Bury my heart at wounded knee.

[white_cloud]

Well, this is the miscellaneous section after all.
 
I just read one of my favourite books of all time again - bury my heart at wounded knee by Dee Brown. So tragic, moving and powerful.
 
Surely one of the most shameful, awful and controversial subjects in the history of modern America. Almost literally ethnic cleansing. Lest we forget the plight of the brave Native Americans who struggled so hard to preserve their way of life against the unsurmountable odds.
 
Are there any members here with native american blood with connections to some of the horrific events of these times?
 
John.

[keavin]

Yeah My Great-grandfather was a fullBlood Cheyenne indian from Kansas.
 
(Message edited by keavin on March 19, 2009)

[tbrannon]

My great grandfather was a full blooded Cherokee from NW Arkansas.

[hydrargyrum]

My Great-Great-Grandmother was full blooded Creek.  We know of more heritage on both sides of our family, but records were arguably quite bad, in part I believe due to the racism of the era, so the exact proportions are unknown to us.

[edwin]

I have some Penobscot blood from my maternal grandmother's side. I read that book while on tour in the west and went through a lot of places mentioned (Sand Creek isn't far from me at all). Really, I just don't know what to say.
 
Edwin

[white_cloud]

I think its important to look back sometimes to understand how the present was shaped.
 
Its nice to see some fellow members with Native american blood right here - I bet your forefathers could tell some tales.
 
John.

[alembic76407]

I work with the grandson of Native American artist Carl Sweezy

[wideload]

Was he a full-blooded Indian?
On the contrary, my dear, he was anemic. -W.C. Fields

[willie]

I am part Seneca Indian of the Iroqois Nation which are from upstate PA and into New York State. I love being in the mountains of Northern PA and actually get physically sick when I have to come home to Phila. and I know this has alot to do with it. I feel at home and at peace up there and I know its because my ancestors are from up there and thats where I belong.
Willie

[pas]

Anyone here familiar with Manifest Destiny...?

[white_cloud]

manifest destiny - the belief that God has decided and ordained that the USA should spread across the entire of the North American continent.  
 
Also an idealistic painting by John Gast fundmentally featuring the oncoming encroachment of civilisation on the west (bibles, cable wire, school books etc) and the Native American & wild life fleeing!
 
It must be said that despite the tragic native american struggle the advancement and growth of the worlds most bountiful and prosperous nation could never have simply halted for the indiginous tribes.  
 
It is always a worrying sign though when acts of inhumanity are comitted and justified in a perceived form of gods will.  
 
Indeed Im sure that Hitler himself considered the extermination of all Jews to being gods will.
 
Gods will seems to be a dangerous thing in the mindset of mankind.
 
It must be remembered that the west was advanced through lies, violence, murder and aggression by some of societies most desperate outcasts/criminals (admitedly many from europe)- the likes of which the native american had never encountered! In reality the native american found the idea of ownership of pieces of land to be almost an amusing concept - instead believing that all men belonged to the land.
 
It is a paradox that the native american was perceived to be a savage yet was often in many ways socially, morally and culturally more advanced than the settlers!
 
Indeed the natives idea of war bore no resemblence to the white mans idea of war - i.e total decimation.
 
John.
 
(Message edited by white cloud on March 22, 2009)

[jet_powers]

It has always troubled me how here in the US we denounce ethnic cleansing anywhere in the world it is perceived to take place, when in St. Louis, under the famous arch, is a museum dedicated to what amounts to American ethnic cleansing.  
 
At the same time, and with no disrespect intended for native Americans, they lost the war, so deal with it. It can't be undone. At least they can claim tribal sovereignty, whatever that is worth in today's society, which I suspect isn't really all that much.  
 
A truly tragic chapter in this nations history.
 
JP