I would like some advice. It's is a little weird (because it's not a common situation at all), but bear with me.
Background: My father worked for the Indian Health Services when I was a little kid, I am not Native American/First Nations in any way. But we lived on the Standing Rock Indian Reservation until I was 7.
That experience influenced a lot of my worldview and how I view marginalized peoples and is still something I consider to be an important time in my life.
Recently, my wife and I decided to move from Portland, OR to Minneapolis, MN.
Part of that move will involve me driving our car with the dogs alone with random way points for me during the trip.
I found out from mapping the drive, that one of the routes takes me within spitting distance of Fort Yates, ND (where I lived).
I was considering stopping there to look around, see the house I grew up in, grab a couple snacks and then drive up to Bismarck and then over to Minneapolis .
That portion of the trip holds a lot of nostalgia for me and would be the first time in about two decades that I'll be there.
My question is, is this poverty tourism? Am I flaunting my privilege to show up there? Should I just avoid that trip?
@salmon_cannon That's a tough decision... I don't think it's poverty tourism if you grew up there. If you're worried about the income gap between Fort Yates and where you are now, maybe you could put together a crowdfunding effort to raise funding for Sitting Bull College or another community-centered organization (and set that to arrive separately so you don't come across as a very visible benefactor)?
@dumpling That's a good idea. Also good research!
