GWN? Chap 5.

1. Are institutions White?
Most institutions, both academic and economic are White, in a few ways. Academia and the business world are very powerful and privileged institutions, lending themselves well to the White identity of power and privelege. The fact that most institutions are based on White values and are run by White people also would help classify these instutions as White. The culture that dominates these institutions is also White. In Tracey Lindberg's article, she talks about how in the academic institution, there are professors (mostly white) and there are "indian professors". You cannot be a minority and still be just a professor. Your identity is forever tied into your cultural background. If these institutions were not inherently White, the cultural and ethnic background of its employees would not be an issue. Either that, or professors would always be referred to by their ethnic background. (ie. white professor)

2.Does surviving institutional whiteness require individual or institutional responses? What examples do you have?
You cannot expect the institution of Whiteness to make allowances for those who struggle to survive it. If surviving institutional whiteness required institutional responses, there would not be such a problem with forced assimilation etc. Granted, in a perfect world it would be up to the institution to make sure that everyone's opinion, identity and place in the institution were seen as equal and important. Obviously it is not a perfect world, and therefore it is up to the individual to fight against institutional whiteness. In Lindberg's article, she says "Participating in non-Indigenous, Western educational institutions requires anti-colonial approaches" (Lindberg, p. 67) Basically, a person must answer for, defend and advocate one's cultural and ethnic background in a institutionally white setting, in order to fight against the assimilation and colonialism that is inherent in the White society that everyone lives in. Lindberg gives advice on how to do this, by emphasizing that indigeous people should remember that they are not part of the White culture, are visitors and trail blazers for their respective communities. The sojourn into White institutions are mandatory but will eventually lead to a "coming home" where indigeous peoples will create a strong and seperate culture. To me, this advice seems hostile, and though I do not understand where she is coming from as a woman of aboriginal heritage, it doesn't seem proactive to me to constantly fight against the system. To beat any system, I feel it is smarter to use it to your advantage, rather than rebel against it.