Minority Report

Culture or Economics?

Still, in today's world, working with companion animal issues in the Native American community is not very different from working with any other group of people.

"I think that economic differences are far greater than cultural differences," says Paula Johns-Fellman, the executive director of Plateauland. "The idea that animals are animals, that you don't need to do stuff like take them to the doctor, and that they can take care of themselves, is the same as in poorer Anglo communities."

Many tribes are excessively poor, and some of the most basic human needs - food, medical care, and adequate housing - are not met. And that's often the biggest stumbling block when trying to change attitudes about animals. Add to that the belief that all of life will begin and end as it is intended, as part of the natural world, and the resistance to animal welfare is understandable.

"Some customs and cultural behaviors have to do with the belief that animals have their own integrity that we as humans will never really understand," says Ortiz. "The trick is to develop programs that don't try to change this attitude but rather emphasize that the existence of animals is just as important and just as valid as human existence and that we share life on this planet, with both of us contributing to an earthly existence.

"The other thing to stress is that animals are not here to amuse us or to provide entertainment for us, but rather that sharing life as we do, they are deserving of our respect."

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