Native Americans?

Question

I just want other opinions on this. I know this happened a long time ago but it still makes me so mad. It was so unfair how white people(and I am white) came over here and made the NA'S leave land that they have always known. They were treated so mean. So many times I wish it never happened. Native Americans are still pretty much hidden away. We never see anything with them in it on TV for instance. What do you think?

Answer 1

You are so right! Growing up in white America really doesn't lend itself well to understanding the plight of the Native American tribes. When you grasp the roots of what the first white people did to the natives it is almost unthinkable. Truth is, the actions of our forefathers were very self serving and had consequences that extended far beyond the cowboy and Indian saga. This would include: African American (slaves), African American (civil rights) Mexico's land and more as I am sure you know.

All people of all lands had and are still creating their time in history, some of that time will prove to be unpopular. You can rest assured however that the Native American people are resurrecting themselves slowly but surely as big land owners, casino operators and growing enterprising endeavors that are awesome.

I work for a tribal government in the South West and am very proud of the company and its people. And, am always in complete awe of their patience, sincere attitude and integrity. Don't feel to sorry for the Native Americans who survived the white invasion, they don't! They have their problems but they are fixing them and moving on... In a big way

Answer 2

It is still happening. This administration has forced people off of land within the last year that was never involved in any treaty or agreement just because white ranchers wanted it. The government did pay, 8.5 cents/acre.

Quit talking about it in the past tense, genocide continues. In the U.S. and in Canada too.

As this discussion goes on, people in Navajo Country are being uprooted, their houses torn down and they are being relocated to a strange area. Why? Because the politicians and their buddies are building a ski resort and want their land.

"Trust" funds for oil, ores and etc. removed from Indian land have been "misplaced" by the government, and we're talking about $billions, the remedy? A bill was written this year forcing the people who have been cheated to "settle" for fractions of a penny on the dollar.

I bet you don't feel bad enough to do some research and at least write to the media dweebs about it.

For a start you might want to look at

http://www.indiancountry.com/

now and then to get a little idea of what is going on.


For those who condone one people arriving and because of better instruments of death taking a land over, those who think that was all right, I assume that should somebody arrive at you house with a tank, kill your family off then claim the property as theirs, you'd have absolutely no problem with it.

Answer 3

I think the Native Americans were very wise. We would all be better off if we gave the land back to them and lived the way they used to. I cry sometimes when I think about how we've ruined this beautiful country and how horrible our ancestors treated these wonderful people! The only reason America got to be where it is today is by taking advantage of other cultures & lying, cheating and stealing and using slave labor. Our history is shameful.

Answer 4

Many were forced into assimiliating into modern society. Even recently -- I think it was the 1970's, some were taken off reservations in the Midwest and bussed to Oakland,CA for "job training". Got off the bus and stepped into the middle of the inner city.
There was a tv show Star Trek: Voyager with the character Chakotay as the descendant of Mayans.

Answer 5

I'm half Blackfoot (Native American)... I hate the way that everything happened back in the day but America wouldn't be what it is today if it hadn't happened... And I wouldn't be alive... I know that not all Natives will agree with me but at least there are reservations and certain tax breaks stuff that the American government likes to give out for Natives... And there are alot of Native American Actors and actress' most of them are half or less but they do exist... Native Americans are for the most part happy to be hidden away from everyone else.... Just let the past be the past.... Everything happens for a reason....

Answer 6

What happened in the past is an unfortunate part of America's history, but don't get too upset over it. There are many such stories around the world of countries being taken by (semi) force, indeed not a few were obtained through much worse means. Remember what happened so that it doesn't happen again. That's all we can do with history- learn from it. We can't undo what our forefathers did and it's unfair to ask that we should.

Answer 7

I think the disrespect we as a nation showed to the Native Americans during our forming years was absolutely regrettable. The truth, though, is that we still do things like this today. A lot of people might come in here with an agenda and talk about which policy demonstrates this best, but you just need to look around a bit, and you'll see that the trend continues. But these are mostly governmental policies.. or policies produced by people in power.

On a local level, I think, when you encounter Native Americans - or for that matter, any people who have been wronged as a whole: African Americans, who were sold into slavery, Muslims of centuries ago, who were violated by the Crusaders, for instance - and you get into discussions about such things, it is important to express regret, and a resolution to learn how those things apply to now... but there is just no way, in the case of Native Americans, African Americans, or of Muslims, for that matter, there is no way to make any final restitution. I talked about this with a good friend of mine, who is black. He started talking about how he deserved something from the government. I have to tell you that that was one of the biggest burdens on me for a long time. There's no way I can fix that. But we can start right relationships that remove fear.

On a very personal level, you have to come to terms somehow with the fact that we are all, in some sense, an evil people. And we can't escape that. The thing we can respond to is the voice of God. In all reality, He is the One who is in control. If He forms nations for only one purpose- even if that is to make them (or us) an example to other nations so they respond somehow - He is still the one who is in control. Somehow, on a deep, personal level, you've got to deal with the facts. God is soo loving that He uses our weaknesses -and yes, it was probably a weakness, not a strength that caused our earlier conflicts, and will continue to brew them- to bring 'all nations, tribes, and tounges' to Him. Let every nation rise and fall, and God will still remain as the one in control... still remain as the one who purposed this all to draw all peoples unto Himself. Call this cheesy if you want, but it is really "His story", not just "history".

Answer 8

Agreed! America's colonialism was/is a sad and hostile take over of people for our benefit, but at their expense. It always irks me when history books talk about our "Manifest Destiny" and all.

What if China did that to us today?

This question is good because it reminds us that the government has committed horrible crimes in the past, and has the propensity to do so today.

Answer 9

ok first of all, if the Native Americans were so pissed they should have fought better for there land like the europeans settlers did, this is just another case of "only the strong survive"
i don't know why you or other people get so upset by this, i mean countries have been taking over other countries for thousands of years before this, what makes the native Amerians so much more special then those other countries? do you feel bad for the english when they got taken over? or spain when they were invaded by the moores? how about when genghis kahn took over most of Asia??? the Europeans had better technology, is it there fault they were so smart to come up with this technology and government? were only the native Americans allowed to be in America and nobody else had the right? the native Americans came to America on a land bridge from Asia, so just because they got here first doesn't give them anymore right to be in America then the europeans or any other peoples, and the reason you don't see many natives is because many of them mixed with whites and by doing so have disappeared, also many of them choose to live on reservations instead of out in society, i don't know why reservations are awful, i can understand that there cheap but come on, i do love native American culture and think its beautiful, but if a people isn't strong enough to fight there enemy, theres not much anyone can do

Answer 10

Yeah. it makes me mad too. There was a good movie on TV awhile back called "dreamweaver" - i( think? I bought it and lent it out and now I dont know where it is... )But, yeah, it was good and you should see if you can find it.
yeah- People like to pretend they dont exist today, even though they are everywhere among us. I wish they were more prevailing in our society and served in government more. They should have more of a say in what happens in this country.