Crazy Horse (1877)
"We had buffalo for food, and their hides for clothing and for our teepees. We preferred hunting to a life of idleness on the reservation, where we were driven against our will. At times we did not get enough to eat, and we were not allowed to leave the reservation to hunt.
We preferred our own way of living. We were no expense to the government. All we wanted was peace and to be left alone. Soldiers were sent out in the winter, who destroyed our villages.
Then "Long Hair" came in the same way. They say we massacred him, but he would have done the same thing to us had we not defended ourselves and fought to the last. Our first impulse was to escape with our squaws and papooses, but we were so hemmed in that we had to fight"
2007-12-12 13:21:49 · 14 answers · asked by genaddt 7 in Arts & Humanities ➔ History
If you read this and take away anything from it, it's that you really need to read as much Native American history as you can and realize that crimes against them continue today. A few things you should know:
1. Squanto (actually Tisquantum) knew English because he was captured and sold as a slave in England. He managed to escape and returned to find his entire tribe dead from a plague that hit all coastal tribes (they think it was smallpox or cholera) and killed 90% of them. The Pilgrims landed where his lands used to be.
2. The Cherokee sued to be able to remain in ther native lands (the Southeast). The case went to the Supreme Court and they won. President Andrew Jackson (who ran as a noted Indian fighter) said they had made their decision; let's see them enforce it. The result was the Trail of Tears.
3. Reservation children were severely punished for speaking their native languages, but they did it anyway, and we should be very grateful they did. The only unbroken code in military history was the Navajo code used in World War II, and it would not have been possible if those children did as they were told. It is widely credited for many victories in the Pacific theater, including Iwo Jima.
4. Hitler got his idea for the concentration camps from Indian reservations.
I know this all probably sounds ludicrous, but if you look, you will find support of all this - and much more. So don't think their struggles ended in the 19th century. Unfortunately, they didn't.
2007-12-12 15:59:06 · answer #1 · answered by bergenemack13 1 · 3⤊ 0⤋
A testament to the enduring human spirit.
We don't learn about Native Americans here in the UK, but over the years I've read pieces here and there, which leave me astounded at the way various groups have been treated by their fellow humans over the years. That is a very moving and honest quote, and I have a lot of respect for the Native tribes.
Bonsai Bobby ~ It's a long time since I heard that song :)
2007-12-13 11:21:30 · answer #2 · answered by Lady Silver Rose * Wolf 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The "trail of tears" comes right through my small town in Arkansas. They used their blood to write a type of hieroglyphics on the walls of a cave near a spring fed pond nearby. (It was the swimming hole I used as a child.) These writings witness to some of the atrocities done by our government at that time. (College students, studying native Indian linguistics, often go there lately. Especially since the last New Madrid earthquake scare in that area.) - It is called "Kings Canyon" (named after the first owner of that property) on a map of the "trail of tears".
2007-12-12 23:01:37 · answer #3 · answered by D Uncle 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It reminds me of an old song from the 70's..
Cherokee Reservation
DON FARDON
They took the whole Cherokee nation
And put us on this reservation
They took away our ways of life
The tomahawk and the bow and knife
They took away our native tongue
And taught their English to our young
And all the beads we made by hand
Are nowadays made in Japan
Cherokee people
Cherokee tribe
So proud to live
So proud to die
They took the whole Indian nation
Locked us on this reservation
And though I wear a shirt and tie
I'm still part Redman deep inside
Cherokee people
Cherokee tribe
So proud to live
So proud to die
And some day when they've learned
Cherokee Indian will return
2007-12-12 21:31:42 · answer #4 · answered by bonsai bobby 7 · 6⤊ 0⤋
This quote simply describes the irrevocable end of a nomadic way of life for the plains Indians in the 1870's.
It is a sad and damning statement about the white man's unrelenting push across the plains in pursuit of the Manifest Destiny that drove early (European) Americans in their quest for a new country.
Even though some Cree blood flows in my veins I am ashamed to claim my white heritage in this matter.............
2007-12-13 01:49:08 · answer #5 · answered by apup 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Coming from American Indian blood, I say its truth.
Oklahoma has 5 so called civilized tribes.
Who determined what was civilized for the Indian?
School made us learn the "facts" but never the truth.
Proud of a people who have risen about ,the hell
our government put them through.<><
Cherokee, Apache,Irish woman.
2007-12-12 21:45:06 · answer #6 · answered by funnana 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
"Long Hair" was Custer, who had massacred Indian women and children at Wounded Knee. He is mourning the passing of the Sioux way of life and the breaking of around 200 treaties by the US government.
2007-12-12 21:33:21 · answer #7 · answered by Anna P 7 · 6⤊ 0⤋
My Great Great Grandfather was a Trooper in the 7th Cavalry. However all respect to Grandad, i'm with the Sioux on this one.
2007-12-13 09:22:17 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is historically accurate, from Crazy Horse's perspective.
Not sure what you're looking for from answerers.
2007-12-13 14:46:06 · answer #9 · answered by Rich 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think I've just read waaaaay too much truth.
The crimes committed against the Native Americans have been truly heinous.
2007-12-12 21:27:09 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 0⤋