慢速英语 | 印第安人争取保留长发

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Mylon McArthur is eight years old.He comes from the first people to live in Canada.His family belongs to the Pheasant Rump Nakota Nation in the province of Saskatchewan.Mylon is the only native child in his class at school.Until recently, he wore his hair in a traditional style for native boys and men: long.

But some other children at school bullied him about his long braids.

His mother was worried.She saw that Mylon came home from school crying.She did not want him to become depressed, or even suicidal.She knew the number of native children who have killed themselves has been increasing.

So she asked Mylon to cut his hair.But before he did, he made a video.In it, he spoke against the bullies and told teachers and parents to explain why long hair is important.

The video went viral.In other words, many people watched it – more than 1 million.Mylon’s video is the latest part in a long history about native people and hair.

The meaning of hair is different across tribes.And traditional native hairstyles are also different.For example, hair can be loose, braided, or worn in a knot.

Many native groups see hair as a source of strength and power.But government officials in the U.S. and Canada have historically seen native people’s hair differently.

L.G. Moses is a professor at Oklahoma State University.He says that government officials in the 1800s tried to force native people to be more like the European settlers.One way the officials did that was by making native children and adults cut their hair.Long hair, they believed, showed that a person was wild – not civilized.

The practice has not ended.Even today, many public school systems, prisons, and some workplaces require native people to wear their hair short.

Native people have resisted pressure to cut their hair in many ways, including taking legal action.Recently, they are also – like Mylon – using social media.

In 2016, a member of the Cree group from Thunderchild First Nation in Saskatchewan Canadacreated a Facebook page to address long hair in native people.Michael Linklater was harassed as a child about wearing his hair in braids.His sons were also bullied about their hair.So Linklater created a group called Boys With Braids.

The group is now a social movement.It has spread across Canada and into the United States.

In the U.S. state of South Dakota, some boys attend weekly Boys With Braids meetings and events.They learn to ride horses, cook, and even hunt buffalo.The activities aim to make them feel proud not just of their hair, but of all the traditions of their culture.

Mylon McArthur, who made the anti-bullying video, has not yet been able to go to a Boys With Braids event.But he hopes to soon.

Mylon also says that, since he made the video, two things have changed.The other children stopped bullying him.And he decided to grow his hair long again.

He says, “I can’t wait!”

I’m Kelly Jean Kelly.

Mylon McArthur is eight years old.He comes from the first people to live in Canada.His family belongs to the Pheasant Rump Nakota Nation in the province of Saskatchewan.Mylon is the only native child in his class at school.Until recently, he wore his hair in a traditional style for native boys and men: long.
麦克阿瑟八岁了，他的家人是第一批到加拿大居住的印第安人。他的家人属于萨斯喀彻温省的菲桑特纳库塔民族。麦克阿瑟是班上唯一的本土人。直到最近，他还保持着本地男孩和男人才留的传统发型：长发。

But some other children at school bullied him about his long braids.
但其他一些学生却因他的长辫子而欺负他。

His mother was worried.She saw that Mylon came home from school crying.She did not want him to become depressed, or even suicidal.She knew the number of native children who have killed themselves has been increasing.
他的妈妈对此很担心。她看到麦克阿瑟放学回家后一直哭。她不希望他变得抑郁，甚至自杀。她知道自杀儿童的数量在不断增加。

So she asked Mylon to cut his hair.But before he did, he made a video.In it, he spoke against the bullies and told teachers and parents to explain why long hair is important.
于是她让米隆把头发剪了。在剪头发前，他录了一个视频。视频里，他反对恶霸，并向老师和家长解释为什么长发很重要。

The video went viral.In other words, many people watched it – more than 1 million.Mylon’s video is the latest part in a long history about native people and hair.
视频疯狂传播。换句话说，超过一百万人看了这一视频。米隆的视频是关于本地人以及头发的悠久历史的最新部分。

The meaning of hair is different across tribes.And traditional native hairstyles are also different.For example, hair can be loose, braided, or worn in a knot.
头发的含义在各个部落是不同的。传统的本土发型也不同。例如，头发可以披散，编织或打结。

Many native groups see hair as a source of strength and power.But government officials in the U.S. and Canada have historically seen native people’s hair differently.
许多本土人认为头发是力量的来源，但是美国和加拿大的政府官员历来对本土人的头发看法不一。

L.G. Moses is a professor at Oklahoma State University.He says that government officials in the 1800s tried to force native people to be more like the European settlers.One way the officials did that was by making native children and adults cut their hair.Long hair, they believed, showed that a person was wild – not civilized.
L.G.摩西是是俄克拉荷马州立大学的教授。他说，19世纪的政府官员试图迫使本土人更像欧洲的定居者。官员们做法之一是让当地的孩子和成年人剪头发。他们相信长长的头发表明一个人是狂野的 - 没有文明。

The practice has not ended.Even today, many public school systems, prisons, and some workplaces require native people to wear their hair short.
这一做法并没有被取缔。即使在今天，许多公立学校系统，监狱和一些工作场所也要求本地人短发。

Native people have resisted pressure to cut their hair in many ways, including taking legal action.Recently, they are also – like Mylon – using social media.
本土人以多种方式抵制削减头发的压力，包括采取法律行动。最近，他们也像米隆一样使用社交媒体。

In 2016, a member of the Cree group from Thunderchild First Nation in Saskatchewan Canadacreated a Facebook page to address long hair in native people.Michael Linklater was harassed as a child about wearing his hair in braids.His sons were also bullied about their hair.So Linklater created a group called Boys With Braids.
2016年，加拿大萨斯喀彻温省雷霆部落的克里小组成员创建了Facebook页面，以解决当地人的长发问题。迈克尔.林克莱特小时候因扎辫子被骚扰。他的儿子也被欺负。所以林克莱特创建了一个名叫辫子男孩的小组。

The group is now a social movement.It has spread across Canada and into the United States.
这个小组现在是一个社会运动。它遍布加拿大和美国。

In the U.S. state of South Dakota, some boys attend weekly Boys With Braids meetings and events.They learn to ride horses, cook, and even hunt buffalo.The activities aim to make them feel proud not just of their hair, but of all the traditions of their culture.
在美国南达科他州，一些男孩每周参加“辫子男孩”会议和活动。他们学习骑马，烹饪，甚至打猎水牛。这些活动的目的是让他们感到自豪，不仅仅是他们的头发，还有他们文化中的所有传统。

Mylon McArthur, who made the anti-bullying video, has not yet been able to go to a Boys With Braids event.But he hopes to soon.
制作反欺凌视频的米隆.麦克阿瑟还没能参加过辫子男孩的活动。但他希望能够尽快参加。

Mylon also says that, since he made the video, two things have changed.The other children stopped bullying him.And he decided to grow his hair long again.
米隆也说，自从他制作视频以来，有两件事情发生了变化。其他的孩子不再欺负他。他决定再留长发。

He says, “I can’t wait!”
他说，“我等不及了！”

I’m Kelly Jean Kelly.
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