Regarding the Christopher and Deb Michaels’ take on A Thanksgiving Play at Oregon Contemporary Theatre (Letters, “Educate Respect,” 11/21): Somehow I doubt that entertaining non-Natives is what Native artists have uppermost in their minds as they create plays, novels, films, poetry, painting, ceramics, music, dance, performance art, etc.
But, by all means, do find 21 ways to be more respectful to Native people. After all, they have been on the receiving end of several hundred years of genocide by the founders and settler colonialists of the United States so, for sure, be nice to them.
And when you can make the big leap from entertainment to literacy so that you can confront your own stereotypes and misconceptions (then you can deal with those of your children), I suggest you read Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz’s An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States. It’s a deeply disturbing book because genocide is deeply disturbing, especially when you realize precisely all the ways in which the genocide of Native peoples is foundational to the establishment of this alleged “land of the free and home of the brave.”
Spoiler alert: Dunbar-Ortiz has absolutely no interest in virtue signaling.
Kate Savannah
Eugene
A Note From the Publisher
Dear Readers,
The last two years have been some of the hardest in Eugene Weekly’s 43 years. There were moments when keeping the paper alive felt uncertain. And yet, here we are — still publishing, still investigating, still showing up every week.
That’s because of you!
Not just because of financial support (though that matters enormously), but because of the emails, notes, conversations, encouragement and ideas you shared along the way. You reminded us why this paper exists and who it’s for.
Listening to readers has always been at the heart of Eugene Weekly. This year, that meant launching our popular weekly Activist Alert column, after many of you told us there was no single, reliable place to find information about rallies, meetings and ways to get involved. You asked. We responded.
We’ve also continued to deepen the coverage that sets Eugene Weekly apart, including our in-depth reporting on local real estate development through Bricks & Mortar — digging into what’s being built, who’s behind it and how those decisions shape our community.
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As we head into a new year, please consider supporting Eugene Weekly if you’re able. Every dollar helps keep us digging, questioning, celebrating — and yes, occasionally annoying exactly the right people. We consider that a public service.
Thank you for standing with us!
Publisher
Eugene Weekly
P.S. If you’d like to talk about supporting EW, I’d love to hear from you!
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