Santee Ross
By Santee Ross, University of Montana
Beer is the reason I receive more surprised looks than most people my age. I don’t drink. I’m a 23-year-old college student who chooses not to drink. I’m also Native American, which makes the surprised looks seem even more exaggerated.
People then ask me why. Why don’t I live up my youth and party? I say something simple, “just because.” No long explanations because if I tell them the real reasons, I become the focus of a controversial issue: alcoholism and Indians.
By Santee Ross, University of Montana
Susan Allen has a couple “firsts,” to add to her resume. She’s the first American Indian woman to be elected to the state legislature in Minnesota. She’s also the first American Indian lesbian to be elected to state legislature anywhere.
No wonder the girl has got media all over her like white on rice.
By Santee Ross, University of Montana
It’s Valentine’s Day, or as those of us less fortunate like to call it, Singles Awareness Day. It comes every year and every year I prepare by avoiding restaurants and quietly judging couples mackin’ it up on every corner.
Being a woman, I can’t help but wish I were a part of one of those sappy couples. They get to live it up on valentines’ day with chocolates, flowers, a nice dinner and some good ol’ fashioned lovin’.
By Santee Ross, University of Montana
War stricken countries have 20 more years of life expectancy; the unemployment rate is estimated at 80 percent and almost half of the high school students’ dropout. These daily realities are nothing new to people on the Wind River reservation—hell any reservation.
By Santee Ross, University of Montana
As far back as I can remember, I have been fascinated with stars. I was a little one who couldn’t last long in the sweat lodge, so I would wait for my mother outside.
I’d lie on the cold dirt that soothed my burning skin, staring at the night sky. I’d lie there listening to the songs from inside the sweat lodge and try to count the stars – I gave up after about eight, realizing I couldn’t count that high.
By Santee Ross, University of Montana
Combating diabetes on the Winnebago reservation has boiled down to chanting one simple word, “Ohm.”
Indian Country today Media Network reports that Transcendental Meditation which is the technique of sitting comfortably with eyes closed for 15-20 minutes twice a day has been taught to administrators, teachers and students on the reservation.
By Santee Ross, University of Montana
All of America has their eyes and ears on the upcoming presidential elections. I have reluctantly noticed that my ears perk up at the mere mention of Gingrich or Romney, which is rare. I’m no political science major.
So when I heard through NPR that Gingrich proposed a permanent base on the moon, I couldn’t help but turn up the volume.
By Santee Ross, University of Montana
“So do you smoke peyote?” “Are you the feather or dot kind of Indian?” “What’s your spirit animal?” “Do you still live in a tipi?”
Yes these are real questions that people ask all – and I do mean ALL – Native people constantly, possibly daily, in their lives.
By Santee Ross, University of Montana
I am a total sucker for a Native man in a good pair of wranglers—a site I sneak second looks for. Aside from my heart, Native cowboys are also on the minds of a lot of people lately with the 2011 National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas according to.
By Santee Ross, University of Montana
The Crazy Horse Monument in South Dakota has been ingrained in my memory since birth. The giant mountain memorial has also seemed frozen in time, in all the years since my birth—granted that’s not long but still.
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