Common Ground

Spirits behind the fence

How Native Americans practice their traditional religion in prison

By Aleš Kosina and Ashley McKee
Prague 2007: Common Ground

At the Montana State Prison the holding capacity is more than twice its original limits. About 3,500 inmates share six custody levels designed for 1,300 prisoners.

But, according to the Native American inmates, this is not the biggest problem. Some feel that they are being treated unequally because of their faith, values and race.

Robert Bone, a member of the Chippewa-Cree tribe and an inmate for the past 20 years, thinks that everything spiritual has been suppressed in the prison.  He says the situation has gotten worse over the years. Bone is heavily involved in traditional American Indian religious practices, and some consider him the “medicine man” at the prison.

Keeping the faith

At Rocky Boy’s reservation, two institutions are tying today’s life to traditional ways

By Aleš Kosina and Ashley McKee 
Prague 2007: Common Ground

For students who grew up in densely populated central Europe, Rocky Boy’s reservation seems like the middle of nowhere. The Great Plains seem never-ending and the Bear Paw Mountains look as if they do not belong to the countryside.  The American Indians, who have been living for centuries on this 120,000-acre piece of land, have been living in poverty all their lives.

The reservation, created by the federal government, put together two tribes who were traditional enemies and had fought fierce wars over the scattered resources of the land. Now, the two tribes cooperate with one another and govern their land. According to Native News, a University of Montana journalism class that reports on American Indian issues, Rocky Boy's reservation provides a home for 2,622 members of the Chippewa-Cree tribe.

As each generation of people grows older, it has been a struggle for Indians to keep their culture and traditions alive.  Two institutions on Rocky Boy’s have helped keep the culture significantly.

Roma Hip-Hop and All that Jazz

Music styles change, but the tradition stays the same

Kamla Kumari is a part of the band Dhoad Gypsies of Rajasthan, a very well known Roma music band that performs all over Europe. Photo by Ashley McKee.

By Aleš Kosina and Ashley McKee
Prague 2007: Common Ground

Roma music can be separated into two large categories:  Music for the Roma and music for the non-Roma.  Traditional music styles performed by the Roma for the non-Roma are tweaked to satisfy a bigger, more general audience as a means of putting food on the table.  Such music is an occupation, not an actual lifestyle.  The repertoire has changed to fit the tastes of a majority audience, but traditional instruments such as fiddle, drums, saxophones and accordions are still used. Roma also play traditional music for themselves.
 
In families, old methods are practiced and reproduced. They help keep the culture’s musical traditions alive as an important part of Roma self-identity. As a Roma proverb says, “Good song purifies the heart.” Music is strongly connected to the Roma, even with the source of life. Music is their life.

Khamoro Festival: Who’s it for?

International Roma acts attract big crowds, but some say focus should be on Czech Roma

By Aleš Kosina and Ashley McKee 
Prague 2007: Common Ground

During the last days of May since 1999, Prague has welcomed the international festival of Roma culture, Khamoro. Every year Khamoro starts with a festive view of musicians, artists and dancers who make their way along a touristy track of downtown Prague, from Wenceslas Square to Old Town Square.

Every year the parade attracts an increasing number of spectators, and not just a tourist population as it commonly has been in years before.

“In past years it was mainly tourists who were taking pictures and following the parade, but this year I saw many Roma people including their babies,” said Martina Horvathova, coordinator of the Khamoro Festival. “It is a show for children as well as adults.  It made me happy.”

Language through music

As Roma language fades from day-to-day use, traditional songs keep the language alive

Dance club for Roma kids, Museum of Roma Culture, Brno. Photo by Alice Tejkalova.

By Aleš Kosina and Ashley McKee
Prague 2007: Common Ground

To understand Roma culture in the Czech Republic today, it is crucial to describe how rich and different the culture of Roma was before, and what may have been lost forever. However, there are many aspects of traditional Roma culture that still exist today, and new forms seem to keep appearing. 

Poets, painters, sculptors and writers pursue their art today in the Roma culture, as in any other ethnic group. However, as Roma have resettled to urban areas, modern houses and blocks of flats, most of their traditional material culture has died. The life of the Roma in the past created the life in which they adapted to in that environment. Today, because of migration and being forced into cities, the Roma have taken on a different lifestyle and culture.