An Indian Thanksgiving

FrontPageMagazine.com ^ | November 27, 2003 | David Yeagley

[Terpfen]

"Yet I can’t ignore the outrageous tragedy of Indian history. I can’t accept the treachery, and murderous, steam-rolling aggressions of the “Christian” race as the will of God."

It was a two-century war between the Indians and the settlers. The settlers won. What's so tragic about that? It's not like the Europeans who first landed here knew that sneezing was fatal to those who weren't resistant to their particular diseases.

[cyborg]

This is the story of the human race since the Fall in the Bible. Conquer and conquered, and fighting and so on. This does not require such deep thought. We only wax poetic about Indian tragedies because it's in recent memory.

[Agnes Heep]

The North American Indians practiced the usual nature worship, but unlike most other savages they believed in a single, transcendent being. Left alone, they would probably have ended up as monotheists.

They had a lot of good qualities, and it's a shame what happened to them, not as a group, but as individuals. They were victims of circumstance, not mass ill-will, as some would have us believe.

[nickcarraway]

Between the Indians and the settlers? I believe the Indians and settlers fought among themselves and with one another. Ever hear of the French Indian Wars?

[Gorzaloon]

My complaint is to the Indian spirits. I protest Indian religion, and all the spirits. Where were they in 1492, 1620, or 1835? When we needed guidance from the medicine men, wisdom from the chiefs, warnings from the spirits, assurance from the ancestors, where were they?

An interesting perspective. One could think perhaps the sudden spread of the Ghost Dance religion at the end of things was a "Last Chance" for the spirits. Done correctly, the dance would cause the People to raise up; during which the Land would be remade (With no Europeans). The People would descend afterward to inherit the new, cleaned/sanctified Land.

There are so many religions and beliefs; Sadly, they cannot all be right.

[Wonder Warthog]

"It was a two-century war between the Indians and the settlers. The settlers won. What's so tragic about that?"

I like the way a syndicated newspaper columnist put it years ago (he was a Comanche). He basically said that the Comanche were one of the greatest warrior nations of the Plains, and they had taken what they wanted from the other nations of Indians. The white man kicked their asses fair and square, and took what the Comanches had. The better warriors won, and he didn't have a problem with it.

[Eska]

Having lived in a true subsistence Indian village (as the only white boy) for a year; had my eyes opened to the bigger picture from native perspective. Imagine if your village, 135 people had 90% of their land taken over the last 70 years. Then become encircled by another culture and see effects of the new culture killing 3/4 of your people. Then have big daddy govt further destroy any possible future through welfare.

Have spent thanksgivings with the entire village in the Hall; oh that fry bread. Typically, after elders speak, they line up for dinner. Then all guests (white people), then parents, then lastly kids. Sit down and talk to the 90 year olds about how it was in 1930's. Then you begin to understand what they mean when they tell you the biggest problems for natives is white man. But you know for the most part; alcohol, drugs, and dysfunction aside natives are very sharing people, unlike us greedy white people who want it all in a pile to call our own, success. You see in the end it is a clash of our cultures that is killing them; and they still show complete respect for white guests at thansgiving.

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

Ping.

[fish hawk]

Thank you for the "ping", I caught this article on Frontage. I always watch for David Yeagley's articles.

In my tribe the Yuroks of the Klamath River in N. Calif. had many demigods, coyote and raven for two. But there was a mysterious being with no name, that was referred to as "he who speaks from above". I like to think of Him as what Paul referred to on Mars Hill to the Greeks. He told them their Un-named god was the true God and Creator. Because of this I have no problem with my culture and my religion. That God is my God.

[facedown]

I want to live without betrayal, without cruelty, and without politics.

Then you will have to escape the human race.

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

Compelling point, fish hawk!

[Justa]

Did your Indian hosts tell you of their first 150 years of war against colonial America? Or why many early American settlements were on islands, in forts or behind stockades?

Since you're an 'Indian history buff' I'm sure you're familiar with such early conflicts The Pequot War, 1637; King Philip's War, 1675-1676; King William's War 1689-1697; Queen Ann's War, 1702-1713; The Deerfield Massacre, 1704; Father Rasle's War, 1724-1726, etc. These wars resulted from various Indian tribes allying themselves with foreign governments and initiating attacks against American colonists. Did the Indians initiate their attacks and wage war against standing armies? No, they attacked, murdered and kidnapped-for-ransom farmers and their familes.

This article, like most of it's ilk is rose-colored, nativist revisionism which doesn't even tell half of the story, -most of all the Indians'.

[Chad Fairbanks]

Well, I can't speak for the Comanche, and in fact I can't really speak for anyone but myself, and what has been handed down to me from my ancestors - By the time the White men began to settle North America, the Iroquois had long been a society based on a Constitution, which defined a confederacy of peoples, and a system to ensure their survival as individuals and as a whole.

Even after the arrival of Whites to this land, the Iroquois grew and prospered - recognized by whites of the period as a major power on the continent, equals with the English, Dutch, and French in terms of alliances, trade etc... Politically and Economiclly, the Iroquois were a power that had to be dealth with - IT could not be defeated, but only bargained with. They survived for quite some time that way - even today.

I don't see it as spirits having failed my people - We failed ourselves. Some of my people broke faith with the constitution that guided them, and that led to a split in our people - much like the split we see in American society today. The split was: Some of my ancestors sided with the British in teh American Revolution, and some sided with the Colonists. This split played a major role in the downfall of the Iroquois Confederacy. Though it survived, in the end, it was never again as powerful as it was.

I guess maybe I'm preaching, but I see this same split occuring in the United States, and maybe we can prevent it by looking back and not making the same mistake. If we today break faith with our Constitution, the results will be disastrous.

That's what I thought about today. I did not look back in anger at any tragedies that occured, but rather I looked back so that I might learn from what happened. Had we lived up to the responsibilities in our constitution, perhaps things would have been different - the Colonists asked us to remain neutral - some decided to be "loyal" to teh crown, and this split led to our only defeat. Had we remained neutral, who knows what might have been. It's too late now, but today we Americans, both Indian and non-Indian alike who love this land must make sure we never break faith with the Constitution that binds us. Together, we are strong - divided, we face destruction. Pretty simple.

I guess I should just shut up now, but I will leave you all with this:

You may break one arrow, but a bundle of 5 is too strong to break.

Ok. End preachy rant ;0)

[Chad Fairbanks]

Thanks for the Ping. I tend to listen when Yeagley speaks, whether I agree with him or not. I respect him, and that's enough, I guess. :0)

[Chad Fairbanks]

Since you're an 'Indian history buff' I'm sure you're familiar with such early conflicts The Pequot War, 1637; King Philip's War, 1675-1676; King William's War 1689-1697; Queen Ann's War, 1702-1713; The Deerfield Massacre, 1704; Father Rasle's War, 1724-1726, etc. These wars resulted from various Indian tribes allying themselves with foreign governments and initiating attacks against American colonists. Did the Indians initiate their attacks and wage war against standing armies? No, they attacked, murdered and kidnapped-for-ransom farmers and their familes.

Since you're an 'Indian history buff' I'm sure you're familiar with the fact that the Iroquoian tribes were NOT fighting against American Colonists. In all actuallity, they fought alongside the British against the French. But then, you knew that.

Secondly, I'd like to point out that your generalization about us not fighting standing armies, but targeting non-military is the biggest load of crap I've seen you spew yet - Some tribes did that, yes, but certainly not all. You are making a vicious generalization that is false.

[Libertina]

Nice Chad, and it's good to know about your ancestors but not be bound by them. When I read this it brought memories of a book I had when I was little. A group of six or so books in a box all about different tribes. I loved the Iroquois the best, probably because they were water people and I love water so much. Anyway, the painting was of an Indian man in his canoe with a chubby little baby swimming in the river next to him. The Iroquois taught their babies to swim before they could walk. Pretty neat, I think.

[Chad Fairbanks]

They were certainly not the savage monsters they were made out to be - Just like anyone else, we were generous with those who had not wronged us, and particularly vicious to those who had, but I don't see that as a bad thing :0)

My geat-grandmother, bless her, made sure that I never forgot not only where I came from, but who I am, and where I am going... I still havn't figured out everything she taught me, but I guess I'm still learning.

About the only thing I can't stand is the two extremes - either Indians were all good (The LEftist Position) or the Indians were all bad (The position of many on the Right). The truth is somewhere in the middle, just as it is with everyone else :0)

Anyway, It's cool that the Haudenosaunee were your favorites - they are my favorites too LOL

[Libertina]

LOL Yes, but you are a little biased in that assessment. ;)

[Chad Fairbanks]

LOL