Deaf treated same as Native Americans

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I have read on the internet and on some threads of Deaf history, (I’m a history nerd I love it), and there are some striking similarities between how native children were treated and how Deaf children were treated. In the 1800’s and even 1900’s Indian children were taken from their parents and enrolled in “Indian schools”. Here they were taught to hate their culture, they were beaten if they spoke their native languages. They were taught that native language was inferior and they would never go anywhere in the world if they did not forget their native language and speak only English. A book that is actually intended to be a young teen book is called “My Heart is on the Ground: the Diary of Nannie Little Rose, a Sioux Girl”. In it a fictional girl is taken from her parents by the government and forced into an Indian school. There she talks about beatings for speaking her language, children receiving broken bones for it. Children sneaking with their friends to speak their language. This book although fictional is accurate in its description of these schools. And this was all done for the “benefit” of the children.
Does this sound familiar? Seems the mentality of such people was the same for Deaf and native Americans and in this instance Deaf and native Americans were treated the same.
 
Yeah, there are many similarities between the treatment of Native Americans and the Deaf. There are similarities, historically in the way this country has treated all of its minority populations. Sad, isn't it?
 
Yeah, I'm a geek too. Took an awesome Indian Studies course a few years ago, and was AMAZED at the simlairities!
Also, have you noticed that the "hobbiests" are the same? There are little boys who are interested in Native Americans b/c it's such a fun hobby......and then we have some other hearies who view Deafness as such a fun little hobby.
 
I used to belong to a group that had several Native Americans and when I told them about the Deaf World and I remember them commenting on the similarities to their experiences.
 
Yes there are similarities between the minorities, but I was mostly speaking to the language aspect of the two groups.
LOL hobby boys. I have never thought of it that way but yes you are right there are some people like that. I have been treated like that because of my orientation. I have felt straight people invited me to their parties so they can look cool cause they have a gay guy there. I was introduced as “he’s gay” as if that was my last name.
I read on one website that some native Americans see Deaf people in a held up sense. Like Deaf people are more special than hearing people, that they are more attuned to the spirit world and are to be treated with respect. I don’t know the validity of that or if it is one particular tribe that is like that.
 
Most likely some Native American nations have this belief. Indian beliefs can vary widely among nations.
 
Yeah i know that very well. Like most people think NA believe in many gods and spirts and things. The Cherokee have always believed that there is only one God who created all things. This God is One God but made up of 3. Sound familar? This is why the Cherokee converted to Christianity so easy and quickly. Also their god's name is Yawa and the name of God is Yaweigh (sp) anyway they are pronounced almost identically. Their number of perfection is 7 which is the same for Jews, and Christians. But others worshiped many gods.
 
Native beliefs are considered a private matter. it sure took some getting used to not being asked what your religon is. That's why I'm not too familar with native beliefs.
 
My father is native American. His mother was taught not to talk about it and if anyone asked why she was so dark to tell them she is french or spanish. This is why i have such a curiosity to learn as much as i can because this is who i am. Unfortunately, my brother got the dark skin, i didn't. But i got all the features, EXTREMELY high cheek bones, large prominant nose, thick lips, and then of course the "slanted" eyes. My brother didn't get those features. When i was in school the kids would play What race does he look today?? This is because my facial features didn't match my skin tone. So i got asian, latin, arab, italian, jewish, french etc... what ever they could come up with to say that i look like. Oh well just makes me different huh?
 
My cheek bones are the reason i almost never smile in pictures, they are very noticeable even when i don't smile. When i do it looks like i have an apple stuck in each cheek! LOL But it's fine some people actually get surgery to get cheek bones like mine.
 
I am 1/8 Native American but dont have any of the tell-tale features. Only my olive skin is.
 
I do have an olive completion and even as pale as I am, I am still not “white” I am the same shade as most people and I am almost never in the sun. White people would be pasty white if they were in the sun as little as I am. If I did have a tan most people think I am Puerto Rican. LOL. My brother was born the color he is and it doesn’t matter how much or how little sun he gets he stays the same color. I on the other hand have to work to get tan. I keep it for a while though. I have cousins who are the same amount as I am and they look like they came off the reservation, I have other cousins who are the same as me and they are blonde haired and blue eyed and you cannot tell there is anything in there but white.
 
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