Joe: I thoroughly enjoyed your story. I was taken back to the memories of shopping in the big department stores of my childhood and the smoke filled lounges where weary Moms took refuge from the crowds.The pacing is just right, the FX subtle and the music in tune with the story. I loved the hint of things to come when you described "your Buster Browns lifting off the sidewalk".
Thank you for the refuge from work and returning me to memories that need coddling lest we forget life's opportunities to be a hero!
Stations, this is nice piece of writing and enjoyment for your listeners.
Peggy Berryhill
Native Public Media
Comment for
"Complexities of Fish Advisories, Part 4" (deleted)
Review of Complexities of Fish Advisories, Part 4 (deleted)
Eating fish has long been a staple in many communities. In Minnesota some Native communities use fish for ceremonial purposes as well, using the fish as a gift or for honoring. Since many Native communities are looking at high rates of diabetes and other health ills, the importance of retuning to a more natural diet is now complicated due to pollutions and poisons in the food chain. In this story we learn about some Native communities in Minnesota who have to weigh their desire to eat fish over the potential health risks of eating fish contaminated with pollutants like mercury and dioxin. When is it okay to trade the risks presented by eating fish by continuing to eat an unhealthy diet of processed foods? There’s no easy answer to that question.
Program note: There is an erroneous statement at the beginning of this program referring to the “traditional European diet of processed foods…”. Processed foods are an American tradition and not a traditional European diet. Nevertheless processed foods are not a healthy choice for those trying to regain their health.
While there is much more to this story than can be told in a few minutes it is well worth listening to anyone who is concerned about healthy eating. It’s not so easy to make food choices in today’s world as this story from Minnesota points out.
I’m what’s known, anthropologically, as a “first generation urban Indian”. My family came to Californian in the 1950’s via a program called Relocation. It was meant to assimilate Indians and separate them form their cultures. For the most part it didn’t work. You can take the Indians out of the country but you can’t remove the Indian from the person. Today we’re into the third generation “urbans”, with many Indians being born in the city. Today’s Indian families come from varying tribal communities. Over the years, for a variety of reasons, some economical, Indian families have settled in or near urban centers. In fact today, according to the 200 Census, more than 60% of the Indian population lives in cities.
For many Indians this disconnect from a tribal community can cause emotional conflicts. How do Indians cope with what I call “the walking in two worlds syndrome”. You reconnect to your culture if you have families on reservations or you hang out at the local Indian center. That’s exactly what the folks in this story did.
This is a well done story that looks at the complexities of Seattle area urban Indian life through 2 families; one family who left the reservation to live in the city, and one who was already urban although we’re not sure why. Each family struggled for identity and survival. Over the years each family found that they missed a direct connection to their respective Native communities. Over time each family its way back to Indian culture and community. The children of one family returned to the reservation of their parents. While another adult Indian man becomes connected to Seattle’s multi-cultural or “pan-Indian” urban Indian community. These families are typical many of Native people today. This story shows how important it is for Indians to maintain their cultural identity and most Indians never completely give up their ties to their traditional homelands and cultures.
Loved this story!
What’s not like, great music, good interviews, well written, excellent pacing, and great sounds. One person says, about steel pan music, “If you’re depressed, you won’t be for long”. A wonderful story of steel pan musician, and Blue Hill, Maine resident, Charles Chase and his love of the steel pan and how it transformed a local community. It’s a joy to hear the Trinidadians reaction when they are exposed to an all White steel pan band. Stations carry this one, you and your listeners will smile and dance!
Well done Seattle relocation stories. Compelling, well voice, mixed. Some minor inconsistencies on the history of relocation but overall listenable and interesting.
New information for many people.
This program profiles some Anishinabe communities in Minnesota and some of their spiritual beliefs. The producers look at what they perceive as a new movement of practicing “traditional spiritual practices” whiles other tribal members are practicing Judeo-Christian values. Sometimes they are combined. The producers provide a look across generations in order to prove that Indians are “rekindling their spirits.”
First the good news, the strong production values for which MPR is known that are true of this program. There are compelling interviews and some new information via archival sounds. I believe that that the producers were earnest and did the best job. However, there is a big problem that jumps out for the Native listener and makes it almost unlistenable: the narration. Don’t you hate it when people talk about you like you’re not there? This documentary employs the old school ethnographic reportage that rings falsely when the people reported on are actually living in the same world as the rest of us. The Anishinabe are neighbors, friends and co-workers, not far-off mysterious woodland communities practicing strange ways.
The immediate problem with this program is in that the opening premise and narration that refers to all Indians when this story is really only about one specific group of Anishinabe people. This is not just an MPR misunderstanding but a commonplace misconception that all Indians are alike. There are over 400 federally recognized tribes and more than 600 languages and cultures, so saying that all American Indians are the same as the people interviewed is just not true. And- it irritates the heck out of Indians! Short of re-doing all the narration, I don’t know how to recommend this story because of this preconceived notion that keeps getting reinforced. For non-Indians the story sounds good but it continues to stereotype Indians in a way that I’m sure was not intended but it’s there. In addition, the presented information is not new, this story has been done many times over. To its credit, the interviews are fresh and listenable. However, this is the year 2005 and Indians are not all alike and the lessons conveyed in this piece are true only for the speakers and do not reflect all Native Americans.
Is there a “rekindling” going on in Native communities? Yes and no, this is a complex situation and depends on when the communities experienced first contact and the results. In truth many, many Native communities have found ways to protect their sacred ways and have survived by adopting and adapting the dominant religions forced on them, but this program does not convey the depth and accuracy of this evolution.
The television series, "The West Wing" just did a story about trying to get the Israelis and Palestinians to come to an agreement and end the bloodshed. One character referring to both cultures, said, "they're so alike". Sadly this documentary amplifies that comment by examining the effects of decades of violence and its effect on children on both sides of the violence.
Good interviews with children who often tell horrible stories of everyday life. Interviews with therapists and mental health workers in both camps showing attempts to help children deal with their fears. A compelling piece of work that would work well in a weekend or evening documentary slot.
"It's November, let's bring on the Indians", my friend comedian Charlie Hill always says. So it's November and here is one story that brings on the Indians and the White people and yet takes us to another level in the Thanksgiving stories. I found this program a refreshing change from the angry "un-Thanksgiving", retro pieces that often surface during November. It also introduces many listeners to Maine's living Indian population. Few people, Indian and non-Indian, realize how many Eastern Indians still survive today.
This is a modern story that gets beyond the anger as a few people in Maine, Indian and non-Indian, share a camp, a fire, and a talking circle and confront their internal prejudices about each other. The individual experiences are compelling to listen to although they sometimes have a 'touchy-feely' modulated tone. Important lessons are learned on both sides as one participant put it, 'what was more important was our committment to each other and not coming together over the 'plight of the Indians'.
Another person says that 'they weren't there to deal with each other as Indian or White but as friends and family.' And like all families there were some angry confrontations, interacial relationships was an issue for some of the Indians, for example.
Beyond the campfire there was an look at the reality of Indian life today.The on-going battle over fishing rights was explored briefly.
I think this program bears listening to; it is well produced and the ambiance of the fire is wonderful. With the fire crackling in the background you can understand why everyone is speaking so reflectively. What's missing for me, however, is the humor and laughter that is always present when Indians gather. But this review isn't aobut what was missing in the program, I still liked it more than the political rhetoric that comes out during November.
I found this story very intriguing. First we have a son coming to terms with his fathers life and trying to understand one of his fathers prized possessions; a skull and femur bones brought back from Viet Nam, carefully preserved for years. I was interested in hearing this piece to see what it might reveal about a person who takes the bones of another human and keeps them. Human bones, were they war trophies? Can they be anything else? I wondered what Dereks late father thought of each time he was with "his bones". Unfortunatley no one in the family ever asked him why he'd taken the bones.
For me, this story also was also profoundly personal. As a Native American I have on occasion had people contact me about the Indian bones they have in the garrage or basement and ask me what to do with them. I always ask them where they got them and why they kept them. I can't say that I've ever been given an answer that has helped me understand this practice.
In this case, I like it that Derek tries to do the right thing and return them to their homeland where some family may be longing to give them a proper burial. Perhaps, this piece may prompt some listerners to repatriate the bones of our ancestors, as Derek points out, there may be a family waiting for their relative to come home.
While this story may be disturbing to some listeners, I think the producer did a good job and it brings into the open a topic that deserves some deliberation.
Comments by Peggy Berryhill
Comment for ""The Christmas I Saved Macy's""
Peggy Berryhill
Posted on December 06, 2007 at 05:14 AM | Permalink
Review of "The Christmas I Saved Macy's"
Joe: I thoroughly enjoyed your story. I was taken back to the memories of shopping in the big department stores of my childhood and the smoke filled lounges where weary Moms took refuge from the crowds.The pacing is just right, the FX subtle and the music in tune with the story. I loved the hint of things to come when you described "your Buster Browns lifting off the sidewalk".
Thank you for the refuge from work and returning me to memories that need coddling lest we forget life's opportunities to be a hero!
Stations, this is nice piece of writing and enjoyment for your listeners.
Peggy Berryhill
Native Public Media
Comment for "Complexities of Fish Advisories, Part 4" (deleted)
Peggy Berryhill
Posted on February 21, 2005 at 06:11 AM
Review of Complexities of Fish Advisories, Part 4 (deleted)
Eating fish has long been a staple in many communities. In Minnesota some Native communities use fish for ceremonial purposes as well, using the fish as a gift or for honoring. Since many Native communities are looking at high rates of diabetes and other health ills, the importance of retuning to a more natural diet is now complicated due to pollutions and poisons in the food chain. In this story we learn about some Native communities in Minnesota who have to weigh their desire to eat fish over the potential health risks of eating fish contaminated with pollutants like mercury and dioxin. When is it okay to trade the risks presented by eating fish by continuing to eat an unhealthy diet of processed foods? There’s no easy answer to that question.
Program note: There is an erroneous statement at the beginning of this program referring to the “traditional European diet of processed foods…”. Processed foods are an American tradition and not a traditional European diet. Nevertheless processed foods are not a healthy choice for those trying to regain their health.
While there is much more to this story than can be told in a few minutes it is well worth listening to anyone who is concerned about healthy eating. It’s not so easy to make food choices in today’s world as this story from Minnesota points out.
Comment for "Urban Indian Experience: Episode 3 - Reconnecting to Culture"
Peggy Berryhill
Posted on February 21, 2005 at 06:04 AM | Permalink
Review of Urban Indian Experience: Episode 3 - Reconnecting to Culture
I’m what’s known, anthropologically, as a “first generation urban Indian”. My family came to Californian in the 1950’s via a program called Relocation. It was meant to assimilate Indians and separate them form their cultures. For the most part it didn’t work. You can take the Indians out of the country but you can’t remove the Indian from the person. Today we’re into the third generation “urbans”, with many Indians being born in the city. Today’s Indian families come from varying tribal communities. Over the years, for a variety of reasons, some economical, Indian families have settled in or near urban centers. In fact today, according to the 200 Census, more than 60% of the Indian population lives in cities.
For many Indians this disconnect from a tribal community can cause emotional conflicts. How do Indians cope with what I call “the walking in two worlds syndrome”. You reconnect to your culture if you have families on reservations or you hang out at the local Indian center. That’s exactly what the folks in this story did.
This is a well done story that looks at the complexities of Seattle area urban Indian life through 2 families; one family who left the reservation to live in the city, and one who was already urban although we’re not sure why. Each family struggled for identity and survival. Over the years each family found that they missed a direct connection to their respective Native communities. Over time each family its way back to Indian culture and community. The children of one family returned to the reservation of their parents. While another adult Indian man becomes connected to Seattle’s multi-cultural or “pan-Indian” urban Indian community. These families are typical many of Native people today. This story shows how important it is for Indians to maintain their cultural identity and most Indians never completely give up their ties to their traditional homelands and cultures.
Comment for "It's a Pan Peninsula"
Peggy Berryhill
Posted on January 27, 2005 at 07:01 AM | Permalink
Review of It's a Pan Peninsula
Loved this story!
What’s not like, great music, good interviews, well written, excellent pacing, and great sounds. One person says, about steel pan music, “If you’re depressed, you won’t be for long”. A wonderful story of steel pan musician, and Blue Hill, Maine resident, Charles Chase and his love of the steel pan and how it transformed a local community. It’s a joy to hear the Trinidadians reaction when they are exposed to an all White steel pan band. Stations carry this one, you and your listeners will smile and dance!
Comment for "Urban Indian Experience: Episode 2 - A Place to Call Home"
Peggy Berryhill
Posted on January 27, 2005 at 06:55 AM | Permalink
Review of Urban Indian Experience: Episode 2 - A Place to Call Home
Well done Seattle relocation stories. Compelling, well voice, mixed. Some minor inconsistencies on the history of relocation but overall listenable and interesting.
New information for many people.
Comment for "Rekindling the Spirit: The Rebirth of American Indian Spirituality"
Peggy Berryhill
Posted on January 27, 2005 at 06:51 AM | Permalink
Review of Rekindling the Spirit: The Rebirth of American Indian Spirit
This program profiles some Anishinabe communities in Minnesota and some of their spiritual beliefs. The producers look at what they perceive as a new movement of practicing “traditional spiritual practices” whiles other tribal members are practicing Judeo-Christian values. Sometimes they are combined. The producers provide a look across generations in order to prove that Indians are “rekindling their spirits.”
First the good news, the strong production values for which MPR is known that are true of this program. There are compelling interviews and some new information via archival sounds. I believe that that the producers were earnest and did the best job. However, there is a big problem that jumps out for the Native listener and makes it almost unlistenable: the narration. Don’t you hate it when people talk about you like you’re not there? This documentary employs the old school ethnographic reportage that rings falsely when the people reported on are actually living in the same world as the rest of us. The Anishinabe are neighbors, friends and co-workers, not far-off mysterious woodland communities practicing strange ways.
The immediate problem with this program is in that the opening premise and narration that refers to all Indians when this story is really only about one specific group of Anishinabe people. This is not just an MPR misunderstanding but a commonplace misconception that all Indians are alike. There are over 400 federally recognized tribes and more than 600 languages and cultures, so saying that all American Indians are the same as the people interviewed is just not true. And- it irritates the heck out of Indians! Short of re-doing all the narration, I don’t know how to recommend this story because of this preconceived notion that keeps getting reinforced. For non-Indians the story sounds good but it continues to stereotype Indians in a way that I’m sure was not intended but it’s there. In addition, the presented information is not new, this story has been done many times over. To its credit, the interviews are fresh and listenable. However, this is the year 2005 and Indians are not all alike and the lessons conveyed in this piece are true only for the speakers and do not reflect all Native Americans.
Is there a “rekindling” going on in Native communities? Yes and no, this is a complex situation and depends on when the communities experienced first contact and the results. In truth many, many Native communities have found ways to protect their sacred ways and have survived by adopting and adapting the dominant religions forced on them, but this program does not convey the depth and accuracy of this evolution.
Comment for "RN Special 1-hour Documentary: Strangers Next Door"
Peggy Berryhill
Posted on November 03, 2004 at 08:22 AM | Permalink
Review of RN Special 1-hour Documentary: Strangers Next Door
The television series, "The West Wing" just did a story about trying to get the Israelis and Palestinians to come to an agreement and end the bloodshed. One character referring to both cultures, said, "they're so alike". Sadly this documentary amplifies that comment by examining the effects of decades of violence and its effect on children on both sides of the violence.
Good interviews with children who often tell horrible stories of everyday life. Interviews with therapists and mental health workers in both camps showing attempts to help children deal with their fears. A compelling piece of work that would work well in a weekend or evening documentary slot.
Comment for "The Gathering - A Modern Thanksgiving Story"
Peggy Berryhill
Posted on October 27, 2004 at 02:27 PM | Permalink
Review of The Gathering - A Modern Thanksgiving Story
"It's November, let's bring on the Indians", my friend comedian Charlie Hill always says. So it's November and here is one story that brings on the Indians and the White people and yet takes us to another level in the Thanksgiving stories. I found this program a refreshing change from the angry "un-Thanksgiving", retro pieces that often surface during November. It also introduces many listeners to Maine's living Indian population. Few people, Indian and non-Indian, realize how many Eastern Indians still survive today.
This is a modern story that gets beyond the anger as a few people in Maine, Indian and non-Indian, share a camp, a fire, and a talking circle and confront their internal prejudices about each other. The individual experiences are compelling to listen to although they sometimes have a 'touchy-feely' modulated tone. Important lessons are learned on both sides as one participant put it, 'what was more important was our committment to each other and not coming together over the 'plight of the Indians'.
Another person says that 'they weren't there to deal with each other as Indian or White but as friends and family.' And like all families there were some angry confrontations, interacial relationships was an issue for some of the Indians, for example.
Beyond the campfire there was an look at the reality of Indian life today.The on-going battle over fishing rights was explored briefly.
I think this program bears listening to; it is well produced and the ambiance of the fire is wonderful. With the fire crackling in the background you can understand why everyone is speaking so reflectively. What's missing for me, however, is the humor and laughter that is always present when Indians gather. But this review isn't aobut what was missing in the program, I still liked it more than the political rhetoric that comes out during November.
Comment for "Vietnam Bones"
Peggy Berryhill
Posted on October 24, 2004 at 02:41 PM | Permalink
Review of Vietnam Bones
I found this story very intriguing. First we have a son coming to terms with his fathers life and trying to understand one of his fathers prized possessions; a skull and femur bones brought back from Viet Nam, carefully preserved for years. I was interested in hearing this piece to see what it might reveal about a person who takes the bones of another human and keeps them. Human bones, were they war trophies? Can they be anything else? I wondered what Dereks late father thought of each time he was with "his bones". Unfortunatley no one in the family ever asked him why he'd taken the bones.
For me, this story also was also profoundly personal. As a Native American I have on occasion had people contact me about the Indian bones they have in the garrage or basement and ask me what to do with them. I always ask them where they got them and why they kept them. I can't say that I've ever been given an answer that has helped me understand this practice.
In this case, I like it that Derek tries to do the right thing and return them to their homeland where some family may be longing to give them a proper burial. Perhaps, this piece may prompt some listerners to repatriate the bones of our ancestors, as Derek points out, there may be a family waiting for their relative to come home.
While this story may be disturbing to some listeners, I think the producer did a good job and it brings into the open a topic that deserves some deliberation.