There Goes The Neighborhood

Urban Dictionary defines the saying "there goes the neighborhood" as "the first you-name-the-ethnic-group has moved in, and the racist neighbors are restless." This definition definitely rings true with the interactions between the native americans and the european explorers. Both sides were quick to jump to conclusions about the other group based on superficial observations and a fear of the unknown. Both sides were quick to isolate themselves from the foreigners and, as a result, had countless misconceptions that fed both positive and negative stereotypes, prejudice, and profiling. 

The majority of clash that happened between the groups was not because the cultures or people were too different; the clash between the natives and the explorers was caused by ignorance. Neither side heard the other out. If there was some connection and impartial communications between the native americans and the europeans, there would have been a better chance of them seeing the situation as less black and white. Bridging the gap between monotheism and polytheism, for example, and identifying that both religions had common values and roots, could have eased some of the animosity and tension. 

Education and personal narratives are they key to teaching coexistence and tolerance. Last year, I was able to not only study the history and multiple narratives of the Jewish-Muslim Israeli dynamic, but witness the relationships between the two groups firsthand. The misconceptions, lack of communication, stereotypes, prejudice, religious differences, hostile encounters, land/territory conflicts, and segregation on both the Jewish and Muslim sides parallel that of the Natives and Europeans. Add that to not only the political issues between the Palestinians and Israelis, but the entire Arab world/region... and you get a world of hostility and disconnect. All of the coexistence efforts I visited and learned about focussed on education: educating both sides about both religions, narratives, common goals, fundamental similarities. Supplementing the knowledge with personal stories of loss, regret, hopes, and goals add a dimension of reality to the relationship and makes coexistence more than just something on pen and paper: a necessity. 

Obviously, even if there was a better understanding of the others' views, some clash would still have been unavoidable between the Natives and explorers. Even now, with technology and the ability to look back on the way things played out, there are still negative stigmas associated with Native Americans and Americans of European descent on both sides. Especially after reading Susan Powers' narrative in Museum Indians, it is apparent that even in todays society there are physical and mental barriers that separate Native Americans from society as a whole. Reservations are an example of both: not only to they literally segregate Native Americans, but they attribute to negative stigmas of Natives such as that they are uneducated, poor, and unlike the "common American."

On the same token, there have been many recent strides in pop culture and mainstream media to familiarize all of America with Native Americans and bridge the gaps between cultures. On Season Eleven of Project Runway, Native American Patricia Michaels used traditional techniques, concepts, aesthetics, and cultural influences in all of her designs. She made it her personal mission to keep true to her roots and represent the Native American community.