Thursday, August 30, 2018

Blog #42 - "Prisoner of War camps" = Indian Reservations?

For most American history books, we see that they talk about the Indians almost always when they are being pushed off of their land by Europeans (King Philip’s War, Powhatan War, Seminole War, Indian Removal Act) or when they fight back (Battle of Little Bighorn, Red Cloud’s War) or after being indiscriminately massacred (Sand Creek and Wounded Knee Massacres).  Few cover the decimation of disaeases that faced the Native Americans when the Europeans first arrived.  Even fewer touch on 20th Century issues and laws regarding education, reservation (and sale of Indian land), tribal recognition, citizenship, Termination policy in the 1950s or other Indian policies like the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934.  Our textbooks might talk about AIM or the standoff at Wounded Knee in 1973, but just as an inclusion of many minority groups in the chapter on the late 1960s / early 1970s. There might even be something about the seizure of Alcatraz Island by Native Americans. But rarely anything is heard after that.

In the following disturbing and moving video, photographer Aaron Huey lists the many things done (in the name of America) to the Lakota Sioux tribe.  He juxtaposes the lists of broken treaties and promises and horrific things with his own photos of the Lakota tribe at Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota.

Aaron Huey’s wish is that the American government honor the treaties and give back the Black Hills.  To atone for America’s sins, to use such a phrase, can anything truly be done?  Where, if anywhere, should Americans start to make up for what has been done to the Native Americans?   Is it right that we should speak in such manner as atoning for sins or asking for forgiveness?  Or do you feel that you have nothing to ask forgiveness for since these things had been done before you were born?  

What responsibility do we have to Native Americans?
One major thing to consider is that though we may not have been personally responsible for oppressing the Native Americans, we benefit from the results of past policies of our government towards Native Americans (and even from past colonial practices).
 - Should we replace Columbus Day with Indigineous Peoples’ Day?
 - Should we push Congress to rescind the Medals of Honor distributed to the 7th Cavalry handed out after the Wounded Knee Massacre in 1890?
 - Should reservations be abolished? Or should those that exist still remain yet receive generous help?
 - Should the Washington football team, the Cleveland Indians, or Atlanta Braves be forced to take new mascot names?
 - What can we learn from Canada and the way they have treated and honored their Native Americans?
 - Should we continue to oppose the Dakota Access Pipeline (since President Trump has rescinded President Obama’s cancellation of it) or other industrial things that impact the environment of Native American reservations?
 - Should Native Americans be given back their religious ceremonial artifacts, tens of thousands of which sit in museums, some on display, others locked in vaults? 

In finishing up the research for this blog (including reading chapters of the book, “All the Real Indians Died Off”: And 20 Other Myths About Native Americans by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz) I found that Congress passed, as part of an appropriations bill, a resolution called the Native American Apology Resolution in 2009.  Introduced by Republican senator from Kansas, Sam Brownback, he said the reason he did this was “to officially apologize for the past ill-conceived policies by the US Government toward the Native Peoples of this land and re-affirm our commitment toward healing our nation’s wounds and working toward establishing better relationships rooted in reconciliation.”
Furthermore:
The Apology Resolution states that the United States, “apologizes on behalf of the people of the United States to all Native Peoples for the many instances of violence, maltreatment, and neglect inflicted on Native Peoples by citizens of the United States.”
The Apology Resolution also “urges the President to acknowledge the wrongs of the United States against Indian tribes in the history of the United States in order to bring healing to this land.”
The Apology Resolution comes with a disclaimer that nothing in the Resolution authorizes or supports any legal claims against the United States and that the Resolution does not settle any claims against the United States.
The Apology Resolution does not include the lengthy Preamble that was part of S.J Res. 14 introduced earlier this year by Senator Brownback.  The Preamble recites the history of U.S. – tribal relations including the assistance provided to the settlers by Native Americans, the killing of Indian women and children, the Trail of Tears, the Long Walk, the Sand Creek Massacre, and Wounded Knee, the theft of tribal lands and resources, the breaking of treaties, and the removal of Indian children to boarding schools.
  1. Tell us your reactions to the Ted Talk;
  2. Discuss your thoughts / concerns about how to acknowledge the debt America owes Native Americans and why.

400 words minimum for both answers total. Due Wednesday, Sept. 12 by class. 

19 comments:

Luke Morency said...

I was shocked on how all of the indigenous people was being treated,i feel bad for all of the families that have to go through struggles today just because of actions that happened a long time ago. Some of the pictures just made me realize how i am and everyone i know. I also believe that we should not replace Columbus Day with Peoples’ Day, Although i believe we owe more to the indigenous people i believe we should make a new day for them rather than replace it with Columbus Day. The United States is not the only country that celebrates Columbus Day, Various countries around the world such as Spain, Italy, also Little Italy's around the world. I believe that we also should not change the football team names of the Cleveland Indians, or Atlanta Braves. I believe that we should keep these teams and not change their names, both of these teams have been around for at least 103 and i believe they should keep their team names. From canada we can learn to treat the indians differently than we did. I also believe that we should let the indians keep all of there artifacts, they are ancient to them, and after everything we gave them and took back and everything that we promised them and didn't give them. These artifacts are sacred and i believe we have already taken enough from them and we should let them keep their artifacts. Although we aren't personally responsible for oppressing the Native Americans, we greatly benefit from the results of past policies of our government towards Native Americans. I also believe that we owe great debt to the indians after the building of the transcontinental railroad we were kicking all of the indians out of the west after we promised them the east and kicked them out of the east because we wanted to build a railroad, and when we wanted to build the transcontinental we kicked them out the west. I believe that's not ok after promising them that land. I strongly believe we should be doing more to help the indians than writing a letter. I acknowledge that all of the actions in the past we can't fix,but i believe that looking back we should be able to recognize the changes that need to be made in the future to have a better relationship with the indian.

Unknown said...

The talker sounds like he knows a lot about what he is talking about and he gets very emotional as the talk goes on. i thought the talk was described very well and it showed all of the problems very clearly. This helped explain and show a lot of the struggles the Native Americans are going through. The presentation really made you feel sad about the Native Americans and it made you realize how much they are struggling to survive. This presentation really made you want to help the Native Americans in every way possible, they need the most help they can possibly get.

Patrick Wilusz said...

Native Americans are really struggling for survival. They are all living in broken down houses and a lot of their parents are drug addicts and alcoholics. The kids are struggling to live because their parents are abusive and the parents can't control themselves because of the substances they are taking. America should be focused on helping the Native Americans because they are Americans themselves but they can barely afford to help themselves. Kids are struggling witch education because they can not afford good education, there are a lot of depressed kids from whats all happening in their life, and there is a lot of suicides because of their depression. Native Americans need to helped as much as possible because right now, they cant do anything to help their families. We should at least supply them with food because people cant afford food and kids tend to eat a lot of food at school lunch because they barely get fed, but at the school, they get as much as they want. Most of their houses do not have addresses, and some people like to be hidden, but others are complaining because of not having an address to their house, so when someone needs an ambulance or anything like that, they will not be able to find them so people usually end up dying because the emergency services can not find them. Many Native Americans do not have homes so them people without homes have to cram themselves into other peoples homes, so some tiny homes that are the size of a regular room that are supposed to fit maybe 2 people, fit multiple families with many kids in them. Jobs are also very hard for people to get due to the lack of education between all the families, so getting money is a huge struggle for them. People have a very low amount of different clothes, so they will be wearing the same dirty clothes they have been wearing every day.

Unknown said...

What the U.S owes Native Americans.
All of these issues have been discussed concerning Native Americans, as they have been historically mistreated in unimaginable ways, their treatment by the U.S government attracts much controversy. These are my beliefs on these issues. It has been suggested that Columbus day be renamed to Indigenous Peoples day, though I do not particularly like Columbus day, and do support Indigenous Peoples day, I think that whether Columbus day is removed or not that Indigenous peoples day should have its own day. This would in effect, make Indigenous Peoples day seem more important, and less like a replacement.
I also believe that the medals given to the soldiers at the wounded knee massacre should be removed, as it is not only dishonorable to the slaughtered Natives, but also to the U.S as a whole, for we should not reward such acts of aggression. As for reservations, though they are unfortunate and have a whole host of problems, we should only abolish them if there is an option that would help the natives, and not be putting them in a worse situation than before, just as reservations had done in the past. Many sports teams have come under fire due to offensive names, such as the Washington Redskins. Though these names are somewhat offensive, I think that if the Native American population wants the teams renamed then they should be. Canada has shown that the historically oppressed Native Americans can be treated well by the government, and we should try our best to help in any way be can. Standing rock has also made great waves in politics in recent years, personally I stood with the Native Americans and their right to live as they like with their land.
I do believe that Native American artifacts should be returned to their rightful owners, only as long as their origin can be determined, and that the artifacts would be transferred to the proper tribal officials.

Unknown said...


The Ted talk made me realized how fortunate I am. I realized that some people can’t go to school because they have to help keep a roof over their head at home. The unemployment rate was 85%-90% which is way to high for any place in this world. The school dropout rate was 70%, which at school if I think about all the people I go to school with only 30% will not dropout. What surprised me most is that 39% of homes have no electricity, and 60% of homes have black mold. I really just thought about that for a second. If I lived on the reservation, and I want something to eat Ican’t just pull it out of the refrigerator and heat it up. I have to wait until the next meal, and even then you barely get enough to eat just an amount to where you won’t die of starvation. It was very surprising that most grandparent raise their grandkids, because the parents are alcoholics. I know that alcohol is a way to relieve problems that you are having, but to the fact where you can’t raise your kids is absolutely mind blowing. Aaron Huey talked about some sensitive subjects and was he tearing up, that’s how I know it’s a big problem. I could never imagine being a native American living on a reservation wondering if my family could support my sister and I . In 1863 The population of Santau in Minnesota increased and resulted in the hanging of 38 Su men. The largest mass execution in US history ordered by President Lincoln only two days after signing the Emancipation proclamation. If I lived on a reservation in Minnesota I could never imagine how sad I would be if, my dad went to work and never came back. I will be so devastated because I never said goodbye to him and I would never be able to talk to him again . Most reservations don’t have running water and electricity. Most reservations have black mold and not a lot of space. People still have to live there, while we have everything we want and need and other stuff to. We are the reason that people are in poverty barely surviving every day. In 1866 we built trains that cut through their land. In 1869 hunters road the railroads killing the buffalo. The Indians use Buffalo for everything including food ,clothing, and shelter. In 1874 we discovered gold move the Indians out of their land causing them to move somewhere else. In conclusion us Americans are the reason that most Indians are living in poverty. -Rachel Sample

Anonymous said...

I have a lot of different reactions to the Ted Talk. Those pictures really shocked me. They were really powerful. It made it better that they were displayed while the guy was talking. The conditions those people lived in were really bad. At one point the word war camp was used. The housing looked really rough and there was graffiti everywhere. Everything looked damaged. The guy talking and explaining the timeline was getting emotional at times and that shows that he really cared about these people. He seemed very grateful that they accepted him into their community, and that shows that we have perspectives on people that aren’t true. Most people would think these people are violent and bad people but they really aren’t. That’s the message that guy was trying to explain. I like how he created a very long timeline showing the damage that has been done to these people. That was also very powerful. I learned a lot of new things about these people I didn’t know, and the timeline really helped me learn when and where these events happened. One thing that really stood out to me was when he explained the meaning of the word Wasichu. He said it means a greedy person who takes all the meat for himself. That’s how the Lakota people look at us. We take all the goods for ourselves. He also explained how the timeline has “‘massacres disguised as battles.” I think he’s stating that we massacred people but played it off as a battle and when we told the story we said it was a battle, trying to hide the real truth. A lot of people in the picture shown had weapons such as knives and guns. The places they live in don’t look very safe. I just thought in all, the message this guy was presenting, was very powerful.

I think America owes a lot of debt to the Native Americans. I think the conditions we have left these people with are inhumane. For example, most children are raised by their grandparents because their parents are no where to be found. The living conditions they have are terrible. We have forced them off their native land. That’s like someone forcing you out of your house and making you move somewhere and restart everything. I can’t imagine that. I think overall, Native Americans are looked at differently. I just think that’s straight up unfair.

Jackson Tinsley - U.S. History/1st Hour

Anonymous said...

1. Tell us your reactions to the Ted Talk;

* I was truly heartbroken by the contents of the Ted Talk. I interpret it to be the shocking truth of how the US came into existence and continued to evolve. We must watch this to see the other side of the story that rarely anyone chooses to discuss. Whilst watching the video, I tried my best to relate with Aaron Huey and put myself into his shoes. A treaty is most often signed as a bond or a promise to an agreement, or to get something accomplished. I would be angry and frustrated just as Huey and the people of the Lakota Sioux Tribe were when the betrayals and deception began back in the 1800's and still is being felt today. I would be horrified to see the execution of my people and close ones and to be in suffering, and the severe lack of resources, whether in physical welfare, defense, education, or property, being treated with such apathy. I could feel myself relating to the entire Lakota Sioux tribe in in the talk, and I feel as if not just I, but anyone else watching would think and act the same if they were put in such a terrible situation.

2. Discuss your thoughts / concerns about how to acknowledge the debt America owes Native Americans and why.

* I feel as if the United States will not do anything about these issues until they have suffered the same way the Lakota Sioux did during events such as the Homestead act. I think that the statement said by speaker Aaron Huey "The United States continues, on a daily basis, to violate the terms of the 1851 and 1868 Fort Laramie Treaties with the Lakota" are terrifying and sad. I agree with many of Huey's points, as he did a great job of persuading the possible viewer. As the timeline kept going on and on with me expecting it to stop, and more and more tragedies were explained that happened to the Lakota, I couldn't help but be a little disappointed in the United States and their treatment and judgement toward these people. Averages of diseases like Tuberculosis or Cervical Cancer, and societal necessities like college being dropped out of at triple, quadruple, and more percentage than the entire US worries me. Just as Huey pleaded in the closing seconds of the speech, I feel strongly that it's only right for the American government honor the treaties and give back the Black Hills to the original inhabitants and redeem what the Sioux Tribe has lost.

Anonymous said...

Ted Talk Reaction:

I thought the Ted Talk was very informative, and interesting. Aaron Huey did an amazing job explaining the history of the Lakotahs and all about their modern day life,and the way they’re treated, and the way they live. I liked that Aaron said that a non-indian is the one who takes the best meat for himself. I liked this because it shows the impact that was made on the Native Americans by White people in the 1800’s, and how it carried throughout the centuries. I learned a lot about the Lakotah’s from the Ted Talk because of the way Aaron Huey went through their history. Aaron Huey started by talking about how the Lakotahs now live on prisoner of war camps, or reservations, and how poorly their land, and people are treated, and ended by challenging everybody to help, and “not shrug your shoulders in the dark”. Overall the Ted Talk was very interesting and taught me alot about the modern day Native American lifestyle, versus the ancient time lifestyle, and how similar, yet different they are.

Peyton Blandford said...

What the Native Americans Deserve:

I believe that we as Americans do have a responsibility for the Native Americans. Overall, it is the White people who lived in the 1800’s fault that the Native Americans live the way they do. I believe it is the Americans fault the Native Americans live the way they do because of the way they were treated in the 1800’s. The Indians were treated well until the Whites wanted something on their land, and because they wanted something on their land and it led to the two groups being associated in one way or the other. Because the two groups were associated, the Americans wanted the Indians to be just like them, which led to the Indians being “Americanized” then left in the dirt, then living the poor life they still live. All of the treaties and laws that apply to the Indians seem to be unfair because they are not being fully applied. For example, the things Fort Laramie treaty are not being applied fully, which is unfair to the Indians, it would be like the government taking away half our rights. So, overall the Indians do deserve all the rights of the treaties and laws, and the same rights as every American.

Unknown said...

1)After watching the Ted Talk, I have became much more aware of how life is like for the Lakota tribe, and for other Native Americans. When I think of Native Americans and reservations, the first thing that comes to mind is not being mistreated, but from the Ted Talk my mind has been changes. The Lakota tribe has extremely poor areas, and the photos just open my eyes wider and make me more grateful for the family and home that I have. The photos that Aaron captured really showed how conditions are rather than just trying to use words. The pictures showed men who were sick, families that were poor, and everything in between. If the few pictures that he showed made me feel so much different about the Lakota tribe, I can't imagine what it must be like to actually live the peoples lives who live there.
2)I think that a way to acknowledge the debt that America owes Native Americans would be just to make American more aware of what is happening in the reservations. At the end of the ted talk, Aaron mentions
that his Ted Talk wish is to honor the treaties, and give back the black hills. Many treaties have been broken in the past. America continues to “ignore” the Native American, despite the pleas from the Native Americans. So much has happened in the past with the Native Americans, that I feel like it would be very difficult to make up for all of the damage. Americans should step up and make an attempt to regain the Native Americans “trust”. I have never learned about this topic before, and so one way America could attempt forgiveness would be to spread the word about what has happened or what is happening.

Destiny A. said...

1) When watching the document, I was nothing more than ashamed. I felt ashamed for numerous reasons. One was the fact that more than half of the points or historic events listed I had never heard of. To be honest, it isn't completely my fault but more so the fact of America hiding more of her shameful past. But to see the blantnent continuos discrimination Native Americans have went through for years past and years to come is truly saddening.


2) America has a long lists of debts to repay to the native community. The fact that we had the audacity to come onto their land and shove them out like they were the outsiders just because we had much more advantages is horrid. The word native itself basically means someone's origin and where they were born and raised. We took someone's home and made it our own and that is something itself that makes the debt list grow significantly. Another thing which really struck a chord is how the reservation camp was referred to sometimes as a ‘Prisoner of War camp’. At this moment, the only war I feel like is going on is the silent war of a community wanting to cherish their land versus a community who has no sympathy towards the other. To refer to another troubling concept, I was astounded to hear them reference the biggest mass execution and it not be what I expected. Again, America hid this in the deepest corner of her many troubling incidents. We learn about mass massacres and things so you would expect that it would be knowledge to know that the largest mass execution, which took place in 1863, was of 38 Sioux men. Another thing which was very disturbing was that this execution was ordered by Abraham Lincoln, one who many look up to as a liberator. But as I can now see, everyone has horrible faults and this is the worst I have seen from him. This reminds me of the term they referred to the man who held the talk to as, a ‘Wasichu’, which means ‘Non-Indian’ and also ‘The one who takes the best meat for himself.’ The reason I relate to the two is that they both have the point of someone gaining more and benefiting of the loss of the other. In the Abraham Lincoln situation I have barely any doubts that at that time he was hailed as a liberator or maybe a good person doing a ‘good deed’ when this act of mass execution was committed while the natives were of course most likely not given any sympathy. One last thing I would like to touch bases on is the fact that America has always falsely labeled most native fights against Americans as ‘Battles’ when they should more accurately be labeled ‘Massacres’. We hold a much more strong advantage over the Native Americans to the point where we are always on the winning side and their losses significantly larger than ours. The fact that we portray some fights as both of us having equal grounds is not right. We have always had the upper hand and using that hand to take from others and making it seem fair. The debt we owe to the Native Americans from the numerous wrong doings, in my point of view, is very far from being close to completed or paid. But the least we can start with is fixing our history. First step should be something like: Columbus didn't find America, he stole it. One thing like that added to courses could better our knowledge of the struggle of the Native community has been enduring for centuries and hopefully motivate us to help.

Carmela Serraiocco said...

1.) Personally I liked the TED Talk, because it brought in the point of view of the Native Americans. The pictures taken by Huey were very impactful, especially the pictures of Native American families and their surroundings, because it shows how impovered these people really are, and how the poverty and low population levels of the Lakota were caused by us; the wasi’chu, “the one who takes the best meat for himself.” The TED Talk brought many points of history into view, for example the 1851 Treaty of Laramie. When Huey was explaining the effects of the United States breaking this treaty, he showed a picture of what the United States would’ve looked like if the Native Americans were able to keep the land from the treaty. I was shocked by how much land was taken away from the Indians, and that map made me realize just how much the United States actually took from the Lakota tribe, and the other Native tribes as well. Huey also mentioned how in 1877, the United States threatened the Natives to sign a new treaty by saying if they don’t sign, they would starve and their tribes wouldn’t be fed. I was shocked and upset to see that people of the United States were greedy enough to threaten not to feed a whole population of people. Huey mentions many more instances in which the U.S. treated the Indians unfairly, but all in all, the TED Talk helped me to realize just how badly the Native Americans were affected by the United States’ greediness and empty promises.

2.) Although it was before I was born, I feel as though as a nation we shouldn’t ignore the pain and suffering we caused the Native American people, and we at least owe it to them to make sure their population doesn’t die out, and to help them come out of poverty. In the TED Talk, Huey explains how since 2010, poverty levels in Pine Ridge are extremely high and most of the Native American population is unemployed, or lacks a home, money, and/or education. I think we could begin to give back and help fix their community by offering small jobs to some of the Indians just to help them get up on their feet, we could provide them with the proper medicines/vaccines needed to keep them alive, to help them build healthy families, and raise the life expectancy from 40. We could even help by volunteering or working to build homes more fit for living and keeping the Native Americans healthy. I feel like eventually, we could give back more than this, but the United States should at least start somewhere to show that we want to give back and make up for what we have done to their people, because everyday we continue to thrive and benefit from things we have taken from the Indians.

Ellis Robertson said...

My reaction to the Ted Talk.I thought the Ted Talk was very graphic. I think the speaker put too many graphic pictures in there such as the blood and the dead people. Another word used for that, is that it was a little gory. I thought the Ted Talk was very depressing and sad. But even though it was depressing and sad, it was very informative. It informed me alot about Indians and Native Americans, and what they had to go through. It talked about how hard their lives were. There was information given about their living situations, food, violence, and alot more. The Native Americans didn't have easy lives. Adults would get beaten up everyday. Innocent families would get slaughtered. Even their children. For example, In the year 1890, a massacre took place where a chief was murdered, and so was three-hundred prisoners. There were also way more massacres.When it comes to housing, homes would get destroyed. The houses would get sold. Or the land the houses were on would get sold. There would be many homeless people. Families would be living on the streets or in their destroyed homes. Some of them would find abandoned houses to live in. It was that hard for people to house. They couldn't have comfortable living arrangements, like we do now. A Lot of native americans would just struggle,some would even die because they don't have a house to live in. Not only was living situations bad, but having food was also a big problem too. There was a lot of hunger and starvation with the Native Americans. A large percent of native americans would die because a lack of food. Also animals would die too because they were not getting fed. There was a daily struggle for everyone. Now one of the questions ask “should we replace labor day with indigenous peoples’ day” I don't necessarily think they should change Columbus day because Columbus day it obviously celebrates Christopher Columbus and Christopher Columbus should be honored because he discovered America. But I do there should be a “indigenous people’ day. Just not the same day as Columbus. I think Indigenous people should have a day just because of what they went through. They should have a holiday that celebrates them and celebrates the struggle that they went through. I think America owes the Native Americans power. That may be something they don't have.

Jadon Cast said...

Tell us your reaction to the TED Talk
This video is very sad. Huey talk about how the americans took a lot from the Indians. He talked about all the treaties we broke to take their land. I feel horrible. It so sad because it affects the Native Americans today. We gave them land and documented it, so just to take it away from them so quick is terrible. But how we took it is even worse. A flood of white settlers settled in their land. The we built the Transcontinental Railroad straight through their land. When it was finished, it carried a large number of hunters which killed their buffalo which took food, clothing, and shelter. So going from having our transportation system on their grounds, to taking a main source of theirs which provided a lot for them. Now to make it worse we made them all prisoners of war. But that wasn’t it the Natives found gold in the black hills the word got out and the American took it over. Which started the Lakota War for the breaking the treaty, they lost. The one by one the Americans took their land leaving them with barely nothing. And to top it off to end the Indian wars was the Wounded Knee massacre and killed over 250 Indians. I were nothing but evil to the Native Americans. We started a whole war being greedy of the Natives land. But many years later the problem affect people today. The indigenous people are poor and homeless. Their homes have black mold in it with no electricity. 90% of them lives below the federal poverty line. And even worse the life expectancy for men is 46-48. We have to do something about this.

Discuss your thoughts/concerns about how to acknowledge the debt America owes the Native Americans and why.
I think we need to give back to the Native americans of today. Like we can change Columbus Day to Indigenous People’s day. The sports teams could at least consider about changing their names be Rednecks is kind of offensive. We should raise money to improve the Indian reservations so that the Native American can live out of poverty. We should improve the Dakota Access Pipeline so it’s not affecting the Native Americans water. Just like Canada we need to honor the Native Americans. After all we put them through in the past it’s the least we can do.

Anaya Bracy-Robinson said...

Tell us your reactions to the Ted Talk;

The Speaker Aaron Huey did a really good job explaining the history of the Lakotas and the current events of the pine ridge indian reservation that is happening now, but I also think that he was just showing the bad parts of the reservation.For example when people ask me where are you from and i say detroit they ask me how bad is it, they ask me that because the way detroit is presented on the news. Not all of detroit is bad I think in any place in the world has a “bad” area and a “good” area, I still think The US was wrong though.I think the slide show he made with pictures he took were really cool and made the presentation more interesting to watch.I was really sad hearing about how the white Americans disobeyed treaties and almost took everything from the Native Americans. It is very disappointing to hear how the US treated the Native americans. To this day the lakotas are struggling because they are in poverty. In the reservation i learned that like 5 families lives together in homes and they can't afford healthy foods so diabetes risk are higher than average there.The Native americans have a really hard time controlling there alcohol in take, 75% of accidental deaths involved alcohol intake. It saddens me to hear the US put their greed in front of other people. In 1851 the US signed a treaty called Fort Laramie treaty of 1851 which was between the US and the Sioux to bring peace between them and the Sioux agreed to move over to the black hills. Soon the white man wanted the black hills for themselves and broke the treaty. They US disguised massacres as battles, this made the Sioux surrender because they was scared.

Discuss your thoughts / concerns about how to acknowledge the debt America owes Native Americans and why.

The Black hills are sacred to the Native Americans and money cant buy there happiness. The Us was trying to give the Sioux Money but all they want is there black hills back. I think the US was dishonest and unloyal and plus they sent the Sioux to the black hills, so I think they could at least give the Native Americans the land back (Black Hills). Like the speaker said sending money, donating clothes, and sending churches there to build more homes and to paint over graffiti on the walls will not help.

Anonymous said...

Watching the the Ted Talk video on the Blog site was very informative. I have heard some about how the Indians were treated, but I did not know the details. It pains me to see how the Indians are still living today. From what I seen in the video, there living areas are ghettos. To here that 70 percent of students dropout of high school sadden me very much. The video images show there is a lot of frustration, desperation and mistrust toward the Europeans who took their land. The mistrust is because many treaties were made and broken over and over again. The fact that a railroad was made to go through their land despite the treaties is mind blowing. The kind of crimes against them makes me sad. How can they be blamed for protecting their land? If I had lived during that time, I think I would have been very frustrated too. I would not like for someone to come and take my home, my land and all my natural resources.
It was interesting to see the timeline of all of the treaties an events. I feel like I want to research some of the events. I would like to know more about the Bureau of Indian Affairs and its charter. The Ted Talk made me want to find out more about the Treaty of Fort Lakota. I will research the mass execution in 1863. Although I have heard something about General Custer and the 7th cavalry at the Battle of Littlehorn I want to know more about it. I made a list of all of the events listed in the Ted talk so I can find out more about the issues. The Ted Talk sparked my interest in Native American history. Because I have never been on an indian reservation, the Native American Issue has not been on my mind. If not anything else, the Ted Talk has given me food for thought. Does America owe the Native American Indians a debt? Under our current law if someone breaches a contract, he will be ordered to honor his contract or pay for damages. Under our law, If I go to a random house and begin to live in it, I will be taken to court and ordered to leave, or the police will come and take me out. I think the treaties given to the Indians should have been honored during their time. Now 167 years after the first treaty, it is impossible to honor those treaties. If we were to honor the treaty now, and give the Indians the land which was promised to them, many Americans would be displaced. So that is clearly not the solution. My solution to the indian problem would be to provide the Native Americans with a first class pre college education focusing on Math and Reading, and allowing them to the keep their traditions. Having the proper education will enable them to enter and succeed in college. I would continue the practice of allowing them the get a college education. With a proper education, I believe their standard of life in their communities would improve greatly. -Melodie willis



Anonymous said...

Johann B. says
These Indians are living in a place, where people were drug addicts and alcoholics. The Speakers to me sounds real concerned about this. I thought it was unreal how these people were being treated. Also i think we shouldn’t of replace insidious day with columbus day. I feel terrible for all these people through this struggle today, because what happen a long time ago. Some of these people. From Canada we all may learn how the Indians were treated differently. I wish that americans would treat the indians equally. The reservations shouldn’t be abolished, because if the indians don’t have a home they have no place to live. We can learn from the way Canada treated Indians, is that they didn’t treat them very well and i didn’t honor them at all. I think that shouldn’t change the football teams names of the cleveland indians and Atlanta braves, they both have around for at least 103 and should be kept the way it is. I don’t think that this is fair to indians during the dawes act many tribes lost a million acres of land. I think that we should be pushing the congress to rescind the medals of honor disturbed to the 7th Cavalry handed out after the wounded knee massacre in 1890.
I was surprised hear that the massacre of wounded knee was given 20 medals of honor. Till this day the massacre of wounded knee has the most medals of honor in american history. The speakers said that the medals were giving for most slaughter of women, and children than any other battle . it was considered the end of the indian wars. I can’t believe how there could be a slaughter of women and children in this war. The speaker sounded really emotional after he said these words. I wonder why they had to be killed, the women and innocent children, just why. I was shocked to hear that the women and children were killed, during this massacre. So much blood of innocent indians. The Sue nation was given $160 million dollars and refused it why? Then they said the black hills are not for sale. In 2010 there 60% of homeless people, and they were infested with black mold. I feel like the government can give these people better homes, than what they have now. I don’t like that these people have live through these conditions. If these people want there religious ceremonial artifacts and stuff they can have. So these are all thoughts and reactions this video, thank you for sharing!

Anonymous said...

This video is very sad. Huey talk about how the americans took a lot from the Indians. He talked about all the treaties we broke to take their land. I feel horrible. It so sad because it affects the Native Americans today. We gave them land and documented it, so just to take it away from them so quick is terrible. But how we took it is even worse. A flood of white settlers settled in their land. The we built the Transcontinental Railroad straight through their land. When it was finished, it carried a large number of hunters which killed their buffalo which took food, clothing, and shelter. So going from having our transportation system on their grounds, to taking a main source of theirs which provided a lot for them. Now to make it worse we made them all prisoners of war. But that wasn’t it the Natives found gold in the black hills the word got out and the American took it over. Which started the Lakota War for the breaking the treaty, they lost. The one by one the Americans took their land leaving them with barely nothing. And to top it off to end the Indian wars was the Wounded Knee massacre and killed over 250 Indians. I were nothing but evil to the Native Americans. We started a whole war being greedy of the Natives land. But many years later the problem affect people today. The indigenous people are poor and homeless. Their homes have black mold in it with no electricity. 90% of them lives below the federal poverty line. And even worse the life expectancy for men is 46-48. We have to do something about this.

Discuss your thoughts/concerns about how to acknowledge the debt America owes the Native Americans and why.
I think we need to give back to the Native americans of today. Like we can change Columbus Day to Indigenous People’s day. The sports teams could at least consider about changing their names be Rednecks is kind of offensive. We should raise money to improve the Indian reservations so that the Native American can live out of poverty. We should improve the Dakota Access Pipeline so it’s not affecting the Native Americans water. Just like Canada we need to honor the Native Americans. After all we put them through in the past it’s the least we can do.

Jadon

Anonymous said...

The reaction I had was depressing as i thought of all the things the american colonists at the time stole from the indians at the time. The american colonists stripped everything from the indians and gave nothing back. For instance The american colonists took the Black Hills from the Sioux and the Lakota Tribes, which Custar had later found gold in. The american colonists sprouted and demolished trees of all kinds, and had continued on with this pattern for decades. Along with pillaging the indians from their land, the colonists also killed the indians.
Aaron Huey, the researcher of the Lakota tribe, said, "...we killed and massacred millions of indians from the Lakota tribe from 1492 to the 1900s. With an estimated amount of 250 thousand alive out of a whopping eight million."
During one of the many massacres in 1890 called the wounded knee massacre, US troops massacred Chief Big Foot and 300 prisoners.
After the transcontinental railroad was built, hunters began to migrate from Eastern to Western states to hunt more buffalo. As indians from many tribes over hunted Buffalo to near extinction. This lead many indians without clothing making them susceptible to many diseases they didn't know how to deal with. Dwindling their life expectancy rate,for men, down to 46 to 48.

2. Discuss your thoughts, or concerns about how to acknowledge the debt America owes.
There are many reasons why we as americans need to pay back the debt we owe to the indians. American Colonists at the time had taken so many lives from the Sioux and lakota tribes, along with their land, food, clothing, and shelters, they also broke treaties that were established between the two groups. There is evidence indicating that American Colonists also tried to illegally take the indians sacred land and then try to buy it back from the indians for 1.3 billion. The US tried to change them into white Americans, giving them each Native American family 160 acres of land, to which they had to keep the plot of land for twenty five years to qualify and get the American citizenship. We made native americans go to school, teaching them our ways of life, forcing them to slowly forget their Native tongues. Later on we came up with the “Hot kiss gun,” which fires explosive rounds, then we opened fire on the prisoners of the Indian reservation camps. Killing all 300 prisoners in the reservation camps. One way I thought of paying off America's debts is to give the indians back their land or find someway for the government to come up with the money that they owe to the indians.

Enri