Native American Advocacy

http://www.nativeamericanadvocacy.org/

Nativeamericanadvocacy.org is part of the Native American Advocacy Program (NAAP) set up in 1992, and as their website states, aims to: maintain a healthy organisation, to assist Native Americans with disabilities and Native American youths by promoting a healthy lifestyle, providing prevention, education, training, advocacy, support, independent living skills and referrals. As well as this, not only do they want to promote the sense of identity amongst the Native youth, they want to promote a positive sense of identity as they believe that the Native youth need to know their culture and have access to people, places and environments that help them to develop healthy lifestyles, without alcohol, drugs or violence. This contrasts with the previous identity associated with Native Americans which saw them depicted as illiterate alcoholics and drug addicts. By changing this stereotype, they are working to assert a more positive identity.

The NAAP acts to assert the importance of identity through the picture slideshow featured on the homepage; as this shows that traditions are still maintained and upheld among the Native Americans. Their particular interest is with the youth and this can also be seen through the picture slideshow on the homepage which shows children canoeing, being taught by an older man and learning archery. This shows the importance of identity because from a young age, the children can learn to appreciate and be proud of their heritage. This is in contrast to when young children were taking from their tribes, stripped of their culture and forced to conform to the white American ideal.

Other ways in which identity is enforced through the NAAP is by the use of the native language with English translations, for example: hunkesni owicakiyapi meaning helping persons with disabilities. This shows that their language is still important and can be used to give them a stronger identity.