During the nineteenth century, the United States aggressively pursued a policy of manifest destiny to spread out between the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans. At the beginning of the century, President Thomas Jefferson had felt that the future of the United States depended on acquisition of land for the rapidly growing population. Thus, the future … Continued
Not this time, GOP. Last week, the Supreme Court delivered a major defeat for Native American voting rights in North Dakota when it allowed the implementation of a Republican-backed voter ID law. In order to vote, the law requires documentation of a residential address. Native Americans living on reservations often don’t have residential addresses because … Continued
Well, Donald Trump said he’d bring those big pipelines back early in his Presidency and on Tuesday, he did just that, signing orders for the go-ahead of both the Keystone XL Pipeline and the Dakota Access Pipeline. When he’s not poking a normally lackadaisical and sleepy lion in the Far East with a sharp stick, … Continued
In 1919, American Indian religions were still outlawed. Federal Indian policy viewed American Indian religions as barriers to “civilizing” Indians and emphasized the importance of Christianity. Participation in traditional Indian ceremonies, such as the Sun Dance, the Sweat Lodge, and the Potlatch, was not only discouraged, but often criminalized. While the government recognized that structures, … Continued
What is happening? “To remain ignorant of things that happened before you were born is to remain a child (CICERO).” I fear and imagine the whole cycle from the Trail of Tears of panic, violence, forced removal, and genocide may happen here again. I fear and imagine that because the current administration and current political … Continued
Washita Massacre. “Garryowen” was the song Custer had his band play right before the exterminations began. www.google.com/… I had gotten into a discussion with a woman in Cheyenne about the Washita Massacre, and she told me how a couple men, who she guessed were historians, coordinated an event of reconciliation. It involved a reenactment with … Continued
The Mohave are a Yuman-speaking tribe whose traditional homeland was along the Colorado River. The name “Mohave” is a corruption of their native name Aha-makave which means “beside the water.” The Yuman-speaking people, according to their oral history, were created at Avikwame (now designated as Mount Newberry). It was here that Mastamho (also known as … Continued
The Northwest Coast culture area stretches along the Pacific coast between the Cascade Mountains and the ocean. It extends north of California to Alaska. This is an area which is the home to many Indian nations who traditionally based their economy on the use of sea coast and river ecological resources. The Northwest Coast culture … Continued
During the sixteenth century, European writers published a number of books about American Indians. In a practice that has continued to this day, many of the authors and illustrators had never actually encountered an Indian (many had never even been to the Americas) and relied upon their imaginations for their descriptions. While we might classify … Continued
Royce Gay, left, is an Oglala Lakota Native from South Dakota who believes that Donald Trump may turn out to be a good President. Although Gay admits that he’s not a politically minded man, he believes that prayer is the answer to any and all of life’s problems. Through prayer and having a God consciousness, … Continued
