Kendra Becenti
This is a great column from the Navajo Times, Indigenous student voices: "Colonization is not my burden". Kendra Becenti is from Crownpoint, a student at Stanford University who is studying in Spain. She is half Navajo, but she identifies with her native side as she talks about her struggle as a Native women immersed in, and sensitive to, the culture of colonization. She talks about the ignorance and insensitivity of the Spanish people, the tour guides, and tourist and how they perpetuate a culture of oppression and colonization. I think we also need to discuss our own people, Dine, who are ignorant, or choose to avoid, this culture of oppression that's pervasive in the United States and European countries. Articles such as these give us a window to become educated in what is on the other side of the world, from a Native perspective. Our own people, especially the older generations, perpetuate this racism and insensitivity, but this does not mean just them. It's a lot of us Dine, we need the education. If you have time, I would suggest reading this great article. Fantastic job Kendra! You're a role model for us!
