Following the Civil War, the Indian nations located in Indian Territory (an area which would later become the state of Oklahoma) faced two massive forces. First, the federal government wanted to impose new treaties on them, treaties which were intended to punish them for their role in the Civil War. The federal government either forgot … Continued
[This is a rewritten version of a diary first posted for Memorial Day 2008.] My stepfather’s brother died with other Marines on the beach at Guadacanal during World War II. My best friend in my high school days, Manny Miller, was killed in the early days of the Vietnam War. These men will be honored … Continued
The Cultural Resources Department of the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde in collaboration with the Willamette Heritage Center at The Mill presented a special exhibition from April 8 to May 30 entitled “Grand Ronde’s Canoe Journey.” “This exhibition brings to life the cultural importance and heritage of the historic shovelnose canoes used by the … Continued
In 1639, the Dutch West India Company resolved to exact tribute from local Indians around New Amsterdam, stating that these Indians were under Dutch protection. Dutch governor Willem Kieft put the taxation proposal this way: “Whereas the Company is put to great expense both in building fortifications and in supporting soldiers and sailors, we have … Continued
In 1854 a Mormon expedition under the leadership of W. D. Huntington reported finding some ancient ruins in southeast Utah. Twenty years later, the photographer William Henry Jackson gave the name Hovenweep-a Paiute/Ute word meaning “Deserted Valley”-to the ruins. In 1150 CE, large pueblos with stone towers were built in the box canyons in the … Continued
The Paí Tavy-terá is a dwindling ethnicity of the Guarani Indians. As little as 50 years ago they had been able to roam all Northeastern Paraguay, but as the goverment sold the land and it became fenced off, they have been increasingly confined. After many legal battles to ensure they were living in their sacred … Continued
The Paí Tavy-terá is a dwindling ethnicity of the Guarani Indians. As little as 50 years ago they had been able to roam all Northeastern Paraguay, but as the goverment sold the land and it became fenced off, they have been increasingly confined. After many legal battles to ensure they were living in their sacred … Continued
As a result of the 1858 defeat of forces under the command of Major Edward Steptoe by a force of 1,000 Indian warriors from several different tribes- Palouse, Coeur d’Alene, Spokan, Yakama, Pend d’Oreille, Flathead, and Columbia-600 troops under Colonel George Wright were sent out to meet the Indian forces in Eastern Washington and inflict … Continued
The Dutch, whose presence in North America was not of long duration (about 40 years), were interested primarily in trade and viewed Indians as something to be tolerated, like cold winters and hot summers. In general the Dutch appeared to have little interest in learning about the Indians and their culture. Like other Europeans, the … Continued
New Sweden is one of the least known European colonies in North America. This Swedish colony was established in what is now Delaware in 1638 by Peter Minuit. Minuit, a German native of French extraction and recent Dutch ties, arrived in his ship, the Kalmar Nychel, flying the blue-and-yellow flag of Sweden from the mainmast. … Continued
