Decades ago I went on a volunteering trip to the Rosebud reservation in South Dakota and it was an incredible experience.

I’ve been to lots of reservations where they have very nice cultural resources for visitors. If you go and are respectful and spend money on native made jewelry, crafts and food, that will be helpful to the community. Here are some places I have been:

The Native Life Center outside Alaska
San Xavier Mission outside Tucson on the ztohono reservation, also Kitt Peak on that reservation
Kai restaurant on the Gila reservation outside Phoenix
Hulapei reservation by the Grand Canyon (actually haven’t been to this one, but did look into it)
Hopi Visitor Cenyet on the reservation (don’t think this is always open—used to be open more but visitors were rude so they shut it down a bit)
There’s also a lot to do on the Navajo reservation

There’s also of course great cultural resources ate the Smithsonian museum of Native American life. And if you’re interested in local history, Historic Saint Mary’s has some interesting exhibits on native life from the colonial period in that part of Maryland..

I think we all fail as humans when we accuse people of being voyeurs, of cultural appropriation, etc. when they would like to know more about a culture but don't know how to express it the right way.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think it’s cringey. very few Americans (or anyone) really understand what a tribe is and what reservations are like. it can only help for people to learn more. obviously with the consent of the tribe!

OP what kind of skills do you have to offer?

DP.

I /we don’t really have any special skills to offer. But I’m also interested in recommendations about reservations not too far away where I could show the kids how Native American people live on them. Agree too few people have knowledge about the Native American today.

Reservations are not zoos.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_zoo

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think it’s cringey. very few Americans (or anyone) really understand what a tribe is and what reservations are like. it can only help for people to learn more. obviously with the consent of the tribe!

OP what kind of skills do you have to offer?

OP - thanks and I agree.

Very eclectic skills and have worked in different countries. I don’t want to be too specific and out myself to friends who read DCUM but I have some practical skills that are usually in demand in poor communities and have fairly decent people skills. I like people and listening to their stories.

I’d be happy to do different bings from basic health care to working as an assistant in kitchen helping to prepare food, or assisting elderly or child care or working in gardens or writing down stories or whatever.

My H is native and wants to know when you can come be our chef, nanny, and landscaper.

OP - Lol

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think it’s cringey. very few Americans (or anyone) really understand what a tribe is and what reservations are like. it can only help for people to learn more. obviously with the consent of the tribe!

OP what kind of skills do you have to offer?

DP.

I /we don’t really have any special skills to offer. But I’m also interested in recommendations about reservations not too far away where I could show the kids how Native American people live on them. Agree too few people have knowledge about the Native American today.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think it’s cringey. very few Americans (or anyone) really understand what a tribe is and what reservations are like. it can only help for people to learn more. obviously with the consent of the tribe!

OP what kind of skills do you have to offer?

OP - thanks and I agree.

Very eclectic skills and have worked in different countries. I don’t want to be too specific and out myself to friends who read DCUM but I have some practical skills that are usually in demand in poor communities and have fairly decent people skills. I like people and listening to their stories.

I’d be happy to do different bings from basic health care to working as an assistant in kitchen helping to prepare food, or assisting elderly or child care or working in gardens or writing down stories or whatever.

My H is native and wants to know when you can come be our chef, nanny, and landscaper.

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think it’s cringey. very few Americans (or anyone) really understand what a tribe is and what reservations are like. it can only help for people to learn more. obviously with the consent of the tribe!

OP what kind of skills do you have to offer?

OP - thanks and I agree.

Very eclectic skills and have worked in different countries. I don’t want to be too specific and out myself to friends who read DCUM but I have some practical skills that are usually in demand in poor communities and have fairly decent people skills. I like people and listening to their stories.

I’d be happy to do different bings from basic health care to working as an assistant in kitchen helping to prepare food, or assisting elderly or child care or working in gardens or writing down stories or whatever.

I don’t think it’s cringey. very few Americans (or anyone) really understand what a tribe is and what reservations are like. it can only help for people to learn more. obviously with the consent of the tribe!

OP what kind of skills do you have to offer?

I am Native. Just go live in a city with a high percentage of Natives. Like South Dakota, NM or Arizona. Many tribal employees are white: lawyers, doctors, teachers. One of my friends did Teach for America in a tiny reservation.

Anonymous wrote:Powwows are a lot of fun!

The Klamath River Renewal Project could probably use some help. But, really, what a bizarre question! Almost, like, "How do I go about volunteering to help the Japanese American community?" Just to use my own community as an example.

If you have a graduate degree in fish science or riparian restoration, you could probably get a paying job near me, but of course tribal members get first consideration.

Thanks - will look into that.

We are expats in US and I would like to learn more about some indigenous peoples here but it way that is helpful to the community we visit.

I would also would like to see more parts of US that are off the typical tourist trail - We have seen quite a lot of more conventional tourist spots.

My advanced degree is nothing as useful as fish science. We could be flexible in volunteering according to what is needed.

Thanks again

I'm guessing they'd want to know first what you have to offer and why you want to volunteer.

Powwows are a lot of fun!

The Klamath River Renewal Project could probably use some help. But, really, what a bizarre question! Almost, like, "How do I go about volunteering to help the Japanese American community?" Just to use my own community as an example.

If you have a graduate degree in fish science or riparian restoration, you could probably get a paying job near me, but of course tribal members get first consideration.

Usually powwows are open to the community

Do any of you know of any Native American Indian reservations or communities around the US that welcome volunteers over the summer (multiple family members)?

Is anyone familiar with what steps are needed to volunteer?

Thanks in advance