[stuck_in_chuk]

The other night while walking home from the bar, I was mugged by a young native man. I had a too much to drink, I admit, and was walking home with my MP3 player on. I didn't notice the guy until he was about 20 feet away. I stepped aside to avoid walking into him, and he walked up and got right in my face. He took my glasses and started telling me that I should respect his culture. I just wanted my glasses back. He demanded that I give him my MP3 player and he'd give me my glasses. Told me that I was white and had everything, and he had nothing. I pointed out that the glasses wouldn't do him any good, and he punched me in the face. I fell down, and decided to give him what he wanted. I'm not much of a fighter, especially when drunk, on the ground and unable to see. Handed over the MP3 and asked for my glasses. He threatened me some more and demanded my money. Since I didn't have much, I gave it to him. He threatened me a bit more, but gave me my glasses back and let me go. Went back to the bar and called the cops, who found him right away and were able to return my property. Other than a black eye, everything turned out fine for me.

I've been thinking about the incident quite a few times over the past few days, and still can't figure out how I am disrespecting someones culture by walking home. I didn't say anything to him. When he called me a "f---in' white", I don't believe he was speaking about me directly - he was speaking about all whites. I would have to say, that appears to be a racist attitude. He tried to justify stealing my stuff based on past injustices against his people. I'm not denying the very real injustices of the past, and I am not opposed to compensation for aboriginals for taking their land and livelihood. But I'm sorry, punching me in the face and taking my stuff is robbery, not compensation.

I'm not saying this to generalize against an ethnic group. This guy was acting on his own. But, I was a target because I am white. I am opposed to racism - whether the Tim Horton's "No Drunken Indians" sign, or the vandalism of the Algonquin Cultural Centre on Aboriginal Day, or blaming all members of a race for the injustices of the past.

Vulcan - I do have a question for you, and I ask this honestly. You have said that a good way to experience aboriginal culture is to attend a powwow. That is something that I have thought about attending in the past. But I need to know - would I be welcome at such an event?