Coop (Chichino) Community
A GRIN community celebrates Native Americans
The Coop (Chichino) community is very much part and parcel of the Gila River Indian Community project. For example they are part of the contribution for the Co-op Basket Dancers as well as some other community projects. There are many reasons to celebrate the achievements of Native Americans:
- It provides a historical context to the United States of America: The USA as we know it today is the result of a series of bloody colonial wars that nearly toppled an English King. They are also the stories of people that were there before the European settlers. Often people talk of European settlements in America as if they were the first thing that happened. In fact the Coop (Chichino) community was part of a long tradition that preceded any colonialists. Recently the American people have decided that it is a good time to celebrate the people who were there before the mass immigration that has changed the face of the nation.
- Native Indians have a favored place in the education of American children: Unlike Europe where the culture is deeply rooted in historical events, the American culture is built from disparate narratives that are created by immigrants. The inclusion of Native American history can have a seismic effect on the overall education of USA students. For example it might be part of the coursework in much the say way as European children understand the implications of the French Revolution.
- Celebrating Native Americans emphasizes the multicultural nature of USA societies: The USA has had to embrace the fact that it is not one homogeneous group of people but a collection of immigrant groups that have created its history. Of course there are people that are still convinced that America is an extension of their European heritage instead of being a multicultural community that started with the settlements of people such as the Coop (Chichino) community.
- It is a fun day out to visit the Coop (Chichino) community: Many parents are looking for ways to entertain their children over the holidays. It is a great idea to visit Native American communities in order to get new perspectives on the vastly privileged lives that American children live today. It is also an opportunity to develop a great understanding of the multicultural elements that make America a superpower. That is the foundation of a good education and an even greater cultural awareness.