James Douglas expulsion

[Scott E. Tyler]

I must admit I have not read things that are offensive to me, though I have
not read his listings carefully.
Everyone should be allowed their opinion even though other's may take
offense.
I am personally, entertained by Mr. Douglas' e-mail, address  Cultus
Whiteman.  To me this indicates that he has indeed spent time around Indians
in Canada or the US and may have been called Cultus Whiteman by both Native
friends and foes.
I think it is important for the First Nations to rub elbows with those whom
they disagree.  Through the clash of differing opinions and voices sometimes
the 'spark of truth' is revealed.
The sort of things Indians are sensitive about are variable--Tony in Grande
Rhonde takes no offense to the term Siwash, I am a little sensitive about
it, but I know members tribes in the Puget Sound my take great offense
because the term was regularly used as a derisive term toward them.
I am not offended by the term papoose, in fact I spent time on the Nez Perce
reservation in Idaho, where as Native children and youth we called babies
'poop-asses'  because to us this was funny and we detested the smell of
dirty diapers.
There the term for white man is soyapo and nearby reservation use the term
shoyop which is believe to come from the term
chapeau or hat, hence whites were called 'hatmen' because in times of early
contact they were the first people to wear hats.
I have seen the Chinook list use the term Boston though near to Puget Sound
the term has changed to Pastad. In some places the term Kinchoch survives
for King Georgeman for English or Canadians.  Another term in tkope man
which I think is a new term entirely made up.  Siwash as a term survives as
a term, as does Soyapo in some places.
My apologies to Mr. Douglas, and a request that he be re-instated to the
Chinook group, also my apology to those he may have offended by his
opinions.
We as individuals have to do our best to not get caught up in the battles
between tribal governments and the states and provinces in which we preside.
Let the lawyers battle the issues out in the courts.  We each carry our
little bag of hurts along with us where ever we go.  These can originate
from encouters with differing ethnic groups.  We must always treat
idividuals as individuals, and look inside ourselves.  As a minority do I
carry a big bag or resentment and anger, bitterness that tends to spoil my
relationship with others.  A this hurt makes me take offense at seemingly
harmless statements.
 A a majority member, do I carry an unconscious sense of superiorty that
minorities are sensitive about.  Do I carry my mishaps and anger with me
because of some battle with a tribe or state.  Am I insesitive to other's
feelings because I have been made to feel that I must atone for bad behavior
of my government or forefathers.
We all are sensitive humans.  We need respect and need to be heard.  We all
must be willing to grow too.

Scott E. Tyler, MD
MultiCare
Makah Tribal Member

		kwish kupa kanawi qa !  Nay to the World!
		tlush kupa kanaqi ta !    Yea to all things spirit!
						ushtaqi/scott


> -----Original Message-----
> From:	Brett Rushforth [SMTP:brushforth at UCDAVIS.EDU]
> Sent:	Monday, February 21, 2000 8:32 AM
> To:	CHINOOK at LISTSERV.LINGUISTLIST.ORG
> Subject:	James Douglas expulsion
>
> As an interloper I am reluctant to weigh in at all, but I feel a sense of
> duty to do so.  I personally have read no posts that were offensive enough
> to warrant Mr. Douglas's rejection from the list.  I have to agree that
> those making the decision to expel him ought to be specific when they
> allege wrongdoing.  What in particular was offensive?  I may not have read
> the postings...the more technically linguistic ones often pass me by.
>
> It is, in fact, the purpose of these lists to gather divers opinions that
> bear on a subject of mutual scholarly interest.  It seems that rejecting
> Mr. Douglas from the list runs counter to the stated objectives of
> listserv.
>
> Another point: who says that only First Nations have an authoritative
> voice
> on these matters?  Does that mean that only women can write about women,
> only whites about whites, only fork lift operators about fork lift
> operators?  There is value to both an emic and an etic point of view.  The
> function of a discussion list is not to establish and defend a company
> line, but to encourage pointed debate and discussion, to share research
> ideas, and to network among people with similar interests.
>
> Regards,
> Brett Rushforth
> University of California, Davis