jaderust

I’m not Joey but I know a couple answers. If this trip is being hosted by a tribe (as in your field trip group is expected, you’re just not showing up out of the blue) then you’re fine. Native peoples do cultural outreach to non-members just like almost every cultural group.

If you attend keep your eyes open, your mouth shut, and listen. Having discussions and asking questions are fine, but if you really want to learn about the people you’re visiting listen to what they say. Leave your assumptions at the door and try to be respectful and polite. Regular white people politeness is good enough. Just remembering to listen is actually the biggest thing. If you’re invited to participate in anything feel free to do so but don’t try to make everything the you show.

Talking styles vary by individual and age. I know old people who barely like to talk because they just don’t like talking. I know a Mohawk woman who’s an absolute motor mouth, the loudest person I know, and you can barely get a word in edgewise when you’re with her. I know a Mi’kmaq guy who you’d never know was Native until he starts talking about home. All native people are different. Who knows what the person who’ll meet with your group is like.

In my opinion there’s no reason not to go if your class has been invited. Just go on the trip expecting to meet people. People with other life experiences, but still just people. Don’t expect that you’ll be party to some mystical culture or get some great epiphany on the state of the universe. Just go expecting to meet some new people, maybe hear a little new music and hear a new language and you’ll be fine.

Just curious because I'm too old to qualify, but how many women are in the field? Or is it still pretty male dominated?

You lost me on quite a few of those. Why do Shabbat elevators have to stop on every floor? And what are these Shabbat timers and lamps?I mean electricity is brand new compared to the Jewish faith, how do they have rules for elevators and electricity?

So there are buildings in, I presume, NY where the elevators start cycling to every floor endlessly starting Friday until Saturday night so that the Orthodox inhabitants can get home? That's wonderful for them but I imagine incredibly frustrating for any secular neighbors in the building.