American Book Award recipient Ernestine Hayes challenged her audience at the University of Alaska Southeast’s “Evenings at Egan” lecture Friday night to think critically about Tlingit history and its relationship with contemporary Southeast Alaska in her lecture, “What shall we do with our histories?”
Hayes, an assistant professor of English at UAS, received the American Book Award in 2007 for her semifictional memoir, “Blonde Indian.” She has given this particular lecture for the Association for Literature and the Environment Conference and the International Polar Year conference.
At the beginning of her lecture, Hayes detailed the extent to which Tlingit culture has been supplanted by Western civilization, as well as the way that Lingit Aani, or “Tlingit Country,” sustained the Native people of what is now Southeast Alaska for millennia prior to European contact.
“We do well to remind ourselves that had the colonial invasion not taken place, Alaska Native people would still be living in the 21st century,” Hayes contended. “Our lives would still be modern. Paved roads, airports and electricity would still occur here in Lingit Aani. Some things would be different, of course. We would be speaking our own language. We would be living in houses of our own design. We would not be devastated by incarceration, alcoholism, violence, poverty. Our children would be healthy.”
Although, as Hayes noted, many historians describe the era before Europeans made contact with Native Americans as “prehistory,” she said much is known about the history of Lingit Aani via oral tradition.
“It is wise to learn about the original people of what is now this part of Alaska from a less Eurocentric perspective,” Hayes said.
At one point, Hayes asked her audience to “suspend your disbelief” and imagine a future in which the United States itself was taken over by an unfamiliar civilization.
“We are speaking of generations,” said Hayes. “What shall we do with this history? What would we do if, in the year of 2015, three years from now, this American culture was suddenly subdued by one that believed theirs was the superior way of living, their god was the one true god, their language the only worthwhile speech, their history the only history that mattered?”
Hayes went through each aspect of the “cultural trauma” Americans would suffer and all of the things that would be “swept away,” drawing parallels between that imagined future and the reality of what happened to the Tlingit.
And then Hayes referred back to the “creation myths” she said are common to every culture. The United States’ creation myths, she argued, include the notions of “freedom of religion” and “justice for all.”
“How are we to understand the contradictions between this country’s creation myths and the actual justice that occurred?” Hayes asked.
Hayes ended her lecture by urging people, both Native and non-Native, to reconcile their present and future with their history.
“It is when we remember our past history together as equals, it is when we communicate our present condition together as equals, it is when we face our uncertain future together as equals, that we will heal together as equals,” said Hayes, who received a long standing ovation from her audience.
Hayes’ latest book is a children’s book, “Aanka Xóodzi ka Aasgutu Xóodzi Shkalneegi,” or “The Story of the Town Bear and the Forest Bear.” The book is available in both Tlingit and English.
Events next week at UAS will also focus on the Native peoples of northern North America.
Randall Tetlichi of the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation, a member of the faculty at Yukon College in Whitehorse, Yukon, will be the Evenings at Egan lecture speaker next Friday. He will be UAS’ “Elder in Residence” all week long.
Tetlichi is prominently featured in “Being Caribou: Five Months on Foot with an Arctic Herd,” the assigned book at UAS this year, by Canadian wildlife biologist Karsten Heuer.
“If you’ve read the book, ‘Being Caribou,’ or you haven’t — it doesn’t matter — come and see what he has to say from his perspective,” Assistant Professor Sarah Jaquette Ray urged the audience before Hayes’ lecture in Egan Library.
At the lecture hall in Egan Library at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, the documentary “Reel Injun” will be screened. Tetlichi is expected to participate in that event as well.
Heuer will be the Evenings at Egan speaker on Nov. 16, the Friday after next.
• Contact reporter Mark D. Miller at 523-2279 or at mark.d.miller@juneauempire.com.
Comments (58)
Add commentOut in La La Land!
Here we have another case of an intelligent individual who has become so immersed in her subject that she has lost all perspective and sense of reason.
Ask her, "Do your honestly believe that if the 'white man' had never come to North America and thence to Alaska, the people of the this land would be driving paved streets and turning on light switches?" What is there in the history of native peoples for the past 500, or even 1000 years, that would lead you to believe they were inclined toward creation of those things?
Poor lady. He trolley has just jumped its track.
And yet she wins awards?
Spin
It is interesting to see how this story can be twisted to the negative. I would assume that those that have negative comments or stir controversy around negative comments do not know anything about the Tlingit Culture, or Native American People.
I would challenge you to ask to be invited to a Potlach, 40 day funeral event, volunteer at Celebration 2014, Native event, or get to know Native people. Take that extra step to learn more about Native Peoples Culture, don't just throw in your negative spin.
Good article
Thank you Ernestine Hayes
Cat Box
The more slaves you had the wealthier you were. It was acceptable to put a live slave at the bottom of a totem pole in demonstration of that wealth. As shocking as that seems, it is true. And it goes against our modern culture of shame, to candy coat the telling of history. All cultures are temporary, and were made to be left in the past. White folk don't hang horse thieves or shoot card cheats. We elect them to higher office. We no longer fear saber tooth tigers, we buy a cat box, and let them poop in our house.
@AKjustice
Race card? That's exactly what I was saying AK. Don't turn that on me pal.
Think I don't have a list of [filtered word]s that spew their crap almost everytime? Haha. The very first poster on this thread is "first" on my list - imagine that (yes, I do have a list).
Funny when you don't have a good comeback y'all call on the 2 little words, "race card". At the same time you don't even really know what racism is because you've never experienced it first hand. It's only a word with a description to you.
Now go research Madison89 - I know you will.
How are Alaska Natives different?
One group of people displacing another is the history of homosapiens. Natives have had it far easier than blacks, Jews or almost any other ethnic group. They have had more handouts than any aboriginal group on the planet. It's time to end the special status of Alaska Native Corporations and make them compete in the free market. Time to take off the training wheels.
@AKjustice
I had a scathing response for you but reconsidered.
Racism.
Probably most people here only know about racism by definition from a dictionary if they can't admit that don't care for some race. If you've never experienced it, you'll never know exactly what that word means - believe me, it hurts. And when these type stories come up, it is irritating to see "the usuals" attacking the native view because it seems to be their mission in life - at least in these empire blogs.
Race card?
This is really a trump card used mostly in response when there is nothing meaningful to say. My point is that these type stories almost guarantee a response from certain posters here starting from the first poster. I don't know him/her but I can almost guarantee what kind of flavor his/her response will have when talking about native reference. I guess you have to experience it to fully know what that means or how that feels.
Just imagine
Prof Hayes has certainly asked the right questions. It is very interesting to consider the "what if". How would history have flowed if things had been different?
What if the Russians under Bering had finished their tour and simply gone home? What if the American whalers had found no whales? What if the British and Spanish had decided they had had enough of conquering and subjugating other peoples and had ignored Alaska? Perhaps the Chinese would have come. They were aware of the land mass we call Alaska. Their ruling elite had some expansionist ideas. They had ships capable of the journey. What if they had come to Alaska, and stayed? Of course, there would have been no Christian missionaries. Would they have restrained their own exploitative behavior? What would Alaska be like today?
But to jump ahead to history- what if the Russians and the Americans arrived with no priests or missionaries? These have always been a favorite target of apologists. Yet, what did they contribute? We know the Russian priests intervened to halt the worst exploitation by the trappers. Some priests were killed for their interference. We know that some, perhaps most of the American missionaries were people of pure heart. They were not exploiters. They knew what was coming to Alaska. They knew that the original Alaskans needed some tools to live in the coming white mans world. Those tools were education and language. While we might argue endlessly about their methods and the destruction of culture, we should ask the 'what if' question. What if there had been no effort to educate? Where would the first people of Alaska be today?
Perhaps you disagree with Prof Hayes conclusions, but she certainly asks some interesting questions.
Agreed Tomas. I was just
Agreed Tomas. I was just working my way to the end of the thread to say (albeit a less eloquent version) of that. To think that if the "white man" had not come up here, life for the tlingit would be peaches and cream is just infantile. How was life with the Russians? Had it not been the US, it would have been someone else. And the french seem to be about the only ones who cohabitated with native people to any extent. Most invading cultures followed a more ethnic cleansing line, including the US in its lower 48 dealings. The Tlingit were a strong and proud people, and that is admirable. But to say that if the US had left them alone, they would still to this day be pure Tlingit, governing themselves, speaking their language etc, is more than a little, shall we say blind. Then to further that by saying that they would still have all the technological innovations of the modern world, is pure fantasy. They had adpted to their environment marvelously. They were masters of the sea, catching fish, etc, but they were not on the edge of an technological breakthrough. They were not contemplating flight, internal combustion engines, even harnessing steam, or metal smithing. Gold wasnt an element, or a raw material. It was a pretty rock. Being a great native society is wonderful, but it will not help one little bit when confronted with a technologically superior invading force. I am one of those folks who would love to be a mountain man. I was born in the wrong century. But I am realistic enough to admit that my bad eyesight would have killed me, and I know that many a mountain man died cold hungry and in incredible pain and fear. She brought up some very good and valid points. It is a shame that she also presented those with a fictitious story book view point that diminished the insight and boldness of the rest of her message.
Technology
There are a fair number of 'native' cultures out there who have survived intact in remote areas such as the South Pacific. And they have modern technology today. They didn't have to invent it themselves, they bought it.
Why assume that the Tlingits wouldn't do the same?
Plus-minus: I understood this
Plus-minus:
I understood this speech as being the view of an assistant professor of English at UAS…not the “Native View”.
I didn’t realize professor Hayes spoke for all natives.
A person questioning the Professors assumptions does not make them racist.
Wow
Thank you noroadfugitive.
Minus it seems you have been treated poorly and for that I am truly sorry.
Be careful not to label people with a different view than yours as being one thing or another; such as a racist. As I have stated all too many times, we have no choice in the color we are born into or who are parents are. But we do have a choice in how we choose to live our lives. I too have been discriminated upon based on my color and yes it hurts. The a$$holes that did that are stupid pinheads and I can not do anything about it. They are just stupid and you must never forget that.
To challenge or question or even to disagree in this forum provides all intellectual discussion and is to be commended and calibrated. Most of us here share our views because we can do it without getting physically slapped in the face. But rest assured that when we get out of line the verbal spankings do come.
It appears that to me that most people posting here are respectful and are discussing our issues as we should. Some write well and well, some write...Please be firm in your beliefs but be open to understand the beliefs of others. It does not mean you agree with them to understand what they think, it just means you understand them. This is a good thing.
What a bunch of self-serving delusion
If Natives had to live without the lands they sold off and lost in wars-like the rest of the world, and they had to pay for their own medical bills-like the rest of the world, and had NO B$ racial preference zero competition charity lucrative business contracts handed out-UNlike the rest of the world who have to earn their own way in life, and weren't forced at gunpoint to release their slaves over 2 years after the Emancipation Proclamation; where would the Tlingit really be?
Hayes wants people to reconcile their past, etc but she isn't even close to doing it for herself. Northern Europeans sailed to North America thousands of years before Natives walked across the land bridge. By their own arguments Natives should be making reparations to the Norse descendents.
Hayes didn't ask any tough questions
She just rambled on about how she wants to believe Tlingits would be now and very specifically chose to ignore that Tlingit culture could not have existed without their love of slavery. They fought harder to keep their slaves than they did for anything else.
If not for the "white man" and all of Hayes ancestors, Tlingits would still be living off the backs of slaves instead of taxpayers.
So the Tlingits had slaves after the Civil War
The US did not purchase Alaska from Russia until AFTER the Civil War. As for Tlingits and their slaves, see the history of the Abraham Lincoln totem pole.
England abolished slavery before the US did, since we are having a good old time bashing societies and cultures throughout history.
Alaska Natives have NEVER been conquered
For those who totally missed Honorable Ernestine Hayes words, for those who cannot relate to Alaska Native cultural existence throughout the severe environmental changes of thousands of years, stand back.
Russia did NOT come close to matching war strategies with the Tlingit. The US Navy sneakily bombarted SE Tlingit villages and we SURVIVED. Neither have we been effectively conquered by Euro-christianity, health care,education and "welfare". Nor have mere words of laws from the US and state of Alaska governments been able to conquer us after they have found "legal" methods of stealing our land, cultural existence and ties to who we are and where we come from.
Non-Natives with no breeding of who you are and where you come from can only be jealous of our strong cultural existence - though your biases prevails in all aspects of our lives.
Either join us in the serious problems facing our mutual future or stand back and learn something. This is a challenge of intellect...so effective for Alaska Natives past, now and into the future.
@ Wanda
You are right on some of your points but your people have been conquered. The Tlingits as a tribe lean mostly to the left and are great supporters of left leaning politicians and gimme causes. Truth be known, the Tlingits are slaves to the Democratic Party. As a group the Tlingits supported lefty Lisa MooCowsky (correct spelling not necessary) a left leaning republican in name only(Rino).
Until the Tlingits realize their future is in self determination and not in government protection, hand outs and give-a ways, they will continue to be slaves to an entitlement mentality.
There are many Alaska native people that have discovered what I am telling you now, but your corporations are lead by Ivy league lefties selling the membership down the river and have been since the seventies. It's an old story with no story pole carved to date telling it. You might look it the 'Rent an Eskimo' scandal for a little insight.
Something to think about eh?
(Repost from Ken Dunker
(Repost from Ken Dunker Juneau Empire 09/08/12 - 04:46 pm)
What is called the Kake War of 1869 consisted of 3 villages near present Kake being attacked and destroyed by a gunboat deployed by the U.S. Army. The Tlingit was forewarned and allowed to evacuate said villages beforehand though by some records some stragglers were killed.
It was precipitated by a Tlingit being shot and killed by an Army soldier. Following traditional Tlingit law requiring compensation to the dead Tlingit's family a demand was made and the Army refused. So the Tlingit, according to traditional law, killed two non-native trappers south of Sitka.
The army's attack upon these three villages in retribution has been called by some scholars an act of attempted genocide because homes, food and canoes were destroyed, such material items being required to survive off the land.
The 1882 Angoon incident was precipitated by an accidental death of a Tlingit Shaman when a bomb exploded aboard the whale boat he was working on. Nearly a hundred Tlingit immediately pirated the boat along with its crew and again, according to Tlingit traditional law, demanded compensation or the crew would be killed.
When this levy is made it means potlatch (pay) or die.
The crew were rescued and property regained.
As punishment the Army demanded twice the number of blankets the Tlingits had demanded or the village would be shelled. The Tlingits refused, took advantage of the window of opportunity to relocate the largest canoes and valuables and the village was destroyed. Records do not indicate any loss of life.
AKJustice, your perversion of
AKJustice, your perversion of the English language is breathtaking. I'll take the underlying message to mean you're not going to be one of the folks joining those with whom you may disagree to craft a more just and democratic society since you utterly demeaned about half the nation and most Alaska Natives (by your statistics). Guessing you haven't taken any good courses on conflict resolution and problem solving.
@spiff
Check your Democratic Party history if you don't believe me. The Republicans never supported slavery, ever. In fact, they have championed the freedom movement of all peoples regardless of color.
And if, as you say, half the nation and most of, how did you put it, most of Alaska natives then yes I guess so. That does not make what I said untrue and it certainly does not make it a racist statement; It is just contrary.
Oh, and thanks for your compliment about my use of the English language being 'breath taking'. I really have been working on that. Nice of you to notice!
My dog...
...ate something dead yesterday. His gas has been 'breathtaking' too, in a similar way.
not be devastated incarceration, alcoholism, violence, poverty
I resent this statement. I have not done any of these things. I've never incarcerated anyone, caused anyone to be an alcoholic, done violence to any person, nor caused anyone to live in poverty.
I believe that I have much more appreciation for Elizabeth Peratrovich's desire to be recognized as a equal person of worth based on her own accomplishments rather than a desire to promote oneself by cutting down others and playing the blame game.
@Do the right thing
you are so misinformed and I can see you don't know what you're talking about . Publish your name so everyone knows who you are. Tell me who you know that is living off the back of taxpayers. Others know that you are one that blows smoke, and has no credibility.
Ray Austin
Hayes got it right
I think Hayes has asked the right kind of questions. This forum is proof of that; look at the discussion that is happening here. These type of questions and openness of dialogue would have been unheard of 20, or even 10 years ago. As we begin to examine, I mean really examine these type of cultural issues, we slowly chip away at the ideology that surrounds us and keeps us from looking at the big picture. Expressing our ideas and concerns, as wells as listening to others, can lead us closer to better solutions in the future.
interesting discussion
It's interesting how immediately people's passions arise when the topic of Alaska Native social justice comes up, particularly the passions of people who were not subjugated to suppression and assimilation.
I'm also curious as to why the issue of slavery always comes up in this conversation. It was estimated that during the Roman Empire, anywhere between 1/3 and 1/2 of all people in the empire were enslaved. North America, the Caribbean, and South America all have their intense colonial slave histories. In other words, slavery was not unique to Tlingit culture, nor is it grounds to deride Tlingit culture because they participated in an act that most cultures practiced at one point or another. In no way am I defending slavery, but I'm saying it was practiced worldwide and should not be the fallback argument against the indigenous people of this region.
What Ernestine is trying to do is open up the conversation to real, meaningful dialogue. A previous thread about a similar presentation a year ago brought the following thought from an Empire reader: "these conversations only deepen wounds. Wounds should be kept covered so that they can heal, rather than being opened up and examined." To that, I disagree. Wounds need to be examined and thoroughly cleaned if there is any hope for healing. An untreated wound with a tightly wound bandage will lead to infection and who knows what other gruesome fates.
I recommend attending Ernestine's presentations in the future, or Lance Twitchell's, or Dolly Garza's to continue these meaningful conversations.
When do we get to the point
When do we get to the point where everyone is treated all the same?
No special considerations...just all things based on merit.
Evenings at Egan
It is about what happened to the indigenous people of Alaska in less than two hundred years and what impact that has on their descendants and where we should go from here. It is not a question of debating white, male, European supremacy but of what happened and what needs to be done now.
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