Tell Wisconsin That "Love" in Menominee is Not a Four-Letter-Word

Sacred Heart Catholic Academy in Shawano, Wisconsin

Susan V and Concerned Citizens

"Ketapanen" is NOT a four-letter word. Even though it means "I love you" in Menominee, saying it still got Miranda Washinawatok in trouble at school. 

According to Native News Network, when Miranda's teacher at Sacred Heart heard her speaking her native language, she slammed her hand on the desk, angry that Miranda might have said something "bad." As punishment, Miranda was benched during her team's next basketball game.

Miranda was upset and confused by the reaction, as was her mother, who says the Menominee language is part of their lives and that Miranda's grandmother is a linguistics and cultural specialist for their tribe. And the school's apology, she said, doesn't properly address this injustice.

Given our nation's shameful history of depriving Native Americans of their culture, among other things, Sacred Heart should back its apology with action.

Tell them to add American Indian languages and culture to their curriculum and stop violating rights of American Indian students.

Comment:

The first things a Dictatorship/Tyrant government does to destroy a People is to take away their Language/Mother Tongue, remove their cultural practices such as dance, chant and music, change their clothing and attire to mimic the dominating culture and shove an Organized Religion down their throats. The Hawaiian people have seen this ruin their lands, these beautiful islands, and destroy generations of families - into shame, guilt, fear, hatred, disease and poverty. This unconscious and unconscionable way of treating any People is simply the actions of deprived, depraved minds of the Dominant Culture, full of fear and loathing as well as their own darkness. An apology is a start... and the replenishing and nurturing of the Native and 1st Nation culture is the next sane and right thing to do. Do it, Sacred Hearts. Or their is really nothing Sacred or of the Heart about you. Sincerely, Satya Keyes