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Introduction:
Will Reed recounts a cultural misunderstanding that he had with a group of Native American leaders.
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This rough transcript provides a text alternative to audio. We apologize for occasional errors and unintelligible sections (which are marked with ???).
Cultural Customs
Will Reed
Former CRS Mediator, Denver Office
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[Full Interview]
So I was working all around there. I
ended up staying there for about six days and after this festival was over and nobody else got
beaten up, I
headed out. I was getting ready to go. And all the Native American leadership were
sitting in this tee-pee. And I went up to this lady, and I said, "Well it looks like my job's over."
And nobody
said anything. So I said it again, "I'm going." I tapped her on the shoulder. "I'm leaving." I
looked around.
Not being that familiar that much with the culture during those years, I continued to say I'm
leaving and
nobody responded. I thought this must be a cultural thing and I'm missing it. And so I said it
again. This
woman looked up and me and said, "God dammit! We heard you the first time. Why is it that
other
groups of people come around us and figure they got to tell us something fifty times before we
understand
you?" So my eyes got as big as saucers, I thought they were getting ready to attack me. It scared
the hell
out of me. She said, "We heard you, dammit. Get the hell out of here." There was nothing about
thanks
or anything. I was expecting a little of that, too. Just "Get the hell out of here. We heard you the
first
time, dammit." So I got in my car and drove back to Oklahoma City and got a hotel room and
stayed until
eleven o'clock the next morning and went back to Denver.
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