When I was in college I was asked to anchor the news for a tiny local cable broadcast station in Austin. The show was called “First Nations of Turtle Island.” I jumped at the chance because it married both of my loves: journalism/writing and Native culture. I wanted to be behind the camera because of my looks (white) but the guys didn’t want to do it and they really needed someone. So I reluctantly but happily agreed. In those days cell phones were not prevalent and I remember my Daddy would give me two quarters — one to call when I got there and one to let him know I was on my way home. Our crew was interesting and took me right in. There was “Parts Is Parts”, Karankawa, who had a penchant for fishing the dead turtles out of the UT campus’ ponds and turning them into rattles, a Navajo getting his masters in library sciences with a dream of linking all the tribal nations together electronically, and a couple more great guys whom I wish so badly I could remember. During my time there I had the privilege of interviewing an elder who was a member of the elite and little known to non-natives Zuni Eagle Catching Society. I also interviewed a man named Homer Buffalo who was a member of the honored Kiowa Black Leggings Society. He made tipis for a living and I thought about him with renewed respect as I put together my little one’s small pink tipi. As incongruous as it may seem, it is perfect for us, since it reflects on my side our distant descent from French Royals as well as our Choctaw heritage (despite the fact that they never lived in tipis.) I think I will teach her The Lord’s Prayer in Choctaw in there and maybe it will be our special place to speak French together as well. Interestingly, the French and the Choctaw have long been allies, dating back to before the American Revolution. It was a French missionary who first wrote the Choctaw language on paper after it had been orally passed down for centuries. The great American animation pioneer Walt Disney once said:
“Our heritage and ideals, our code and standards – the things we live by and teach our children – are preserved or diminished by how freely we exchange ideas and feelings.”
I want my little one to know and embrace all of her heritage — and to stand proud in it. Even in a pink tipi with the Eiffel Tower on it. Achukma Hoke.
