The Indigenous People's March had been planned for a year now, to raise awareness of issues that affect Indigenous People all over the world, including, but not limited to the Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women crisis #MMIW. The government shutdown has no part in what the various marches intended to bring attention to. My question is why in the world would these young men stray from their anti-abortion rally to the Indigenous People's March which ended at the Lincoln Memorial?
I am a Native American Tsalagi woman and I've never in my life shown an ounce of disrespect to an Elder. I can't comprehend doing so. I don't know any Natives who would dare disrespect an Elder.
Nathan Phillips is a greatly respected Elder from the Omaha Nation, a Vietnam Veteran, a former Director of the Native Youth Alliance, and a holder of the sacred pipe. He also holds annual sacred pipe ceremonies to honor Veterans at Arlington National Park.
Let me remind you all of something. Things such as this happen regularly to Indigenous People. This is not unusual behavior, but for some reason this instance got the attention of a huge audience. Listen to Natives when they speak. Don't take up their spaces. Don't tell us we're wrong for feeling or reacting a certain type of way.