I'd like to visit a Native American Reservation.

August 18, 2005 8:07 AM

I'd like to visit a Native American Reservation.

The reservations I've been able to dig up through google did not have very informative websites. The reservation has to be west of the Mississippi and not in Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas or Oklahoma. I will possibly be visiting all other states during my cross-country trip. My ideal situation would be to have one on one contact with a host family and be able to stay on a reservation. I'm not into group tours or history videos - I'd like the experience to be more genuine.
So can you recommend a reservation (preferably from experience) that welcomes in outsiders and shows them the good and the bad of the modern Native American lifestyle?

posted by jur777 to travel & transportation (11 comments total)

A friend of mine often does school trips to Pine Ridge in South Dakota. I could put you in touch with him if you'd like.
posted by COBRA! at 8:21 AM on August 18, 2005

Typically the best way to see things as an outsider is at Pow Wows. Basically they are dance contests and are an interesting way to get to see some genuine Indian culture. Many reservations in New Mexico can be visited but it is for the most part not much more than a tourist experience. I went to Taos Pueblo last month. It was fun to see the pueblos but there wasn't much else to see except the inside of stores. It's understandable, most Indians have had more than their share of tourists in the 19th and earliest 20th century whether they wanted them or not. They are for the most part private people and sometimes can be very possessive of that privacy.
posted by JJ86 at 8:46 AM on August 18, 2005

Many of the Pueblos in New Mexico have festivals open to the public, but I'm not sure about the homestay option. If you do get to a reservation like Pine Ridge, it might be interesting to visit the Pueblos as well because they have such different histories from the reservations -- the Pueblos as I understand it aren't actually reservations (although they are sovereign), but are original Spanish land grants to the indigenous people in their original communities.

[On preview, what JJ86 said too.]
posted by footnote at 8:58 AM on August 18, 2005

the Hopi reservation is interesting, Walpi is the oldest continually occupied city in the united states. the people are friendly, and many are quite poor. you cannot roam around without a guide, who is assigned to you at the visitor center.

the Navajo reservation is huge. it is the only place in the United States where you will feel like a total, complete outsider, an alien. There are no fences, few road signs, very little visually to remind you that you are in the USA. Navajo is spoken everywhere. and the Navajo don't make eye contact. they don't shake hands, if you are a non-indian you will feel very very strange. everyone should experience this sensation of being "the other". it is very humbling, very elemental.

i have visited both reservations and stay with friends who live there. the Hopi have a hospitality type place, restaurant, museum, etc. some ceremonies are open, but most arent. don't take photos! there are signs posted all around the Hopi reservation--especially in the entrances to the towns--regarding photography. be aware of social faux pas. read up before you go.
posted by subatomiczoo at 9:30 AM on August 18, 2005

Perhaps look at the colleges and universities that are in the areas you are interested in. See if they have a Native American Studies program. Contact the director of such, act humble and ask about what you want.
I went to school at Northalnd College in upper Wisconsin and had some contact with the fellow who ran that NA program, if approached correctly he was pretty receptive to this type of thing.
You may also want to ask them what would be an appropriate gift to present. Hereabouts it is tobacco but I am unsure about other nations.
posted by edgeways at 10:06 AM on August 18, 2005

I can't vouch for them, but Native Tourism bills itself as "is a directory of Native tourism businesses across the USA."

Oklahoma bills itself as "Native America" nowadays--a big change from the motto, "the Sooner State," which celebrated the taking of the land from the Indians! Anyway, because of its history as a dumping ground for Indians who were removed from their homelands all over the U.S, it has a high population of Indians from many different groups. The Oklahoma Tourism website is pretty comprehensive and searchable.
posted by LarryC at 10:52 AM on August 18, 2005

One can take guided tours (by Navajo guides) of Canyon de Chelly (pronouned "shay"), they offer either horseback or Jeep tours - I would imagine a horse tour would be quite "authentic". The canyon itself is home to some old sheep ranches/farms run by Navajos who live a very traditional lifestyle.
Also, outside of Walpi on the Hope reservation, there are many other villages - my husband and I collect Hopi pottery, and have been to many homes looking at pots. The best way to buy is to drive around the villages, looking for signs that say "Potteries for sale." Usually the "showroom" is someone's living room.
By being open and respectful, we've been invited to three ceremonial dances - one of them easily the most powerful spiritual experience I've ever had.
The winter ritual of Shalako is open to the public at the Zuni pueblo, but the timing is such that you have to be flexible.
By the way, the best time to visit the southwest (IMO) is late September/early October - it's not so hot, and nowhere near as crowded.
posted by dbmcd at 11:58 AM on August 18, 2005

I have been to the Pine Ridge and Rosebud reservations, both several years ago, and I recently drove through both the Navajo and Hopi reservations. I would like to agree with everyone above who said it is difficult, maybe impossible, to not feel like an outsider or an intruder. It is a strange experience, and I would ceraintly recommend it, but be prepared to be laughed at, maybe even have things thrown at you, to feel either invisible or like you're glowing bright pink, among other things. The poverty in some areas is nearly overwhelmng.
This is not to say that there aren't wonderful people in the reservations. If you can make the right contacts and have the right attitute you can have a good, interesting, or at least eye-opening experience. Unfortunately I can't help you since it's been so long. There are events that are open to outsiders; the Sundance in Rosebud is the first that comes to mind although that's already passed. You might be able to contact somebody at the chamber of commerce, community center, or trading post in Rapid City, South Dakota who could be more helpful.
posted by ohio at 12:52 PM on August 18, 2005

I have been to the Pine Ridge reservation. We went to see the location of Wounded Knee, and there were some Sioux selling their crafts nearby. They invited us over to "sign their guestbook" but then hit us up with a sales pitch, which was fine, because we got a chance to talk to them about Wounded Knee, the poverty on the reservation, etc. And I bought a nifty dreamcatcher. Maybe if you asked around and made some contacts, you could get into the situation you desire.

Off topic, I highly recommend Ian Fraiser's book On The Rez about his experience with Pine Ridge. Wonderful reading.
posted by Ostara at 1:01 PM on August 18, 2005

I've lived on quite a few reservations in my life. All of them in northern Montana.

Fort Peck (Poplar, Wolf Point)
Fort Belknap (Harlem, Hays, Lodge Pole)
Blackfeet Nation (Browning)

If you're going to visit, I'd suggest visiting during a celebration: Pow wow or Indian Days. (calendar)

Most reservations in northern Montana are very very poor, with endemic alcoholism and poverty. With the exception of Browning, the reservations listed are going to be very very run down, and the towns listed in parenthesis are where you will need to stay or go for conveniences.

Be careful, there are places where you still might be considered wasichu.
posted by patrickje at 1:18 PM on August 18, 2005

Thanks to all who have responded so far. I am definitely prepared for the poverty or feeling like an outsider - I feel that's something I need to see and experience. The trip is going to be September through the northern states and October back through the Southwest headed eastward.

Cobra, I may take you up on that contact...
posted by jur777 at 4:55 PM on August 18, 2005