Addressing the devastation of sacredness and effects of imagery through the eyes of Native Americans, writer Winona LaDuke kicked off UB's fourth annual "Women and Gender Week" on Monday with a keynote speech at the Center for the Arts.
LaDuke, a renowned author and active member of the Mississippi Anishinaabeg tribe, introduced an entirely new spin on how imagery of historical figures and geographically significant sites dehumanize women and people in our society.
"I think we're losing touch with our humanity," LaDuke said. "Who has the privilege and power to name? Who gets to name and frame a place of great importance?"
Without delving too deep into a review of historical Native American displacement, LaDuke discussed the destruction that's caused by the disregard of Indian names for sacred places.
Citing numerous examples to make her case, she elaborated on a place she said is dear to her heart, a placed called "Where the Sleeping Bear Lies." Known to most as Mt. McKay, LaDuke said this scenic mountain is a sacred place to her people, where they reaffirm themselves to the creator. But to roadmaps and politicians, "Where the Sleeping Bear Lies" is merely a mountain of simple trees and dirt, she said.
"They name large mountains after small men," LaDuke said.
She said that although it first may seem petty to argue over a name, the truth is that the elimination of these ancient Indian names leads to the trampling of their lands and rights.
She illustrated this point when she asked the audience how many of them had ever been to Mt. Rushmore. After a few dozen hands went up, she changed the question to who's been to Bear Butte? One hand went up amongst the nearly two hundred people.
"This demonstrates the power of those privileged to name," said LaDuke. "The imagery associated with our founding fathers is what gives Mt. Rushmore meaning, but such imagery is not emphasized to the public for the sacred Indian site Bear Butte."
LaDuke also spoke about the blatant disregard by what she called the common people. She said she feels that it's everyone's personal task to get something done.
"Why do I work so hard?" LaDuke asked. "Because you're not."
Many UB students and faculty members said they were inspired by LaDuke's attitude.
"I really dug what she said," said Dave Altabef, a sophomore psychology major. "It was inspiring when she said it's everyone's duty to act."
This work shouldn't stop at restoring traditional Native American names to landmarks but to all facets of Native American rights, according to LaDuke.
"We live in a country founded on the grounds of religious freedom and tolerance and in our last election religion was the cornerstone of many issues, but it took until 1978 for the Indian religious freedom act to be ratified," LaDuke said.
She said she believes that change is needed for all levels of society - political, economical, environmental - and with her no-holds-barred attitude, she will fight until something gets done.
"We don't want a bigger piece of the pie," LaDuke said. "We want a different pie."
Photo: Courtesy of Matthew Messina, from the RMBERS' Instagram page
