Reconnecting The Circle

By Diana Onco (Dine/Kiowa/Comanche)

On a quiet afternoon in Oberlin, Ohio, my friend and I walked into a local ice cream store. We were deciding what we wanted when a man sitting near us at a table asked us, “Are you two Indians?” and I replied, “Yeah, we are.” With a thoughtful look on his face, he asked, “So do you guys still live in teepees?” I said, “I’m Navajo,” and my friend said, “and I’m Cherokee.” He stared blankly at us and said, “Ok.” In stunned silence, my friend and I left the store.

That situation made me realize that America has little knowledge of Native Americans. Most U.S. citizens are familiar with the history of the Civil War or the Boston Tea Party, but they know little of The Long Walk or The Battle of Adobe Walls. Society has no knowledge of who Native people really are. They only know us from the films where we are labeled “savages.” They think we all lived in teepees and walked around everyday half naked, or they have the impression that all Natives Americans do is drink, have no jobs, and receive money from the government. In fact, most Native Americans do not receive any money from their tribes. In their eyes, we are nothing more than a character in a movie, or a mascot on a football helmet.

Reconnecting the circle is crucial to the future of the Native American because if you look at the young generation of Natives you will see that they are beginning to forget. They are getting lost in worldly things such as alcohol and drugs. There are too many headlines about someone on the reservation who had a meth lab in their home. Our elders are getting older and are not able to pass down the traditional ways because of all the unfortunate distractions. The young ones are forgetting the importance of learning from our elders and cherishing our traditions. They live like they have all the time in the world to learn these things, but in reality time is passing them by.

Growing up I have experienced the joy of being Native American; I have also known what it feels like to have no sense of identity and just take up space in the world. As a child, I grew up in a city where there were few Native Americans. I never had more than three friends who were Native. A lot were white, black or Mexican. They knew little of Native Americans. My parents always took me to powwows and I would dance fancy shawl. I remember having so much fun putting my “war paint” on and trying my best to keep with the drum. I remember feeling the pain in my leg muscles from keeping on my toes for so long.
Back at school, the kids would tease my sisters and me, calling us “Pocahontas” because of our long hair, while yelling and patting their hands on their lips to imitate what they thought was how Native Americans acted.

As I got older, I stopped dancing after I grew out of my outfit and slowly began to forget the things that I valued so much as a child. I was beginning to blend in with a sea of faces, having no unique identity.
In the summer of 2003, I stayed with my grandmother in Monument Valley on the Utah/Arizona border. It was the first time I had been away from home for such a long period. My grandmother is Dineh (Navajo), and I always had a tough time understanding her through her thick Navajo accent. While there, I felt out of place because they lived life very different from me. They had to go and get their water because they did not have regular plumbing. My grandmother also kept sheep. I remember the short walk back from my auntie’s house to my grandmother’s and seeing my grandmother covered in sheep’s blood from butchering earlier that afternoon. All I could do was stop and stare while my chin hit the floor. By the end of my trip, I was proud to have learned a little Navajo and could understand it a lot more than when I had first arrived.

Spending those three months in Monument Valley really helped me put my values into perspective. I realized that I am not just like everyone else. I am Native American, with an alive and rich culture. If we forget who we are, then we become nothing, shaming our ancestors, who went through so much so that we could preserve our ways and our languages. The only way we can see this change is to be a part of it, and I believe that is why I am here sharing my passion with others. Thank you for allowing me this privilege.

Diana Onco (Dine/Kiowa/Comanche) is 18 years old and was born and raised in Norman, Oklahoma. She recently graduated third in her class from Sequoyah High School and plans to attend Oklahoma State University in the fall, where she will major in Secondary Education with an emphasis in Native American history.

Editor’s Note: This essay was selected from a body of essays written by American Indian high school students on the theme “Why is reconnecting the circle with Native Americans important today?” The contest was directed by the nonprofit organization, Reconnecting the Circle, led by Danielle Gaines. Each of the 10 finalists will receive $2,500 dedicated to higher education expenses. The 2007 contest will run from Oct. 15 to November 30. To read other select essays, visit reconnectingthecircle.com. Details: 650/888-9263.