Monday, January 28, 2013

Alcohol is NOT our culture

So a comment that a KTVA viewer made on the news story they did about this blog has really been bugging me. He stated that alcohol is our culture when it is in fact not. He also implied that it is our own culture that it is killing us.
During the 1950's suicide among natives did not differ much from very much from the rest of the nation. During the 1950's alcohol was introduced to most native villages. Suicide, sex crimes, homicide and other crimes among native people began to climb. During this time much of our own culture was taken from us. I have heard numerous stories from elders and others of being beaten for speaking their language, of being washed in kerosene, and of being sexually abused by the priests that were brought to teach them what they thought we should know. I am going to be 31 years old and never knew of Ellam-yua until about two weeks ago.
While the introduction to the western ways may have improved life in some ways, like giving us a longer life span, homes that are easier to heat and education, it has also destroyed who we are. Natives were forced to forget their own beliefs and learn what others thought we should know.
Today nearly 80% of deaths among natives is alcohol related, despite many efforts to keep it out of many villages. Kotlik is a dry village. However, with an unemployment rate of 34.6% and the a ca pita income of $9,755, the sale of alcohol is quick and easy money in a village where a quart of uht milk is over $3 and where heating fuel and gasoline prices are over $6 a gallon. The sale of one fifth of alcohol is usually over $150.
 I want to make it clear that alcohol is not our culture, it is a problem that we are facing.It is so new to us that we have yet to figure out to overcome alcoholism, but I have faith that we will.
In fact Caucasian people consume more alcohol than any other people in this nation, so to sit and say that our culture is destroying is just plain idiotic. It is the DESTRUCTION of our culture and the FORCED INTRODUCTION of another that has lead to these issues that we face. Our beliefs and way of life was taken from us, another was forced upon us and then we saw a huge increase in social problems.
According to a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services survey, 56.7 percent of whites describe themselves as "current drinkers," compared to 42.8 percent of African Americans, 41.7 percent of Hispanics, 37.6 percent of Asians, and 47.6 percent of multiracial people.
"National surveys show differences in alcohol consumption across ethnic groups, including patterns of drinking associated with greater risk for the adverse effects of alcohol (e.g., binge drinking, defined as five or more drinks on the same occasion). According to past-30-day estimates of drinking provided by the 2007 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) (SAMHSA 2008c), any alcohol use in adults (i.e., ages 18 or older) is most prevalent for Whites."(NIAAA Publications)
" Self-reported rates of DUI were highest among White men" (Driving under the influence)
So we were forced to learn what others believe in, and yes it has become a problem for us. Alcohol is so new to us that we have yet to find a way to deal with it. I do however believe that we are doing everything we can to address this problem, and WILL overcome this plague introduced to us.
A reader also stated that Alaska Natives make up most of the inmate population, and that he knew this for a fact because he worked there. However according to state.ak.us Caucasian people make up the majority of the inmate population. 50% of the felony population in Alaska is made up of Caucasian people as well (http://justice.uaa.alaska.edu/forum/20/4winter2004/c_felonyprocess.html)
So there you go. Alcohol is not our culture. Our culture is much richer than that and cannot be learned by being a prison guard in a jail.

cul·ture
/ˈkəlCHər/

Noun
The arts and other manifestations of human intellectual achievement regarded collectively. Definition of culture

19 comments:

  1. Funny how if you research things you find out the truth! Good work bringing this to light!

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  2. so it isn't the native culture destroying us, it is the culture that we were forced into that is destroying us. we need to bring back our culture. we are simply following the white man in his alcoholism

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  3. well written. i am proud to say, i am an Inupiaq. 26 years old. and i have never drank, gotten drunk, and never will...growing up in a small village, we all know what alcohol does to families, and you are right, it isn't our culture.

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  4. It is not our culture and never has been. We were introduced to alcohol 100 years ago, it hasn't weeded out people like other cultures who have had 10,000 years of alcohols destruction. But there will come a day when we are not inundated with it, we'll beat it, and look back at it as a sad time. We are a resilient people, you will see.

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  5. Thank you for this post. It's very educational for the ignorant.

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  6. nothing but drunks anyways

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  7. Just a few points.

    (1)Alcohol may or may not have been part of traditional culture in Turtle Island pre European contact but there were certainly ways to alter the mind. Peyote and Sun Dances being but two.

    (2)Depending upon where a nation was located contact with Anglo-Europeans would have started at least 100 years and maybe up to @ 600 years ago.

    (3) what your culture 'was' is not what your culture 'is'

    (4) throughout the world the is not a culture that I am aware of that does not use reality altering drugs. In North America it is a rare person of any race who does not use chemicals of one sort or another to change the reality they experience.

    (5) it is time to quit blaming the white man.

    (6) things will only improve when you or I accept the personal responsibility for getting our of this problem.

    (7) and before you ask yes i was abused in all ways as a child by my father which may even be worse than by a priest. And yes I have been found a path to health but only because I looked for it.

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    1. 1. Your comparing apples to oranges alcohol is known to have destroyed more lives than any "traditional" drug native people may have used before their introduction to alcohol!

      2. Natives had little to NO contact with Anglo Americans en mass until it was discovered that there was oil & gold here in the 1890's and the white man came in droves which has brought us to where we are today! Is it a better way of life? IDK for some maybe but for others no!

      3. Contact was very little because the white man had no reason to be here other than explore so any interaction was minimal due to weather conditions etc before the 1890's so to say we have had this problem for hundreds of years is ignorant to say the least!

      4.We are not talking about any other culture and most other cultures have a few hundred if not thousands of years head start with drinking alcohol and the destruction it causes!

      5.Yes we can blame the white man because with out him there would be NO alcohol!!! Forced religion, destruction of the land and the list goes on! It is however up to us to find solutions and fix the problems that was created, forced and brought to our land, way of living and culture!

      6. Not everyone has the strength to find healing after abuse or drugs and alcohol as you did and we applaud you but before you make blanket statements you should understand if everyone were able to do it on their own then the problems probably wouldn't exist!

      This is why this Blog is great it has opened some eyes and created dialogue other than political rhetoric that seeks to benefit only a few!

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  8. Mind-altering substances have been used in all societies except among the Eskimos and some Polvnesians (https://www.dmt-nexus.me/doc/psychedelics_encyclopedia.pdf)

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  9. I love this BLOG TheModerNative! It is angering & bothering for that individual to speak such nonsense! Alcohol, our culture?! S.T.U.PID! I couldn't help but wonder how he was brought up to believe Alcohol is OUR Culture. (I was raised & taught of our Culture, so I should know what Tradition is.) If, and I'm assuming he lives in Rural Alaska, considering the fact that THIS being Rural Alaska, what other race is he going to see in the Majority? Alaskan Natives! Alcohol & other illegal substances are a problem in the villages of Alaska. Rather than the man or anyone else complaining, why not help the community and get this to stop. Or, slow down? Legalizing or voting a community to go "Damp" will not help, in my own personal opinion; agreed? This would be another great topic to cover, "Parents Allowing Their Minors to Drink/Party With Them". Which is plainly idiotic to even allow. Idiots!
    Thanks for a great topic! Fumed my emotions, also. Alcohol is Our Culture=WTF!!!
    S.A.

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  10. As a predominantly white, Alaskan transplant, I have very little room to talk about such matters. But I'll offer my opinion because I think it merits being said.

    Growing up in the lower 48, Alaska is mostly talked about in legends and pseudo-myths. I had a dream when I was younger about being a Native out hunting seal and it only solidified those tales. Several years later, I followed in my father's footsteps and made my way to Alaska. Being new to Anchorage and having visited the Native Heritage Center, I thought that Alaska was steeped in tradition and culture. Over the span of five years, I started to realize another reality.

    As you mentioned above, Native culture was forced onto to many. In much the same way that the US did to the Native American tribes of the lower 48 (which part of my family is Cherokee). The heart and soul of people were replaced with a forced Christianity, customs and social stigmas. I can see some traditions still burn bright within some but in others it is being forgotten. Languages are disappearing, stories being left untold.

    I've looked for years for books and resources of Native folklore, myths and traditions but have found very little available to me. Some people I have spoken with have very little if no idea of their culture and didn't seem to care. It's truly heartbreaking to hear. Even worse to have people say that alcohol is Native culture.

    Natives have every reason to stand tall and hold their head high. Native culture is something to be proud of. I believe it needs to be preserved and quickly too.

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  11. Alcoholism is a symptom of something else and not the cause of suicide or other problems. Our social issues, our social status, the lack of respect for Natives in general, the lack of hope for a better future -- these are the real reasons why we have problems. It's unfair to lump all Alaska Natives together and make those of us who drink responsibly, hold down jobs, and are no where near alcoholics feel as if they are doing something wrong if we have a glass of wine at a social event. It's a stereotype to make me feel as if I'm a "drunk Native" if I'm at a fundraiser having a toast at a table of non-Natives. We haven't had a problem with alcohol in our family for 3 generations that I'm aware of. And having a toast at New Years or wine with Christmas dinner has been in our culture. I'm offended to be told what our culture is or is not. I will define who I am and what my culture is or is not. The statistic you state are depressing. Show me the stats on healthy Natives, as we do exist.

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  12. close our eyes and pretend it doesn't exist? great idea

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  13. a family tradition is not the same as culter. as you may not know this blog is for problems that natives face. also, what village did you grow up in where wine was readily available for the last three generations (90 yrs)? Congratulation on being a healthy succesful eskimo.

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  14. keep the good work up moder native. dont pay attention to grumpy people who like to pretend we dont have problems. if we keep pertending not to have problems we wont solve them. i like reading peoples real experiences. i dont like hearing what people with no experience with alcoholism or issues that we deal with think about our problems. thank you for this cool place for us to talk at

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  15. I am native and agree that it is time to stop blaming the white people. It is seriously time to move on from putting blame on any one race for what our people continue to do to them selves.

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  16. hmmm, explaining the truth and spreading the word so natives can get up and do something about it seems to really offend some. i beleive this blog is exactly for that to open up our own eyes so we may get up off our butts and do something. no one is going to do it for us. so if someone shot u in the leg and left you with no care for it but you were still struggling with it a year later it isnt there falt cause it is the past and its you that is continuing to live with it?

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  17. I love all the comments and opinions on this, but I must ask: How would each of you define YOUR CULTURE? It seems we all have very different ideas on what culture is, so let's enlighten one another and share. Thank you all for reading.

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We at TheModerNative encourage you to voice your opinion. Thank you for sharing!