Change (article) by The Bear Paw on AuthorsDen

updated Having a casino is one thing. Being self-sufficient is one thing. But forgetting who you are and where you come from is another. But then, who are you? For their are no real "Indian" anymore. I wrote that one night while walking the floor. At work. Pen in hand, feather in hair, I walked. "CHANGE?" I'd call. On slow nights there was always no answer, so back to my impending thoughts. They are building a new casino. They are "preparing" all their employees for this new "professional" business. Along with the new "profession" comes new ideas and new rules. "CHANGE?" I yell again while I walk around the next row of machines. I don't gamble so I'm not sure what machines are what or where. Again, no answer. Just a couple of glances toward my echo. Yep! New rules. I heard employees talking for a long time about a new dress code coming down the line. And a lot of concerns about what they themselves would have to change. No more tongue rings? Or nose rings? No more tons of jewelry or fake eyelashes? Many questions not yet answered. I do not wear caked-on makeup, or jewelry. No tongue rings here. Just this feather in my hair, so this new dress code wouldn't have any affect on me. "CHANGE?" I change someones hundred. "CHANGE?" Quiet again. Co-workers started questioning me about the feather. What would I do if the casino said that I couldn't wear it? They gave all their opinions on everything from the fake eyelashes to the teardrop tattoo. They said how they would react if they couldn't wear this, or if they would have to change their hair color back to a more "earthy" color, or if they had to remove a tattoo. Some said they would quit. "CHANGE?" Only puzzled looks in return. Some had already heard that I wouldn't be allowed to wear my feather. Given to me in ceremony, I've worn it for many years now, always on the right side. Every time I had put my application in at the casino, (three times because they kept losing it, they said) I wore it. The day they hired me and processed me in as a casino employee, it was in my hair. They asked about my heritage that day....Chippewa, French Canadian, Ojibway....but don't know how much because it was hidden from our family. A guest. "You need change, Sir?" "No, but I do have a question...about the new casino. A lot of us are concerened that the casino is going to lose a lot of the "homey" feel, you know what I mean? I mean, a lot of us come here because of the down-home, down-to-earth feeling here, and we sense that it's going to be lost. I mean, look at the picture outside. If they are trying to be like Vegas, they will lose a lot of the feeling that brings a lot of us here. Even Vegas is trying to become family oriented." Whew! How do I respond? I want to yell, "CHANGE?" "Sir, I don't believe that this "home" feeling that brings you here will be lost. In fact, I brought that very question up to one of the owners, and he was very emphatic about not losing that touch. It was something that they were going to emphasize even more in the new casino." He sighs. "Thank you. I'm sorry to have bothered you at your job, but I just had to ask." "No problem, sir. And it IS my job to aswer your questions. If I don't have the answer I will get one." "Thanks again." I sigh. "CHANGE?" Someone hands me a twenty. Wants fives for it. I stand still, look in all directions. It's very quiet for a Tuesday. After a couple of months now, this is my last night as a changer, and I wonder about what "Sir" had asked me. He wasn't the first guest to express concern. The guests talk, you know. They see things that others don't think can be seen. And if they are regulars, they can sense something in the air. "A memo came in today. The feather has to go because it's against the new dress policy." my supervisor told me after I clocked in. We had been given our meeting and the new rules on the dress code. Dress code for uniformed employees, pg 11. Hair....any hair ties, etc. should compliment the outfit. Page 1 "Why A New Dress Code?" ....We represent the....Casino and the ....Tribe. I've been told many different reasons why the feather cannot be worn. First one was because it was attached with a roach clip. (It's actually a bobby-pin). The second one was that it was "too long". These things said after I explain that it's my heritage, given to me in ceremony. I have a big, heavy, colorful hair barrette that I'm allowed to wear--a piece that has only sentimental value and is worn only for dress. And another leather hair piece that can be worn. The feather....light, teal and white...just lies with the flow of my hair which hangs almost down to my waist. The feather doesn't even reach my shoulder. So I begin wondering, why they are making such a fuss about the feather. Why are there still big, fake eye-lashes being worn, and male supervisors still wearing 2-studs in their ears? A few days later I clock in, walk to the vault to sign in, and my boss stops me. She wouldn't let me in. She said a memo came and if the feather is not removed, I could not work, they would send me home and count the day as a no-call, no show. WHOA! What happened? "CHANGE?" quickly runs through my mind. I remind myself that we live in an area where surgeries are performed so to look more "white"; where progress and profession is more important than tradition and respect. I remove the feather to continue working, and so they don't start putting bad marks in my work record. My biggest mistake....well, not a mistake; just something I did out of upbringing and never being on a reservation or casino in my life...on my application they asked about my race, I marked non-Indian. Now I'm thinking two things. No, three. First is, do we have religious discrimination going on here? Second is, do we have reverse discrimination going on here, also? Having been raised in the white mans world; worked in the white man's world..I've managed hotels for several years with no question or flinching about the feather. Why, when I come and work amongst people of my own culture, the feather becomes a problem? "CHANGE?" It seems to me that forced removal of the feather is more of a discrimination to me than wearing the feather is to them and their dress code. The "no feather" was an afterthought. I'm not a "CHANGE"er, by trade nor profession. Nor do I believe that a people, as Native Americans, who claim they are trying to keep their traditions, would impose such a "code" among their own people. Business or not, if it's tradition that they are trying to keep, they are falling short of it, all in the name of progress.

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