At school we are doing an America Reads 250 bingo sheet with options including various things like books from each decade, a book about a culture different from your own, a book about indigenous people, etc. Needless to say, it will be pretty easy for me to fill it up because I have been reading so many from various decades, but I was stumped about a book about indigenous people. So I went to the library and asked my librarian friend what she had. I picked this up because it looked funny and a potential quick read.
Boy was I mistaken.
For the record, I know for a fact that what we did to the 'indians' was wrong. I've always felt that way. I learned all about the tragic boarding schools, the treaties that were never kept, and of course the Trail of Tears. I've been to Cherokee several times. I learned that many of the heart breaking things that went on in America also went on in Canada.
But this book BLEW MY MIND about how it all still goes on today.
It was one of the most reliable jokes in Charlie Hill’s stand-up routine: “My people are from Wisconsin. We used to be from New York. We had a little real estate problem.” In We Had a Little Real Estate Problem, acclaimed comedy historian Kliph Nesteroff focuses on one of comedy’s most significant and little-known stories: how, despite having been denied representation in the entertainment industry, Native Americans have influenced and advanced the art form. The account begins in the late 1880s, when Native Americans were forced to tour in wild west shows as an alternative to prison. (One modern comedian said it was as “if a Guantanamo detainee suddenly had to appear on X-Factor.”) This is followed by a detailed look at the life and work of seminal figures such as Cherokee humorist Will Rogers and Hill, who in the 1970s was the first Native American comedian to appear on The Tonight Show. Also profiled are several contemporary comedians, including Jonny Roberts, a social worker from the Red Lake Nation who drives five hours to the closest comedy club to pursue his stand-up dreams; Kiowa-Apache comic Adrianne Chalepah, who formed the touring group the Native Ladies of Comedy; and the 1491s, a sketch troupe whose satire is smashing stereotypes to critical acclaim. As Ryan Red Corn, the Osage member of the 1491s, says: “The American narrative dictates that Indians are supposed to be sad. It’s not really true and it’s not indicative of the community experience itself…Laughter and joy is very much a part of Native culture.”Featuring dozens of original interviews and the exhaustive research that is Nesteroff’s trademark, We Had a Little Real Estate Problem is a powerful tribute to a neglected legacy. (Picture and description from Amazon)
Since this was not my book, I couldn't mark it up, so instead I used tons of sticky note tabs because I wanted to remember some of the quotes in the book:
The province of British Columbia was not the result of some ancient land deal brokered between the king of England and the Indigenous peoples who were already there. To the contrary, in a move now seen as a violation of international law, colonial powers moved in; laid claim to the land; established extensive logging, mining and petroleum operations; subjugated the population; and established a British colony. British Columbia was established as a land heist. ... It might be the longest-running squat in history. (xi)
The famed Hunkpapa Lakota leader Sitting Bull fled to Canada after the Battle of Little Big Horn and the death of General Custer in 1876. After months of hiding, he was extradited back to the US, where he was given the option of prison time or performing with Buffalo Bill. ... About 30 Native Americans captured at Wounded Knee were forced by the army to tour with Buffalo Bill in lieu of prison sentences. (9)
In the late 1800s, white people could buy Indian children if they passed a certain standard ... They used the word 'adopt' but white families would actually pay for Indian children--and the biological parents didn't have much say in the matter. (55)
Davy Crockett starred Fess Parker in a hat made from a raccoon pelt. It created a schoolyard fashion trend. Conformist children across the country hoarded coonskin hots as they enthusiastically re-created genocide during recess. ... These false impressions have been delivered one year after another. Generations of children have grown up to gain an entirely false idea of what Indians are [and now we have] television coming in, buying up all those hideous old films and compounding the slander in the eyes of the youngsters today. (94)
Blackface was taboo and Italian stereotypes objectionable, but when it came to the racist portrayal of Native Americans, network television didn't care ... [many shows] all presented racist stereotypes with white people grunting in feathers ... if television is so enamored with the Indian, why not dramatize the Mohask steelworkers revered for the construction of Manhattan's tallest skyscrapers? ... Television Indians stand around with a sour look ... Real Indians are happy. (95-96)
Television has painted the American Indian as a sadistic, irresponsible killer. It is going to mis-educate a whole generation of American children .. by its persistent, erroneous portrayal of the true facts. (99)
Marlon Brando = "I read a book called 'Indians of the Americas'. I realized that I knew nothing about the American Indian and that everything we were taught about the American Indian is wrong ... our schoolbooks are hopelessly lacking, criminally lacking, in revealing what our relationship was with the Indian. When we hear ... that we are a country that stands for freedom, for rightness, for justice, for everyone--it simply doesn't apply .. (106)
Marginalization was a federal policy in both Canada and the United States for 150 years. The purpose has always been to get people out of the way so that industry could exploit natural resources and claim them as their own. The Declaration of Independence refers to "Indian savages" three times, while the document itself failed to apply to Native peoples. ... In Canada, it was against the law for Native peoples to form a political organization, so as to limit their ability to fight back. Until 1951, Canada defined a 'person' as any individual 'other than an Indian.' (239)
(Talking about Standing Rock in 2016 -- only 10 years ago!)
It was an amazing experience ... You've got hundreds of tribal nations coming together ... you think about the historic context .. many of these tribal nations had never interacted with each other .. they're all coming together in this one place for a common goal to support each other .. and there are tribes that have hated each other for centuries--and they're just chilling. (244)
Regardless of the result, Standing Rock brought Native issues into the mainstream. 'It was so powerful,' said Adrianne Chalepah. "For Native people, it really helped me see that we still have a voice. Sometimes being a Native person in America--it feels like you're screaming at the top of your lungs for someone to acknowledge that you exist. You are invisible in your own country. Standing Rock changed that" (245)
Here is a powerful video of one Native Americans story of being at Standing Rock:
Overall, however, the book was about the rise and fall and small rise again of the Native American comedians. Many of them started out the likes of David Letterman, Jay Leno, Michael Keaton, etc, however they were not able to keep up for a variety of reasons. In fact, on many casinos built on tribal lands, they did not use Native comedians, even though there were plenty, because
"white people want to see white people ... They're not interested in seeing famous Native American comedians. Indian casinos are mostly run by businesspeople who have nothing to do with Indians and everything to do with outside interests." (255)
I found this interesting website that has snippets from various Native American comedians, if you are interested. They are absolutely hysterical, when you realize they are making
Ok, whew! That was a lot! How about a funny book quote to end this off.
Listen, I don't want to be a bad influence, but ... you should skip that to-do list and finish your book instead.
O:)
Melissa
