reef. A native Fijian on an island with drinking water, coconut palms and a coral reef would say "no problem" and would live comfortably, but a show about the Fijian would not be as falsely dramatic.

 

[coyotebc]

Just check out some of the programs like Fish out of water on APTN to see
Many aboriginals are no better or worse in the woods then anyone else
I personally think that if todays networks could find an aboriginal that they could market as a survival expert they would jump at the chance

To start off, I am Caucasian. I have also lived in almost every environment\region of Canada. So basically I have been around and seen some things. While there are many highly outdoor educated\skilled non aboriginals, I still wonder why native North Americans are more or less ignored by outdoor television. Now and then you see a Caucasian outdoors person with an indigenous wife and or family, but that's about it. Why not go directly to the source, the indigenous peoples that have lived in that environment for thousands of years. If entire TV channels can be dedicated to hunting they should be able to slip in at least one half hour segment for TEK, Traditional Environmental Knowledge. My experiences in various environments is that many native peoples are wary of being exploited. However, when respect is shown a compromise is usually reached. They are just people by the way, with different cultural values sometimes. Many native communities up here are low income and welcome any reasonable work that enhances the quality of life for the people. I suppose that the niche audience for this programming is quite small and a young stud leaping into water falls is more attractive to the soccer mom audience.

 

[STR]

In Japan, the first inhabitants were the Jomon, of which the Ainu are the last remnants. There are few 'pure' Ainu left in Japan, as most have been intermixed into the Japanese population in greater or lesser degrees. It's pretty clear from my physical characteristics and those from my father's side, that his side had a high degree of Ainu blood. He and his brothers were often asked if they were 'Indians' (Native Americans). In the past, Western scientists mistook the Ainu for a Caucasian race, which has since been disproven through genetic testing. They are indeed Asian, but are considered 'proto-Mongoloid'. Admitting to having Ainu blood is not something many Japanese would admit to, as Ainu still face much discrimination in Japan. However, they are Japan's First Nations people.

Jim

Didn't they have blue and/or blue green eyes these people you mention? Blue eyes have been traced to a single ancestor from a mutation of the gene responsible. http://factslist.net/2013/04/blue-eyed-humans-have-a-single-common-ancestor/