Native Americans

[Usaok]

You never hear native Americans crying about the fact that they were robbed of their lands and placed on reservations. Nor do they whine about the white man owing anything to them or do they expect something for nothing! They have a strong respect for the land and it's people's. They are spiritual and deserve everyone's respect. Many have fought for this country and died honorably for it . I have the utmost respect for a people that do not blame a present white man for a past white mans wrong doing. Living for today and making things happen for themselves tomorrow . The rest of us should learn from their self respect and wisdom.. Excuses are like a. ,they all stink.....

[skitealwedrop]

Being that one of my ancestors was a Cherokee Indian Chief, I happen to think a lot of Native Americans.

That's cool that you are aware of your ancestry. There are so many people in this country that have no clue that they have American Indian DNA and blood that surges through their bodies. Embrace it!

[myst]

Have been sitting here at my computer deciding to saying anything at all.

Come on people!! what is this......we are discussing one race?? unreal!!

As long as i am here,grew up with Indian nations and lands all around me.......... known many.

Have yet to ever see color.Still do not!!

But for the record,my nephew works beside them,as they give millions to our state, to help

us all ,while things are so bad with the economy. They have handled there monies much better

than the politians here in Washington state.

Doubt that a lot of folks are even aware of this fact.

Am crossing my fingers that we do not single out a race in here again.......sorry,super bothers me.

Thanks myst

[desimo]

I have debated about posting on here. My belief is coming from a proud heritage. I have roots in Powhatan, Cherokee, and Shawnee tribes. I have studied my heritage and have worked on a number of reservations. I must begin with a difference between tradition and heritage. Many ‘Native Americans’, and I truly do not think my ancestors would be caught up in a name or term, and Indian wannabees, get hooked in traditions. The Sweat Lodge, Deer skin, dancers and drummers are all popular. A tradition is a behavior which is indicative of a people. But the heritage is the belief system behind the tradition. Why did they do the Sweat Lodge is more important attending a Sweat Lodge. I say all that to get to the belief systems of my ancestors. They believed in providing and of being self sufficient. Personally, I believe the government has done what the ‘white man’ could never do. The ‘white man’ tried to wipe out the Indian through small pox infected blankets, the Trail of Tears, and wholesale slaughter. The Indian survived and flourished. But now as I work on the various reservations I see a people who often times sit for the next check or hand out living in a dump. I see pride as lost. When you no longer have to be responsible for what you get or how you get it then it is easy to lose sight of its value. The tribes claim to be a sovereign nation. This is good but if they are sovereign then stop receiving state aid and be a sovereign nation. Either be a sovereign nation or be part of this nation.

I am proud to be part Indian. I am proud to have roots in Chiefs and tribal leaders. I am proud of the way they were one with nature and gave back to Mother Earth, Father Sky and Grandfather. Personally I would say stop with the hand outs and give a hand up if needed so they can be the Sovereign nation. Or, personally, better yet, all be assimilated into one nation where their rich heritage can bless all of us.

[skitealwedrop]

You asked for opinions on native americans ... here goes ...

I have lived, and consequently interacted with, natives here in Canada in Ontario, and in British Columbia. It is on these associations I base my feelings. I do not use someone else's opinions to form my own.

I found the native population in Ontario, where I grew up, to be, unfortunately, a very "taking" people ... hands out waiting for the government to give them everything and then some. My brother, an Ontario Provincial Policeman, told us stores of being called to the reserve for what they were told was a domestic disturbance involving knives and when they arrived found there was not trouble, but someone wanted a ride off the reserve and into town. Usually to the pub. Not the best snapshot of a Native attitude, right?

So, when I left Ontario and moved to BC I did not have the best opinion of Natives. Sorry to say it but that was just how it was.

Then, when I moved to BC, one of the first things I did while setting up my permanent business, was to start making money by purchasing a small laundromat in a place called Mission. It is known, which I did not know at the time, as a "native" centre ... right on the edge of a couple of reserves. And although there were some natives who called the taxi to pick up and pay for their laundry, then go and get them from the hotel bar, take them home and not have the money to pay ... it turned out not to be the general attitude. I would estimate that more than half of my clients at the laundromat were native. I met and grew to know and like entire families, single moms, young men just getting started with their lives, older men who came in and carved little totem poles while waiting for their laundry to dry and explained a lot of what the symbolism was ... it was interesting. I met young men and women who had left the reserve to go to the city monday to friday to study at one of the universities or colleges. They were making a change in themselves they hoped to bring back to the reserve and environs to help their own people. In short, over a course of about two years I met and came to know an entirely different people than I had known in Ontario. My feelings for and about, natives, changed substantially.

In fact, one of the places some of my RV monies will go is to the Indian Friendship Centre ... I wonder if it is still called the "indian" friendship centre since the use of the word "indian" seems to be prohibited ... hmmmmm.

Now that leads to one gripe I have but it isn't really about natives, more about the political correctness issue. The "white man" used the word squaw in a derogitory way. But my native friends informed me it was a good word in their lexicon. And why not. It designated an honourable woman of the tribe, one who knew how to take care of her family, and her tribe, and pass down the physical and emotional and sprititual attributes that native people lived by so honourably before "we" came along and introduced alcohol and theft and lies to the mix. But the political correctness army has made us stop using the Crayon colour "Indian Red" as if that is a bad word. It isn't. And it certainly isn't an insult to a nation of people to realize and acknowledge a colour as something they used in their own art work. *shrug* I don't understand a lot of this PC crap!

One more short note ... northern natives ... eskimo people ... I know they don't inhabit the US except for the Alaskan part. Did you know that in their language there is no word for "lie"? ... they do not, or did not know before we taught them, how to lie. Asked a question they either did not answer or told the truth. Evasion was perhaps the only way to get no truth from them. When European explorers ventured into the north for furs, and seal blubber, and whale oils (specifically ambergis [spelling?]} they were aided by these northern natives and accepted as friends initially and what did the Europeans do for them? They introduced them to sugar. Before the coming of the Europeans (white man) the eskimo did not have cavities in their teeth. They wore their teeth down to the nub by chewing frozen seal leather to soften it to work with, but no cavities. We gave them sugar, got them used to having it, and they developed cavities. With rotting teeth they could no longer chew the frozen leather boots or laces to soften them to be worked with. Nice, eh?

Anyway, you asked about opinions on natives and just caught me at a time when I was feeling like expounding on something so this long and boring missive is your fault, not mine ... hahahahahahaha

Sorry you asked? hahahahaha

smee2

Thank you for your post Smee2. It has left an imprint on my brain in a profound way. It appears that many of us have similar thoughts with regards to our Native tribes. I simply want to bring awareness to the Native American culture in this country and Canada that has been overlooked in a terrible way.

Peace all!

[Nelg]

Lot of mis-information here about the native americans. They are much better off than most of us, and own nearly every gambling casino around, that takes in mega billions yearly. Also the Native American indians did not have a Covenant Agreement on North America with the Creator, so they don't have any legitimate claim to the land. When you learn biblical history, you will know who it is that is entitled to North America, and who it is that holds the covenant with the Almighty creator.

I understand you pin name now, it is your mind-set. I don't know where you are getting your information about a "Covenant Agreement on North America with the Creator." What has that to do with "biblical history"? Who is entitled to North America? I would like to hear your explanation. From the stand point of Native Americans, NO ONE OWNS THE LAND!

My ancestry is Choctaw and Cherokee and my mother and father were proud of their heritage. My mother, who is still living at 95 years, if she read what you just said would laugh you out of the country.

[Dah-kota]

Thought this picture was appropriate...

[hmmm]

Have been sitting here at my computer deciding to saying anything at all.

Come on people!! what is this......we are discussing one race?? unreal!!

As long as i am here,grew up with Indian nations and lands all around me.......... known many.

Have yet to ever see color.Still do not!!

But for the record,my nephew works beside them,as they give millions to our state, to help

us all ,while things are so bad with the economy. They have handled there monies much better

than the politians here in Washington state.

Doubt that a lot of folks are even aware of this fact.

Am crossing my fingers that we do not single out a race in here again.......sorry,super bothers me.

Thanks myst

Its true that there are no sub-groups of the human species. We are all one race no divisions scientifically.

[Soonerbones]

It's interesting that this thread has sparked so much emotion. I'm glad that I decided to bring up the topic. Bye the way, some of my best friends are Jews, Catholics and Christians. I happen to be a little white women on the outside and a Native on the inside.

Peace all!

So you're a pretendian ? Yeah,see alot of those.

3/4 Shawnee and have seen some the most absurd and ridiculous comments ever.....naieve at best, idiotic at the most.

You know the single biggest thing holding back advancement of the tribes ? The idiotic tribal members !! Just watch the Cherokee Nation !! They can't have an election without completely screwing it up, and then a pissed off Chief sends his marshals over to perform a search warrant on his opponet.

The Cheyenne/Arapaho , seriously ? The trailer trash of all Native people....they rake in millions a day !! Where's it go ? Grunt ...Idunno...shinnegah guy. Wake up. Natives can help themselves, but first need to be kicked off the teat.

[kenbo]

Anvdadisgi

(remembering)

I am a registered member of the Cherokee Tribe of North East Alabama. My Tribe has been recognized by the State of Alabama for a very long time but the US Government does not recognize us. I believe that is due to the fact that when the US Govt rounded up the Cherokee in North Alabama to send them out West on the "Trail of Tears"My direct ancestors and many others hid out and were not captured for the Trail of Tears. Delta22, just the facts about the "Trail of Tears" alone qualify for "genocide". And DinarDana "Entire nations were wiped out and decimated, clearly this is genocide." I have several points I'd like to share. We have NO CASINO and have to scrape together any extra funds we can in order to sponsor just a few of our youth for College. Like the Houma Nation, we too have been trying to gain Federal recognition. AND...NOT for handouts! It would be nice to be a recognized Nation. One with their own rights.

1. AntiThisAntiThat you stated the following: Lot of mis-information here about the native americans. They are much better off than most of us, and own nearly every gambling casino around, that takes in mega billions yearly. Also the Native American indians did not have a Covenant Agreement on North America with the Creator, so they don't have any legitimate claim to the land.

First of all, many Native American Indians are living below poverty. Several Tribes are not Federally recognized and do not qualify for the "Casino" benefit. If you checked out some of the poorer Tribal reservations you would be shocked.

Secondly, you state that we have no covenant with the Creator. You could not be more wrong. To add to info from EagleEye "the Wappani were a Christian tribe converted during the Moravian Revival"

The Old Cherokee Tribe was much more in tune with the Creator than you could ever imagine. Here is a site that describes the similarities in the Old Cherokee Tribe and the Judeo/Christian faith that you apparently refer to. http://www.veldantia...n/syllabus.html I realize that this info is strange to many but when did "strange" become a definition of false? The reason for the similarities is very obvious. They were in tune with the Creator.

By the way, I know of many covenants in the Bible. Which one is it that specifically talks about North America? I remember one in particular called The new covenant where was said "I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people."

I contend that this was more true of the Native American as a people than the rest of the North American population.

Degadageyusesdi

(Lets all be good to one another)

　

　

[fayefaye]

I agree with the fact that the Govnt. should be doing a lot more for the Native Americans.. we all should..this is their country after all.. hence the word NATIVE...

[Dah-kota]

They sure are smart !

[chocolate1]

I'm curious to know everyone's thoughts with regard to the Native American population in my country. I have found that they are fine people that deserve respect and more support from the U.S. Government. Let's not sweep them under the carpet.

Peace all.

Ski

An absolute attrocity committed on them way back then!

The Indian Casino's around the country have generated Billions of dollars each year-from what I understand-and was supposedly meant to better the lives of hundreds of thousands of those living on and off the Reservations. But, in speaking with an actual ex-member of an Indian Reservation, he said they actually see very little to nothing of that Casino revenue! It is literally stolen from them by those that run the Casino's, et al!

The poster that said that the native americans did not have a "Covenant Agreement on North America with the Creator, so they don't have any legitimate claim to the land", is absolutely insane, 'in my opinion'!

I think you are subtly inferring that because they did not have a "legitimate claim to the land" is why they were slaughtered as they were!

In the NEW TESTAMENT, Jesus said , " Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF. ALL THE LAW AND THE PROPHETS HANG lON THESE TWO COMMANDMENTS"

Matthew 22:36-40

If we are supposed to be such a for-crying-out-loud "Christian Nation", then we would have lived by the above mentioned scipture as well as, "If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, LIVE PEACEABLY WITH ALL MEN" Romans 12:18.

That, "we are a Christian Nation" Bull Crap is a very old and worn out song that some continue to use to attempt to justify their BS agenda, attitude, wrong-doings and crimes.

We did not have a "Legitimate Claim" to Guatemala and yet that did not stop this "Christian Nation" from going over there in the 1940's and infecting their people with STD's!

Dont get me started....

Read more:

[chocolate1]

Lot of mis-information here about the native americans. They are much better off than most of us, and own nearly every gambling casino around, that takes in mega billions yearly. Also the Native American indians did not have a Covenant Agreement on North America with the Creator, so they don't have any legitimate claim to the land. When you learn biblical history, you will know who it is that is entitled to North America, and who it is that holds the covenant with the Almighty creator.

I think you are subtly inferring that because they did not have a "legitimate claim to the land" is why they were slaughtered as they were!

[Hildegard]

In all of these posts, not one has stated what we as individuals can do. I am part of an organization, Adopt-A-Native Elder, who for the last 27 years has provided food, clothing, firewood and basic medical supplies to those Navajo (Dine as they call themselves) over the age of 85. Most of these elders today, not 20-30 years ago, live without electricity, running water or heat other than firewood or propane and make less than $5,000 a year. This organanization is ran by a women who saw a need and started it out of her garage, she is called the promise keeper by the elders. She is not affliated with any religion or national organization, just a single mother who saw a need and filled it. So anytime you want to quit talking about all the problems and actually doing something, we could always use help on the two annual food runs to the reservation and you will definitely get to know what is really happening on the "Res" and maybe even meet some of the women who were steralized or whose sheep where slaughtered to get them move off of their land because the government wanted it for Oil.

If you want to learn more, you can get the documentary "Broken Rainbow" on Netflix and remember this is still going on today, it is not just history.

This will be the first place I donate to with the RV, so hurry it up there are still several elders who need wood for the winter.

[Redhorse]

Wow... so many comments, and I wade into this with apprehension. Some of you may not agree with me, some of you may.

First off let me say that I think the Native American population are an amazing people, and given the chance will indeed "shine" to their full potential as a people as intended by the Creator. Let me explain where I am coming from... though I can not improve on comments like EagleEye's, Lugi's, or Norcal Gal (well said my friends!).

I am not a fan of the history taught of "Manifest Destiny"... to be summed up... if I can take it, it is God's will. I am not going to try to defend or condemn our forefathers on that one. First of all, there were some really bad apples in that bunch... but there were some really good people to (read your history... the real history).

Were all white men bad? NO! Someone mentioned the Moravian Brethren. Many of you know that the Moravian's worked with the natives and many natives thrived even among the new settler population. But did you also know that when some "bad apples" sent them packing to less desirable land over harsh terrain and cold climates that several Moravian's joined them in their march? It is even implied in historical documents that some Moravian's may have died on the journey as well. To me, that changes the equation. It isn't "those evil white men did this to the natives"... but rather... "those evil men did this". There are good and bad among all races... to take a broad swipe and condemn all for the actions of a few is wrong too.

Now here I come to my point------> The only way to be truly free, to not be a slave, one must forgive. Holding unforgiveness in ones heart enslaves the offended to forever be bitter and be held captive. I know this from personal experience. As my daughter once told me, it's like taking poison yourself but hoping your enemy dies! At some point we have to let the offence go... and move on with our lives. Yes, it was bad what was done to the native population... so sorry, but welcome to planet earth. The choice every "wronged culture" has is how you will handle it? That holds true for the Native culture, the Black culture, the Chinese, and the White's or whatever culture's that were abused and mistreated in the founding of this country.

No, America doesn't have a spotless past, as most of you can attest. But what we do from now on determines where we go from here. Do we want to continue to make excuses for ourselves or choose our own destiny and move on from here? The choice is ours to make. I think the native culture has as bright of a future as it decides to make for itself, as several on this thread have already mentioned. Pick up from where you are right now, don't keep making excuses. Yes... you have plenty of right to be angry, but what is that going to get you? The bigger man/woman can forgive and move on... the question is just how big am I, and how big are you? Will we choose the high road, or the low road? I hope for the best for all of ya'll!

A very wise and excellent reply. Bitterness and hate have no place in Spiritual Healing.

[skitealwedrop]

Thank you for all of the positive posts. My intent is to bring awareness to the Native American Tribes in our country and help them overcome the Political obstacles that keep us from progressing as we should.

Native in spirit.

Ski