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Jan 1, 2004 Have you ever meet one of those people who know they know what they know but don’t know why they know it? I meet one the other day. He wanted to discuss the Native American situation. He heard I have some knowledge in this area and wanted to engage me in a debate. I’m willing to debate anyone, anytime on any subject whether I know anything about the subject or not and I’ll take either side. It so happens I do know something about Indians. I have relatives who live on an Indian reservation, I have a relative who is an Anthropologist I have a relative who works with the Tribes in the Mountain States. Randal Teton the young Shoshone Girl who posed for Sacagawea on the new dollar is a neighbor of one in my family. It’s rumored one of the Soldiers who was killed with General Custer at the Little Big Horn was a distant relative. I suspect this is one of those stories people create to tie themselves to a historical event. It’s my story and I’m sticking with it. This fellow thinks we have given the Indians enough. He thinks it’s time they took control of their own destiny. He’s convinced they are getting rich at Government expense. I also suspect he has never been on or close to an Indian Reservation. This was a challenge I couldn’t pass up. I’m here to set the record straight. The first White Man invaded the Caribbean Islands in 1492 they’ve been invading ever since. The journals of Christopher Columbus as interpreted by his son Hernando Colon indicate the Natives of the Islands greeted Columbus men offering them assistance. It was only after they where mistreated and abused they became rebellious and antagonistic. In those days men of color not of the Christian Faith where considered inferior to the White Man. I think it fair to say 512 years later some attitudes haven’t changed much. Lets look at the history of the Indian, The Trail of Tears, Cherokee Indians where moved from the Carolinas to Oklahoma and thousands died on the way. Most Indian tribes where moved from their traditional hunting grounds to Reservations established on lands the White Man considered to poor in quality to be of any use except for Indian habitation. Indians prior to the arrival of the White Man lived in sync with nature much as the critters. Their range determined their food, clothing, habitat they lived in tune with their recourses. The White Man had no such capabilities. The White Man has fought the Indian from 1607, the founding of Jamestown through the 1980’s with the siege at Pine Ridge Reservation and the siege at Alcatraz Island. To the White Man these are minor irritations conducted by a few Indian radicals, to the Indians they are very real grievances. The Indian population today is less than 4 million 1/8th to 8/8th Indian, in all 50 states that’s a little less than 1-1/2 % of the total population. Indians weren’t granted U S citizenship until June of 1924. Indian affairs are managed by the BLM, this is the same department that manages public lands, rivers, lakes and wild life. The Government has never respected one treaty they signed with the Indians. I could write a litany of abuses Indians have been subjected to over the years but I am sure most every one is aware of many of them. I will now document the contributions Indians have made to the American way of life. These things where taken from the Indians. Their Sacred Mountains, Rivers, Lakes, Prairies, Rolling hills, Sunshine, Rain, Snow, Wind, Critters large and small, Birds, Fish, Gold, Silver, Language and Culture. The Great Spirit and Mother Earth put the Indian in charge of all things to be the custodian for all to use and enjoy. To the Indian the White Man is the Carpetbagger the Interloper, the one who doesn’t belong. The White Man will never be able to pay his debt to the Indian for what he has taken from them. The White Man has created the greatest society the world has ever known. America is the country the world beats down the doors to enter. The land of opportunity to all but the Indigenous people who where forced to give up everything they held dear. America was built on stolen hopes and dreams. Most of all stolen assets. This is what the White Man gave in return, poverty, disease, alcoholism, addictions, despair, lack of self worth, poor education and poor health care. Many question why the Indian doesn’t assimilate into white society. Several reasons, first, white society won’t accept them. Second, to the Indian the White Man is an occupier, he has no right to what he has taken by force. There’s always an opposing opinion, I’ll Look forward to seeing it. These are my opinions, You form yours. ------------ About the Author: Ken Hughes is a retired businessman. A political junkie who's passion is the re-education of Liberals and Term Limits for Congress. He has had very little sucess at either. Email Ken Hughes: uncleken@wwnet.net Comment on this column in the forum. Tell a friend about this site! ------------ |
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