Smith and Laduke

Andrea Smith's article on Indigenous Feminism is quite different than the views presented in the Sacred Hoop on gynocentricism. Smith opens by outright rejecting the possibility that American Indian women's feminism is less valid than white feminism. I agree because the same issues that face women of any other color, also face Native women. But they also have more problems to deal with due to their situation post-colonialism. I only partial agree with her statement that "This allegiance to “America” or “Canada” legitimizes the genocide and colonization of Native peoples upon which these nation-states are founded. By making anti-colonial struggle central to feminist politics, Native women place in question the appropriate form of governance for the world in general." One can be loyal to the Country they live in while still fighting to make it a better place, despite the apparent corruptions within it. Her only similarity to the views in Sacred Hoop are that native cultures were primarily matriarchal pre-colonialization. I also agree that native feminism should be accepted by people other than native women, under the logic that it will take a great many people to win the revolution.

Laduke's information on the pollution of their lands is jaw dropping. The amount of chemicals being produced by the U.S is stunning. And that American media has the nerve to point the finger at China is embarrassing. The effects that the Mohawk are receiving are terrible. And the fact that companies like GM have to nerve to cover it up is terrible. Though, the fact that Obama has taken the initiative to ask the CEO of GM to step down shows that we are making some small progress. The steps that it would take to reverse all these pollutions will be difficult, and the people effected will never fully recover. The only thing our government can do is try to learn and make much harder regulations.