I won't burden you with the character of Tecumseh. He was an amazing orator who always spoken in his native Shawnee language although he could read and write English. By 1808 Tecumseh was already arguably the most powerful Indian in the country. He was a close friend and ally of Black Hawk. He estimated he could call almost 10,000 warriors to battle, but hoped for 5 times that. The Americans were afraid. His arch-enemy, William Henry Harrison feared his alliance with the British, who were no longer at war with them. But frustrations were high. In June Tecumseh sent a small group of Indians to Vincennes with a "speech" for Harrison. Speaking of Tecumseh a man says
"I have listened to that man for three years and I have never heard him give any but good advice. He tells us that we must pray to the Great Spirit, who made the world and everything in it for our use, ... he tells us that we must not lie, steal nor drink whiskey; not to make war but live in peace with all mankind. He also tells us to work and make corn."
Tecumseh then traveled to many villages recruiting more tribes to his cause. Their cause. At the same time Harrison moved to convince weak chiefs and sub-chiefs to sign another treaty transferring 3 million acres of common land to the U.S. government for $10,550. Many did not even know what they were signing.
By spring 1810 he had recruited close to 2,000 warriors to come live within the Prophet's Town. While the Indians stockpiled ammo and weapons Harrison sent spies and discovered another 4-5,000 troops lived within a few miles of the Prophet's Town. But there was no evidence of war preparations.
August 12, 1810, Tecumseh traveled again to see Harrison with 400 of his warriors armed with tomahawks and war clubs. With his finest 30 warriors, war painted and armed, they advanced on Harrison and his guard soldiers for a council meeting. Declaring that village chiefs have no right to give away land, he proclaimed these affairs will be dealt with by warriors in the future. Civil chiefs will have no authority. He and his followers would kill any who signed the Fort Wayne agreement unless Harrison backed down. He said "If you offer us presents... we will not accept them... How can we trust the white people? When Jesus Christ came on earth, you killed him and nailed him to a cross. you thought he was dead but you were mistaken. Now you have Shakers among you and you laugh and make light of their worship."
"Harrison ridiculed the idea of common land ownership and denied that the Indians were one nation" [Van Hoose]. After a commotion started by Tecumseh standing and yelling in Shawnee his troops all stood and drew weapons. They meant no attack, but perhaps reacted because Tecumseh laid his hand on his tomahawk. The council resumed the next day. And Tecumseh was much more calm and reserved. He claimed He was not an enemy of the 17 Fires, but the land-grabbing must stop. Also that he wished to see no more dead young men, red or white.
By spring of 1811 the Indian confederation had a force larger than the one Harrison could summon. In a letter to the war department Harrison admits "I wish I could say that the Indians were treated with justice and propriety by all our citizens, but it is far otherwise. They are often abused and maltreated; and it is very rare that they obtain any satisfaction for the most unprovoked wrongs." He was calling for more troops.
In a second council Tecumseh "said his union of tribes was much like the confederation of 17 Fires formed by the white Americans. The Indians had not complained about that plan; now why should the whites be alarmed if he did the same thing? It was the only way to safeguard the common interests of the Indians. Many people believed in him and trusted him to form a powerful union. He said he was determined to continue building his alliance and that the red people would recover the land unjustly taken from them by worthless treaties signed by Indians who did not represent their people. This blunt talk infuriated Harrison." [Van Hoose]
Harrison eager to break up the Prophet's Town marched northwest to the Indian confederation while Tecumseh was south recruiting more to his cause. Spies watched the white's movements. A captured black wagon driver was captured and forced to talk. He told them Harrison had no cannons and planned to attack the next day. Despite Tecumseh's order's, the Prophet engaged Harrison's forces attacking that night. They crawled out of the city and struck them unexpectedly. However the Prophet had deceived Tecumseh's men. He told them his magic would protect them. No American bullet would harm the 700 Indians of the five tribes. By daybreak November 7 the Indians were surrounded on their flanks. Retreating, approximately 200 Indians were killed and wounded opposed to 62 dead Americans and 100 wounded.
Tecumseh returned to find much of what he worked for in shambles. Prophets town was smoldering ruins. His confederacy was seriously weakened. The southern tribes surely would not follow him now. Andrew Jackson praised Harrison for defeating "those unrelenting barbarians".
Then came 1812
Tecumseh and his men sided with the British. A supply convoy was ambushed by 70 Indians and 30 British. Crushing them, they obtained supplies and more importantly dispatches from Washington. With his 700 warriors in a nearby fort, Tecumseh discussed plans with British General Brock. The British/Canadian forces totaled about 600 men where the Americans had about 2,000. The British/Indian forces crossed the Detroit river to attack without delay. Their attack on an American fort was easily defeated. Tecumseh admired General Brock. But he was transferred to Niagara, leaving Col. Henry Proctor, a fat cowardly excuse for a commander.
While Proctor sat in the captured fort, Tecumseh took offensive and attacked several white villages for several weeks. He kept Fort Madison pinned down while a band of Shawnee and Wyandots attacked Fort Harrison. They set fire to several barrels of whiskey near the walls and exploding, they created a huge blaze. Tecumseh might have taken Fort Harrison if Proctor hadn't recalled the 200 reinforcements he promised.
"The president's orders reached Harrison on September 13 1812. He was authorized to gather a force of 10,000 men, retake Detroit and march to Canada... Tecumseh's forces now numbered 3,000 and more warriors were coming to Fort Malden. Men of the Miami tribe joined Tecumseh almost en masse. The Winnebagoes came also as did the Delaware, Shawnee, Wyandot and Kickapoo. From Far away came bands of Cherokee, Creek and Sioux. The confederation, so badly damaged at Tippecanoe, was not dead: it was re-forming across Lake Erie. Tecumseh was stronger than ever" [Van Hoose].
In May of 1813 Tecumseh and Proctor laid siege to another fort containing Harrison and 550 of his men. Tecumseh had 1,200. Harrison was waiting for reinforcements from Kentucky. When they arrived, they pursued the British into the forest. The Indians were waiting for them and decimated them killing 80 wounding 300. the other approximate 120 were taken prisoner. They were marched to Proctor's camp.
"There, according to several reports, Proctor allowed the Indians to shoot and scalp several prisoners until one of Tecumseh's aids found him and told him what was going on. Then, a white soldier reported, Tecumseh came riding madly into camp, leaped off his horse, rushed among the Indians who were torturing the Americans, caught one by the throat, called him a dog and threw him on the ground. He then ran between the warriors and the prisoners, and brandishing a tomahawk, threatened to kill any man who touched another prisoner. Then, his anger subsiding, he asked, 'Are there no men here?' He noticed that several of the Americans were wounded and demanded to know where the British doctors were. About that time, Proctor showed up and complained to Tecumseh that 'Your Indians cannot be controlled.' It is said that Tecumseh replied scornfully, 'Begone, you are unfit to command; go and put on petticoats.'" [Van Hoose]
One night shortly after "But before the council could get started, small white girl approached the group, telling them that her mother had sent her to ask their chief to come and chase the bad Indians away. Tecumseh immediately left with the child, walking rapidly in the direction of her house. As he approached the cabin, he met four Indians carrying a trunk. He knocked the first one down and the others dropped the trunk and drew their tomahawks to resist. 'Dogs!' shouted the Chief, 'I am Tecumseh!' The startled thieves ran in three directions. He then turned to a group of British soldiers loitering nearby and berated them, 'You are worse than running dogs to stand there and watch helpless people being robbed.' He ordered them to guard the house, promising unpleasant consequences if the family were molested again." [Van Hoose]
More than once Tecumseh considered abandoning the British, but his men agreed that if they were to succeed, they must use the assistance of the British.
The first weeks of September 1813 were spent on Bois Blanc Isle on the Detroit River. "On the peaceful tree-lined islands, the Indians hunted small game, fished in the river, wrestled and ran races. They played several games, including stickball, which was Tecumseh's favorite sport" [Van Hoose]. Soon, the British planned to abandon them. Proctor claimed they were merely moving, but they indeed planned to leave the Indians. Tecumseh gave another speech. "Father, listen! The Americans have not yet defeated us by land; neither are we sure they have done so by water. We therefore wish to remain here and fight our enemy, should they make their appearance... You have arms and ammunition. If you go away, give them to us... We will stay and fight. Our lives are in the hands of the Master of Life. We are determined to defend our lands, and if it be his will, we will leave our bones upon them." "Proctor replied he intended to fight the Americans, but preferred to do it on a battleground of his own choice. He said that he too was ready to leave his bones on British ground. Tecumseh responded to this statement through the interpreter. 'He has too much regard for his carcass to leave his bones anywhere.'" [Van Hoose]
October 4, 1813 the British and Indians were retreating against Tecumseh's wishes. It was embarrassing. If Proctor wasn't going to take command, Tecumseh would. Harrison was crossing the rivers behind them. Proctor hadn't taken the wisdom to burn the bridges. Tecumseh "spent the night around a small fire, talking and smoking long into the night. He spoke little of conflict and war but mainly about the conditions of his people. Then, changing the topic abruptly, he announced: 'Brothers, we are now about to enter an engagement from which I shall not return -- my body will remain on the field of battle.' He then spoke briefly of his son, then 17 years old and living with his mother in Missouri. No one knew whether Tecumseh had seen him since infancy because he rarely mentioned him. He unbuckled a short sword, a gift from a British officer and handed it to Wasegoborah, remarked: 'When my son becomes a noted warrior, give him this sword.' Then, following his custom, he went off alone for a few hours of sleep." [Van Hoose]
Proctor agreed to remain and fight with his 600 men. But they were too few to hold the area. Tecumseh and his men held the swamp to the right of the British facing west to meet Harrison. Tecumseh was 45. Tecumseh rode a white pony encouraging the men on the line. He told Proctor to "tell your young men to stand easy and be brave." The Americans divided to fight both British and Indians. The real fight was in the swamp the Indians held.
"As smoke rose from the musket fire, the sounds of whooping Indians, the screams of the wounded and neighing of frightened horses battered the ear drums. Above the sounds in the swamp, one voice could be heard distinctly: one man was shouting orders, sometimes in Shawnee, then in Chippewa or Wyandot: he was offering encouragement to his men and screaming defiance to the enemy. The Kentuckians knew who was directing the action. Tecumseh was a legend among them; they admired him, feared him, though none had seen him. Tecumseh moved up and down the front line in the woods, directing the fire. He was wounded several times, his clothes smeared with blood and blood poured from his mouth. But his determination did not desert him. He kept loading and firing, all the while shouting to his warriors to stand firm. Billy Caldwell saw him fall and asked, 'Are you wounded?' Tecumseh replied, 'I am shot.' Caldwell reported that he had a hole in his chest and that he did not rise again. Suddenly, there was a change in the sounds of battle. Fighters on both sides realized they could no longer hear the voice of Tecumseh. The Shawnee chief was dead... No stranger saw him in death and no white man knows the location of his grave. His dreams of an Indian Empire where red men live free are buried with him." [Van Hoose]
Van Hoose, William H. Tecumseh an Indian Moses. Canton, OH: Daring Books, 1984.
Saturday, May 2, 2009
From the American Chronicle
from http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/view/2455
"After incessant Presidential calls for freedom for oppressed people the world over, from Lebanon to North Korea to Palestine, America carries a consistent record of oppression that doesn’t see the light of day. From Hawaii to Panama to black America to Japan and onwards the heavy-handedness of command and control weighs heavily on our history books. Thanks to heaven, most of that is in the past or waning quickly.
But the Native American story keeps chugging quietly along as a reminder of how cruel America once was. In recent years, we (that’s right- we) decided to give Native Americans the right to establish limited gambling ventures as a boon to their mostly nonexistent economies. As a result, dozens of tribes are practicing business with success. Many of them have successfully worked American laws and our courts to allow expanded gaming beyond bingo and other “light” gambling. Consequently, Indian gaming is booming.
Other than establishing gambling on American soil, how is it that our laws are allowed dictate their laws. As free people, their gambling is irrelevant to us, right. How is it that we decide their laws? Oppressive command and control is how.
Here is another worse example. After more than 90% of Natives died by a combination of war, disease, and yes, genocide by our hand, we removed them to isolated islands of property we now call reservations. In 1887, the US congress passed a law called the Indian Allotment Act. That act ensured that American interests could develop natural resources on Native lands. In fact, the Federal Government took title and responsibility of their remaining lands.
The first issue is that the US has no right to control Natives, but they (we) do it anyways. Secondly, what will the US do with their profit from mining, harvesting, etc? Congress decided the money did belong to the Natives, except they couldn’t keep it. It was to be held in trust by the federal government. Kind of like a trust that parents establish for their kids. The money, while it is owned by their children, is held under certain criteria as outlined by the parents.
I don’t know the detail of the criteria the US has held Native money, but its unnecessary to tell the basic story. The money has been spent and lost. That is right. At least several billion dollars (maybe hundreds) has gone missing. Where did it go, you ask. Washington doesn’t know that either because they also lost the accounting of the money. Like the bank telling you they no longer have your money because they lost the deposit and withdrawal records for your account, the Natives are left not even knowing how much to ask for.
Why do we have their money in the first place? The answer is too ugly for me to talk about because I am certain that my country, after taking away everything natives had including most of their lives, continues to take their money and freedom, in 2005.
Why? I actually know the answer. That is why I am so depressed.
Let me put it another way. We are toxic! To them we weren’t settlers; we were invaders. To them we weren’t liberty-seekers; we were and are liberty-killers. To them we weren’t pioneers in a new land; we were brutal destroyers of their children. To them we weren’t striving to achieve honorable equality, we were striving to get rich at any cost, especially at the expense of other races. To the Indians, we brought death and destruction rather than freedom and equality. Still today, to them we aren’t working for the cause of freedom, we are working to ignore their cause of freedom.
A final thought: their means of survival destroyed, what is it they want? How does America make right the restrictions they put on Natives. We can’t give all their land back but it is their right. We can’t give them all their way of life back but it is their right. Do they even want their way of life back?
It starts with freedom. They deserve their freedom from the chains of foreign command and control. As we all know, no one likes to live under the tyranny of a foreign power."
The views here comparing our oppression of other countries to the oppression of Natives is obviously blatant truth. The fact is reservations were concentration camps. Now they are places for decay. I have never heard this issue about money, but The United States forced a bill (or treaty I don't remember) either in very early 1800s or just before forcing Natives to refer to the White people as their "fathers" and it also exclaimed that the states were the 15 (at the time) fires. This kind of rhetoric puts assimilation into perspective. Shows (what are now) minorities are thought of as less than their "settlers". I wont even get into the effects promoting a gambling economy has on the people.
"After incessant Presidential calls for freedom for oppressed people the world over, from Lebanon to North Korea to Palestine, America carries a consistent record of oppression that doesn’t see the light of day. From Hawaii to Panama to black America to Japan and onwards the heavy-handedness of command and control weighs heavily on our history books. Thanks to heaven, most of that is in the past or waning quickly.
But the Native American story keeps chugging quietly along as a reminder of how cruel America once was. In recent years, we (that’s right- we) decided to give Native Americans the right to establish limited gambling ventures as a boon to their mostly nonexistent economies. As a result, dozens of tribes are practicing business with success. Many of them have successfully worked American laws and our courts to allow expanded gaming beyond bingo and other “light” gambling. Consequently, Indian gaming is booming.
Other than establishing gambling on American soil, how is it that our laws are allowed dictate their laws. As free people, their gambling is irrelevant to us, right. How is it that we decide their laws? Oppressive command and control is how.
Here is another worse example. After more than 90% of Natives died by a combination of war, disease, and yes, genocide by our hand, we removed them to isolated islands of property we now call reservations. In 1887, the US congress passed a law called the Indian Allotment Act. That act ensured that American interests could develop natural resources on Native lands. In fact, the Federal Government took title and responsibility of their remaining lands.
The first issue is that the US has no right to control Natives, but they (we) do it anyways. Secondly, what will the US do with their profit from mining, harvesting, etc? Congress decided the money did belong to the Natives, except they couldn’t keep it. It was to be held in trust by the federal government. Kind of like a trust that parents establish for their kids. The money, while it is owned by their children, is held under certain criteria as outlined by the parents.
I don’t know the detail of the criteria the US has held Native money, but its unnecessary to tell the basic story. The money has been spent and lost. That is right. At least several billion dollars (maybe hundreds) has gone missing. Where did it go, you ask. Washington doesn’t know that either because they also lost the accounting of the money. Like the bank telling you they no longer have your money because they lost the deposit and withdrawal records for your account, the Natives are left not even knowing how much to ask for.
Why do we have their money in the first place? The answer is too ugly for me to talk about because I am certain that my country, after taking away everything natives had including most of their lives, continues to take their money and freedom, in 2005.
Why? I actually know the answer. That is why I am so depressed.
Let me put it another way. We are toxic! To them we weren’t settlers; we were invaders. To them we weren’t liberty-seekers; we were and are liberty-killers. To them we weren’t pioneers in a new land; we were brutal destroyers of their children. To them we weren’t striving to achieve honorable equality, we were striving to get rich at any cost, especially at the expense of other races. To the Indians, we brought death and destruction rather than freedom and equality. Still today, to them we aren’t working for the cause of freedom, we are working to ignore their cause of freedom.
A final thought: their means of survival destroyed, what is it they want? How does America make right the restrictions they put on Natives. We can’t give all their land back but it is their right. We can’t give them all their way of life back but it is their right. Do they even want their way of life back?
It starts with freedom. They deserve their freedom from the chains of foreign command and control. As we all know, no one likes to live under the tyranny of a foreign power."
The views here comparing our oppression of other countries to the oppression of Natives is obviously blatant truth. The fact is reservations were concentration camps. Now they are places for decay. I have never heard this issue about money, but The United States forced a bill (or treaty I don't remember) either in very early 1800s or just before forcing Natives to refer to the White people as their "fathers" and it also exclaimed that the states were the 15 (at the time) fires. This kind of rhetoric puts assimilation into perspective. Shows (what are now) minorities are thought of as less than their "settlers". I wont even get into the effects promoting a gambling economy has on the people.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mp4vLBvU1bA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzwiEhUoQUU&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlWSv0NZBRw&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ypi_J4E7IFM&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=paWiZ2Y8fRg&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=paWiZ2Y8fRg&feature=related
(keep in mind the Pentagon is less than 80 feet tall and a Boeing 747 is almost 70 feet tall)
Anyway... my conspiracy theory rant is done. Our blood-stained history of injustice and oppression simply calls this kind of crap into existence.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzwiEhUoQUU&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlWSv0NZBRw&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ypi_J4E7IFM&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=paWiZ2Y8fRg&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=paWiZ2Y8fRg&feature=related
(keep in mind the Pentagon is less than 80 feet tall and a Boeing 747 is almost 70 feet tall)
Anyway... my conspiracy theory rant is done. Our blood-stained history of injustice and oppression simply calls this kind of crap into existence.
On Freedom
Freedom: The power to determine action without restraint.
Honest Freedom: The power to determine action without restraint and without causing restraint upon others.
Oppression: The state of being kept down by unjust use of force or authority.
Our media exaggerates the truth to keep us under control. Pay attention to the articles Yahoo.com posts to its standard and world news sections. They are racist, biased and slanted to promote fear and anxiety among the American colonial world.
Prior to modern technology war was obviously conducted in a most different manner. Take for example the war of 1812. Battles took many weeks to prepare. Marching 80 miles could take 2-3 weeks. The battles themselves could be between 500 men on either side and often the day was called before there were 150 deaths on both sides combined. However modern technology shows us a heavy weapons barrage in Sri Lanka can kill 60 hospital residents in a makeshift hospital in a matter of minutes. Or that a less than 5 (modern) American Nukes could obliterate Japan. The U.S. maintains a stockpile of approx. 5,500 warheads to this day.
Why do you think American news displayed the 9/11 attack for months on T.V after it happened? Because the fear kept the news on almost all television sets across the nation for that period of time.
from the Biography of William Henry Harrison according to whitehouse.gov
"His prime task as governor was to obtain title to Indian lands so settlers could press forward into the wilderness. When the Indians retaliated, Harrison was responsible for defending the settlements.
The threat against settlers became serious in 1809. An eloquent and energetic chieftain, Tecumseh, with his religious brother, the Prophet, began to strengthen an Indian confederation to prevent further encroachment. In 1811 Harrison received permission to attack the confederacy.
While Tecumseh was away seeking more allies, Harrison led about a thousand men toward the Prophet's town. Suddenly, before dawn on November 7, the Indians attacked his camp on Tippecanoe River. After heavy fighting, Harrison repulsed them, but suffered 190 dead and wounded.
The Battle of Tippecanoe, upon which Harrison's fame was to rest, disrupted Tecumseh's confederacy but failed to diminish Indian raids. By the spring of 1812, they were again terrorizing the frontier.
In the War of 1812 Harrison won more military laurels when he was given the command of the Army in the Northwest with the rank of brigadier general. At the Battle of the Thames, north of Lake Erie, on October 5, 1813, he defeated the combined British and Indian forces, and killed Tecumseh. The Indians scattered, never again to offer serious resistance in what was then called the Northwest."
What our government has so conveniently failed to mention was that Harrison was going to preemptive strike the Indians on November 7. Also that many of the treaties which gave the land Tecumseh fought for were unfairly signed by chiefs and sub-chiefs who were intoxicated on Harrison's whiskey and not agreed upon by all the tribes residing in the areas.
I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which is stands: one nation under God, indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all.
from Wikipedia--
"The Pledge of Allegiance was written in 1892 by Francis Bellamy (1855-1931), a Baptist minister, a Christian socialist, and the cousin of socialist utopian novelist Edward Bellamy (1850-1898). Bellamy's original "Pledge of Allegiance" was published in the September 8th issue of the popular children's magazine The Youth's Companion as part of the National Public-School Celebration of Columbus Day, a celebration of the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus's discovery of America, conceived by James B. Upham.
The pledge was supposed to be quick and to the point. Bellamy designed it to be stated in 15 seconds. He had initially also considered using the words equality and fraternity[citation needed] but decided they were too controversial since many people opposed equal rights for women and blacks."
Honest Freedom: The power to determine action without restraint and without causing restraint upon others.
Oppression: The state of being kept down by unjust use of force or authority.
Our media exaggerates the truth to keep us under control. Pay attention to the articles Yahoo.com posts to its standard and world news sections. They are racist, biased and slanted to promote fear and anxiety among the American colonial world.
Prior to modern technology war was obviously conducted in a most different manner. Take for example the war of 1812. Battles took many weeks to prepare. Marching 80 miles could take 2-3 weeks. The battles themselves could be between 500 men on either side and often the day was called before there were 150 deaths on both sides combined. However modern technology shows us a heavy weapons barrage in Sri Lanka can kill 60 hospital residents in a makeshift hospital in a matter of minutes. Or that a less than 5 (modern) American Nukes could obliterate Japan. The U.S. maintains a stockpile of approx. 5,500 warheads to this day.
Why do you think American news displayed the 9/11 attack for months on T.V after it happened? Because the fear kept the news on almost all television sets across the nation for that period of time.
from the Biography of William Henry Harrison according to whitehouse.gov
"His prime task as governor was to obtain title to Indian lands so settlers could press forward into the wilderness. When the Indians retaliated, Harrison was responsible for defending the settlements.
The threat against settlers became serious in 1809. An eloquent and energetic chieftain, Tecumseh, with his religious brother, the Prophet, began to strengthen an Indian confederation to prevent further encroachment. In 1811 Harrison received permission to attack the confederacy.
While Tecumseh was away seeking more allies, Harrison led about a thousand men toward the Prophet's town. Suddenly, before dawn on November 7, the Indians attacked his camp on Tippecanoe River. After heavy fighting, Harrison repulsed them, but suffered 190 dead and wounded.
The Battle of Tippecanoe, upon which Harrison's fame was to rest, disrupted Tecumseh's confederacy but failed to diminish Indian raids. By the spring of 1812, they were again terrorizing the frontier.
In the War of 1812 Harrison won more military laurels when he was given the command of the Army in the Northwest with the rank of brigadier general. At the Battle of the Thames, north of Lake Erie, on October 5, 1813, he defeated the combined British and Indian forces, and killed Tecumseh. The Indians scattered, never again to offer serious resistance in what was then called the Northwest."
What our government has so conveniently failed to mention was that Harrison was going to preemptive strike the Indians on November 7. Also that many of the treaties which gave the land Tecumseh fought for were unfairly signed by chiefs and sub-chiefs who were intoxicated on Harrison's whiskey and not agreed upon by all the tribes residing in the areas.
I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which is stands: one nation under God, indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all.
from Wikipedia--
"The Pledge of Allegiance was written in 1892 by Francis Bellamy (1855-1931), a Baptist minister, a Christian socialist, and the cousin of socialist utopian novelist Edward Bellamy (1850-1898). Bellamy's original "Pledge of Allegiance" was published in the September 8th issue of the popular children's magazine The Youth's Companion as part of the National Public-School Celebration of Columbus Day, a celebration of the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus's discovery of America, conceived by James B. Upham.
The pledge was supposed to be quick and to the point. Bellamy designed it to be stated in 15 seconds. He had initially also considered using the words equality and fraternity[citation needed] but decided they were too controversial since many people opposed equal rights for women and blacks."
Interesting quotes from Tecumseh (an Indian Moses)
• Cheesekau dedicated himself to training his brother in all phases of Indian life. He passed on to Tecumseh all he knew. The young warrior taught him keenness of observation, how to bear pain and how to face danger without fear. He also taught Tecumseh the mastery of self and his passions, which he could not let control him.
• His graceful sister, Tecumapese, also taught him important things. She taught him to be compassionate, particularly to those less fortunate than himself. She also taught him to be honest in all things, and to speak the truth in all matters. Tecumapese taught him that cruelty to man or animals degraded a person and that stealing or cheating brought dishonor to the soul. One of the most important lessons she taught her younger brother was respect for his elders and for authority.
• Crawford was stripped naked and tied to a large post projecting several feet from the ground. Then, the helpless man was whipped unmercifully with switches and sticks wielded by a crowd of angry women. At sunrise on June 13, a circle of firewood three feet high was piled around Crawford for about eight feet around. A large crowd of Indians assembled and Chief Pipe moved into the center. He raised his arms for silence and began to speak. He talked for several minutes, describing the Moravian massacre and the crimes of the Pennsylvanians. His voice was often choked with anger and emotion. When he had finished speaking, he walked over to Crawford and gleefully sliced off his ears. As blood streamed down each side of his head, women came with torches and lighted the fire in several places. Within a few minutes, the skin on Crawford’s back, legs and buttocks had blistered and turned into charred crisps. When the fire died down, Crawford was still alive and knelt by the stake. Hot coals were thrown on his back and head. Several hours passed. More wood was piled around Crawford and another fire was lit. Finally, Crawford, skin dropping from his body, curled around the stake, groaned pitifully, and laid quiet. (Tecumseh was 14 when this happened)
• On returning to the camp, he discovered that some of his men had killed McIntire. He reproached the killers bitterly, called them cowards and remarked that he would take them home “where the squaws can protect you against your enemies. But you will never ride with me again because I cannot look upon your faces.” He then promised to kill the next man who harmed a prisoner
• Wawilloway was well acquainted with Wolf; he shook hands with him and asked about his family. Wolf asked him if the Indians were ready to start a war. “No, no!” said Wawilloway. “White men and Indians are now one – all brothers.” Wolf told him about the murder of Herrod, and Wawilloway was much surprised at this news. “Maybe whiskey, too much to drink,” suggested Wawilloway. “Or maybe a white man killed Herrod.” Wawilloway turned to go and Wolf shot him in the back.
• “When they withdraw themselves to the culture of a small piece of land, they will perceive how useless to them are the extensive forests and they will be willing to parcel them off in exchange for necessaries for their farms and families… To promote this, we will push our trading houses and be glad to see good and influential individuals among them in debt, because we observe when those debts go beyond what the individual can pay, they become willing to lop them off with the cession of lands.” –Thomas Jefferson
• More whiskey casks were rolled out and a drunken frolic followed… while Harrison rode back to Vincennes with his paper that transferred 3 million acres on the Wabash and White Rivers to the U.S. Government. He later wrote Eustis that “the compensation given for the land is as low as could be made.” He stated that he was anxious to set up a sales office and begin settling families on the new tract. The land which Harrison purchased for a total of $10,550 would sell for the regular price of $2 an acre, a profit for the government of almost $6million.
• By the spring of 1810, Tecumseh had close to 2,000 warriors in the Prophet’s Town. They began to stock-pile weapons and ammunition, and their athletic games took on the appearance of military drill. Another 4 to 5,000 lived within a few miles of the Prophet’s Town.
• “But your father wishes you to sit by his side,” counters the interpreter. “My father! The Great Spirit is my father! The earth is my mother and on her bosom I will repose.”
• “how can we trust the white people? When Jesus Christ came on earth, you killed him and nailed him to a cross. You thought he was dead but you were mistaken.”
• It would be with great reluctance that he would make war on the United States, he said, because he did not wish to see more burned villages and dead young men, red or white. He said he was not an enemy of the 17 Fires, but the land grabbing must stop.
• His graceful sister, Tecumapese, also taught him important things. She taught him to be compassionate, particularly to those less fortunate than himself. She also taught him to be honest in all things, and to speak the truth in all matters. Tecumapese taught him that cruelty to man or animals degraded a person and that stealing or cheating brought dishonor to the soul. One of the most important lessons she taught her younger brother was respect for his elders and for authority.
• Crawford was stripped naked and tied to a large post projecting several feet from the ground. Then, the helpless man was whipped unmercifully with switches and sticks wielded by a crowd of angry women. At sunrise on June 13, a circle of firewood three feet high was piled around Crawford for about eight feet around. A large crowd of Indians assembled and Chief Pipe moved into the center. He raised his arms for silence and began to speak. He talked for several minutes, describing the Moravian massacre and the crimes of the Pennsylvanians. His voice was often choked with anger and emotion. When he had finished speaking, he walked over to Crawford and gleefully sliced off his ears. As blood streamed down each side of his head, women came with torches and lighted the fire in several places. Within a few minutes, the skin on Crawford’s back, legs and buttocks had blistered and turned into charred crisps. When the fire died down, Crawford was still alive and knelt by the stake. Hot coals were thrown on his back and head. Several hours passed. More wood was piled around Crawford and another fire was lit. Finally, Crawford, skin dropping from his body, curled around the stake, groaned pitifully, and laid quiet. (Tecumseh was 14 when this happened)
• On returning to the camp, he discovered that some of his men had killed McIntire. He reproached the killers bitterly, called them cowards and remarked that he would take them home “where the squaws can protect you against your enemies. But you will never ride with me again because I cannot look upon your faces.” He then promised to kill the next man who harmed a prisoner
• Wawilloway was well acquainted with Wolf; he shook hands with him and asked about his family. Wolf asked him if the Indians were ready to start a war. “No, no!” said Wawilloway. “White men and Indians are now one – all brothers.” Wolf told him about the murder of Herrod, and Wawilloway was much surprised at this news. “Maybe whiskey, too much to drink,” suggested Wawilloway. “Or maybe a white man killed Herrod.” Wawilloway turned to go and Wolf shot him in the back.
• “When they withdraw themselves to the culture of a small piece of land, they will perceive how useless to them are the extensive forests and they will be willing to parcel them off in exchange for necessaries for their farms and families… To promote this, we will push our trading houses and be glad to see good and influential individuals among them in debt, because we observe when those debts go beyond what the individual can pay, they become willing to lop them off with the cession of lands.” –Thomas Jefferson
• More whiskey casks were rolled out and a drunken frolic followed… while Harrison rode back to Vincennes with his paper that transferred 3 million acres on the Wabash and White Rivers to the U.S. Government. He later wrote Eustis that “the compensation given for the land is as low as could be made.” He stated that he was anxious to set up a sales office and begin settling families on the new tract. The land which Harrison purchased for a total of $10,550 would sell for the regular price of $2 an acre, a profit for the government of almost $6million.
• By the spring of 1810, Tecumseh had close to 2,000 warriors in the Prophet’s Town. They began to stock-pile weapons and ammunition, and their athletic games took on the appearance of military drill. Another 4 to 5,000 lived within a few miles of the Prophet’s Town.
• “But your father wishes you to sit by his side,” counters the interpreter. “My father! The Great Spirit is my father! The earth is my mother and on her bosom I will repose.”
• “how can we trust the white people? When Jesus Christ came on earth, you killed him and nailed him to a cross. You thought he was dead but you were mistaken.”
• It would be with great reluctance that he would make war on the United States, he said, because he did not wish to see more burned villages and dead young men, red or white. He said he was not an enemy of the 17 Fires, but the land grabbing must stop.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Tecumseh's Vision
They have driven us from the sea to the lakes, and we can go no farther.
They have taken upon themselves to say this tract of land belongs to the Miamis, this to the Delawares and so
on. Our father tells us that we have no business on the Wabash -- that the land belongs to other tribes. But the
Great Spirit intended it to be the common property of all the tribes, nor can it be sold without the consent of
all.
The United States has not treated the Indians dishonestly nor
unjustly. Indians are not one nation, nor do they own the land in common. Has not the Great Spirit given them
separate tongues?
As the Great Chief in Washington is to determine the matter, I hope the
Great Spirit will put some sense into his head to induce him to direct you to give up this land. It is true, he is so far off. He will not be injured by the war. He may still sit in his town, and drink his wine, whilst you and I
will have to fight it out.
Listen! Father! We are much astonished to see you tying up everything and
preparing to run the other way. You always told us to remain here and take care of our lands. It made our
hearts glad to hear that was your wish. But now we see you drawing back like a fat animal, running off with
its tail between its legs.
Listen! Father! The Americans have not yet defeated us by land. We, therefore, wish to remain and face our
enemy should they make their appearance. If you have an idea of going away, leave us the guns and
ammunition and you may go and welcome for it. Our lives are in the hands of the Great Spirit. We are
determined to defend our lands, and if it is his will, we shall leave our bones upon them.
Hope -- hope and freedom. That's what I thought
he stood for. And his vision that he had, the way he looked into the future and tried to stop progress for the
red people.
These are all random quotes taken directly from the transcript of the show. Ones that I thought really stood out. For me, the entire story of Tecumseh is very inspiring. More so is the story of his brother... who had vision and gave up drinking. He became known as the prophet and even made the sun stand still in the sky to prove he was sent from god.
Revolution is a difficult thing. Tricky at that. It is the cause of death and war. But it potentially can bring peace over a tyrannous government. When the Great Chief of the Americans issued orders to push them further to the edge, these people who wanted to leave peacefully were forced into war. I believe they took the right action, however violent it was. Unfortunately the Americans were dishonorable fighters and struck early. And that the English, those of common decent as myself, fled on the eve of battle... afraid of death in a cause they believed was not their own... simply because they were white and also taking the land. Its unfortunately that the great heroes are remembered tragically. But such is the way of history.
They have taken upon themselves to say this tract of land belongs to the Miamis, this to the Delawares and so
on. Our father tells us that we have no business on the Wabash -- that the land belongs to other tribes. But the
Great Spirit intended it to be the common property of all the tribes, nor can it be sold without the consent of
all.
The United States has not treated the Indians dishonestly nor
unjustly. Indians are not one nation, nor do they own the land in common. Has not the Great Spirit given them
separate tongues?
As the Great Chief in Washington is to determine the matter, I hope the
Great Spirit will put some sense into his head to induce him to direct you to give up this land. It is true, he is so far off. He will not be injured by the war. He may still sit in his town, and drink his wine, whilst you and I
will have to fight it out.
Listen! Father! We are much astonished to see you tying up everything and
preparing to run the other way. You always told us to remain here and take care of our lands. It made our
hearts glad to hear that was your wish. But now we see you drawing back like a fat animal, running off with
its tail between its legs.
Listen! Father! The Americans have not yet defeated us by land. We, therefore, wish to remain and face our
enemy should they make their appearance. If you have an idea of going away, leave us the guns and
ammunition and you may go and welcome for it. Our lives are in the hands of the Great Spirit. We are
determined to defend our lands, and if it is his will, we shall leave our bones upon them.
Hope -- hope and freedom. That's what I thought
he stood for. And his vision that he had, the way he looked into the future and tried to stop progress for the
red people.
These are all random quotes taken directly from the transcript of the show. Ones that I thought really stood out. For me, the entire story of Tecumseh is very inspiring. More so is the story of his brother... who had vision and gave up drinking. He became known as the prophet and even made the sun stand still in the sky to prove he was sent from god.
Revolution is a difficult thing. Tricky at that. It is the cause of death and war. But it potentially can bring peace over a tyrannous government. When the Great Chief of the Americans issued orders to push them further to the edge, these people who wanted to leave peacefully were forced into war. I believe they took the right action, however violent it was. Unfortunately the Americans were dishonorable fighters and struck early. And that the English, those of common decent as myself, fled on the eve of battle... afraid of death in a cause they believed was not their own... simply because they were white and also taking the land. Its unfortunately that the great heroes are remembered tragically. But such is the way of history.
The Truth About Stories
There is a story I know. It is of the earth. I've herd this story many times, and each time someone tells the story, it changes. But in all the tellings of all the tellers, the world never leaves the turtle's back. And the turtle never swims away.
The truth about stories is that that's all we are.
Thomas King's story of his mother struck a chord with me. The 60s were a time of change. Unfortunately his mother was sucked into the same discrimination we fought to destroy in the 50s when blacks were still forced to walk miles just to use a run down segregated bathroom. His vision of walking out on his father in a bar one day was of an anger I have seen a hundred times. I couldn't count how many friends I hold dear who's parents have split up.
The way King writes his stories, and refers back to previous topics throughout each chapter is very interesting. It helps keep things in the memory, and also helps advance each topic.
The story of Curtis and his photography was funny. And the white fascination presented with it is so true. Exotic cultures are seen as a commodity. It is even more hilarious that he would dress Indians up to look authentically Indian. The most poetic topic in the world is the death of a beautiful woman. I really need to read Poe soon. I guess I'll put that collection after Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman.
Ishi was a very interesting story of a mysterious man. At least it ended well, and he was not turned into a commodity. The idea of entertainment is rather depressing, because it is very true... the way people are used and abused in this manner. The reference to Monty Python and the Holy Grail is good on a number of levels. The foremost being that the witch is dressed up that way by the townspeople who are solely concerned with burning her.
King's humor towards the quick death of the Indians who were taken to Europe as slaves is pretty funny. That they were not profitable.
A Million Porcupines Crying In The Dark is my favorite story. First with the labor camp that was more profitable than slavery in that it was free labor that in the end, caused each of the laborers to pay the corporation 12 dollars due to housing and food costs. Its quite ironic that the white mob who came pissed off because (to quote South Park) "They took rrr jjobs!". That we pretend we read more than we do is funny as well... and true. His analogy to "basic propagandas that the British would use to justify their subjugation of India, or that the Germans would employ in their extermination of Jews, or that the Jews would utilize to displace Palestinians, or that North Americans would exploit for the internment of the Japanese, or that the U.S. military and the U.S. media would craft into jingoistic slogans in order to make the invasions of other countries -- Grenada, Panama, Afghanistan, Iraq -- seem reasonable, patriotic, and entertaining to television audiences throughout North America
Reason and Instinct." is reality. Most Americans did not seem to realize how they were playing into the media's design of entertainment here. The same way most of the country tuned in while they showed the Towers come down over and over for months after 9/11. It was sickening how much the news companies bank tragedy. Its fucked up really.
I also really liked the way he worded "watch a vengeful United States, burdened with the arms of war, bomb the world into goodness and supply-side capitalism"
Take it. It's yours. Do with it what you will. Tell it to your children. Turn it into a play. Forget it. But don't say in the years to come that you would have lived your life differently if only you had heard this story.
You've heard it now.
The truth about stories is that that's all we are.
Thomas King's story of his mother struck a chord with me. The 60s were a time of change. Unfortunately his mother was sucked into the same discrimination we fought to destroy in the 50s when blacks were still forced to walk miles just to use a run down segregated bathroom. His vision of walking out on his father in a bar one day was of an anger I have seen a hundred times. I couldn't count how many friends I hold dear who's parents have split up.
The way King writes his stories, and refers back to previous topics throughout each chapter is very interesting. It helps keep things in the memory, and also helps advance each topic.
The story of Curtis and his photography was funny. And the white fascination presented with it is so true. Exotic cultures are seen as a commodity. It is even more hilarious that he would dress Indians up to look authentically Indian. The most poetic topic in the world is the death of a beautiful woman. I really need to read Poe soon. I guess I'll put that collection after Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman.
Ishi was a very interesting story of a mysterious man. At least it ended well, and he was not turned into a commodity. The idea of entertainment is rather depressing, because it is very true... the way people are used and abused in this manner. The reference to Monty Python and the Holy Grail is good on a number of levels. The foremost being that the witch is dressed up that way by the townspeople who are solely concerned with burning her.
King's humor towards the quick death of the Indians who were taken to Europe as slaves is pretty funny. That they were not profitable.
A Million Porcupines Crying In The Dark is my favorite story. First with the labor camp that was more profitable than slavery in that it was free labor that in the end, caused each of the laborers to pay the corporation 12 dollars due to housing and food costs. Its quite ironic that the white mob who came pissed off because (to quote South Park) "They took rrr jjobs!". That we pretend we read more than we do is funny as well... and true. His analogy to "basic propagandas that the British would use to justify their subjugation of India, or that the Germans would employ in their extermination of Jews, or that the Jews would utilize to displace Palestinians, or that North Americans would exploit for the internment of the Japanese, or that the U.S. military and the U.S. media would craft into jingoistic slogans in order to make the invasions of other countries -- Grenada, Panama, Afghanistan, Iraq -- seem reasonable, patriotic, and entertaining to television audiences throughout North America
Reason and Instinct." is reality. Most Americans did not seem to realize how they were playing into the media's design of entertainment here. The same way most of the country tuned in while they showed the Towers come down over and over for months after 9/11. It was sickening how much the news companies bank tragedy. Its fucked up really.
I also really liked the way he worded "watch a vengeful United States, burdened with the arms of war, bomb the world into goodness and supply-side capitalism"
Take it. It's yours. Do with it what you will. Tell it to your children. Turn it into a play. Forget it. But don't say in the years to come that you would have lived your life differently if only you had heard this story.
You've heard it now.
How We Became Human
I'm a big fan of poetry. And Native poetry has really caught my ear this semester. I was a huge fan of Qwo-Li's work. Most of Joy Harjo's book didn't really resonate with me however. I find her singing voice irritating. But I love her sax.
My favorite part of How We Became Human was the introduction, simply because of the stories. I love the dimly lit, smokey and dingy bar atmosphere. My family is all from England. I visit there a lot and I love the traditional pub feeling. It is home. I don't smoke, but I love the stuffy cigarette filled pub because it has soul. Her stories of the introduction are soulful. My favorite part of the intro was the story of the palm reader during her deep depressed period. There are a lot of unconventional spiritual beliefs that I hold personally, and this story truly resonated with me.
Few of her poems moved me. Some however, I found very interesting. I read through most of the book... and these are the ones I found myself coming back to.
I Am A Dangerous Woman: the final stanza is incredible. Words and knowledge are power. Harjo expresses this by the clicking of the gun inside her head.
I am a dangerous woman,
but the weapon is not visible.
Security will never find it.
They can't hear the clicking
of the gun inside my head.
The Woman Hanging From The Thirteenth Floor Window: The title alone had me expecting great things.
She thinks she will be set free.
I love the rhetoric here of "thinks". Also that she is not alone. How she also thinks back on memories and life. The people below. Finally the indecisiveness at the end left me hanging in a way I cannot explain. The entire poem I was reading to the end wondering what she was going to do. I didn't want a happily ever after and I didn't want her to jump either. Harjo's use of "or" let me take both.
Remember: My favorite poem of the entire book.
Remember your birth, how your mother struggled
to give you form and breath. You are evidence of
her life, and her mother's, and hers.
Remember your father. he is your life, also.
Remember the earth whose skin you are:
red earth, black earth, yellow earth, white earth
brown earth, we are earth.
Upon reading this part I had to stop and read the entire thing over, and then again out loud to the woman I love (who was driving the car). The depth of line three left me stunned. The memory here is so true. Also that of earth whose skin we are is so true. They say you are what you eat... but it goes so much deeper than that. Also the colors of earth being representative of the different skins of people, and that brown is in its own line. We are earth.
Songs From The House Of Death, Or How To Make It Through To The End Of A Relationship: First I like the numbering of the sections and what they all are. This is one of the first poems of ending that fill most of the end of the book. We all leave things behind in this world. And the people we touch the greatest of all. "All Cities will be built and then destroyed."
Again, there wasn't much I took from How We Became Human, but the poems which I did love I cherish none the less.
My favorite part of How We Became Human was the introduction, simply because of the stories. I love the dimly lit, smokey and dingy bar atmosphere. My family is all from England. I visit there a lot and I love the traditional pub feeling. It is home. I don't smoke, but I love the stuffy cigarette filled pub because it has soul. Her stories of the introduction are soulful. My favorite part of the intro was the story of the palm reader during her deep depressed period. There are a lot of unconventional spiritual beliefs that I hold personally, and this story truly resonated with me.
Few of her poems moved me. Some however, I found very interesting. I read through most of the book... and these are the ones I found myself coming back to.
I Am A Dangerous Woman: the final stanza is incredible. Words and knowledge are power. Harjo expresses this by the clicking of the gun inside her head.
I am a dangerous woman,
but the weapon is not visible.
Security will never find it.
They can't hear the clicking
of the gun inside my head.
The Woman Hanging From The Thirteenth Floor Window: The title alone had me expecting great things.
She thinks she will be set free.
I love the rhetoric here of "thinks". Also that she is not alone. How she also thinks back on memories and life. The people below. Finally the indecisiveness at the end left me hanging in a way I cannot explain. The entire poem I was reading to the end wondering what she was going to do. I didn't want a happily ever after and I didn't want her to jump either. Harjo's use of "or" let me take both.
Remember: My favorite poem of the entire book.
Remember your birth, how your mother struggled
to give you form and breath. You are evidence of
her life, and her mother's, and hers.
Remember your father. he is your life, also.
Remember the earth whose skin you are:
red earth, black earth, yellow earth, white earth
brown earth, we are earth.
Upon reading this part I had to stop and read the entire thing over, and then again out loud to the woman I love (who was driving the car). The depth of line three left me stunned. The memory here is so true. Also that of earth whose skin we are is so true. They say you are what you eat... but it goes so much deeper than that. Also the colors of earth being representative of the different skins of people, and that brown is in its own line. We are earth.
Songs From The House Of Death, Or How To Make It Through To The End Of A Relationship: First I like the numbering of the sections and what they all are. This is one of the first poems of ending that fill most of the end of the book. We all leave things behind in this world. And the people we touch the greatest of all. "All Cities will be built and then destroyed."
Again, there wasn't much I took from How We Became Human, but the poems which I did love I cherish none the less.
Friday, April 17, 2009
WE ARE POWER
http://www.angelfire.com/psy/intheheart/TrudellJohn/tdell1.html
various excepts from a speech by John Trudell in THE INDIGENOUS VOICE, Vol.2.
I enjoyed reading this. I have always reacted towards the oppressors with anger but reading this has caused me to step back and evaluate the ways in which I choose to stand against the "enemy". Reading the comments near the bottom has also caused me to think about the use of the word enemy and its dehumanizing/demonizing nature. Trudell's idea of acting with love toward the people opposed to hate toward the "enemy" is interesting, but I'm not sure whether I have enough restraint for that or not.
The page is titled Resistance Consciousness. I think the title is very adequate. It suggest being aware of how we resist. It is very important to be cognitive and not act irrationally.
"This former chairman of the American Indian Movement (AIM) learned that he has 17 thousand pages in his f.b.i. file when he was able to get 60 of them from the Freedom of Information Act. He was a main spokesperson in the American Indian take-over at Alcatraz Island, and led at least one march protesting f.b.i. tactics against Indian people in the 1970s (during the height of the f.b.i.'s illegal "Counter Intelligence Program" aka "COINTELPRO"). During the angry protest, Trudell burned an American flag on the steps of f.b.i. Headquarters. 12 hours later a fire killed his wife, his three children and his wife's mother. The f.b.i., which has jurisdiction on federally mandated Indian reservations, declined to investigate."
really sets the page on fire right from the start.
various excepts from a speech by John Trudell in THE INDIGENOUS VOICE, Vol.2.
I enjoyed reading this. I have always reacted towards the oppressors with anger but reading this has caused me to step back and evaluate the ways in which I choose to stand against the "enemy". Reading the comments near the bottom has also caused me to think about the use of the word enemy and its dehumanizing/demonizing nature. Trudell's idea of acting with love toward the people opposed to hate toward the "enemy" is interesting, but I'm not sure whether I have enough restraint for that or not.
The page is titled Resistance Consciousness. I think the title is very adequate. It suggest being aware of how we resist. It is very important to be cognitive and not act irrationally.
"This former chairman of the American Indian Movement (AIM) learned that he has 17 thousand pages in his f.b.i. file when he was able to get 60 of them from the Freedom of Information Act. He was a main spokesperson in the American Indian take-over at Alcatraz Island, and led at least one march protesting f.b.i. tactics against Indian people in the 1970s (during the height of the f.b.i.'s illegal "Counter Intelligence Program" aka "COINTELPRO"). During the angry protest, Trudell burned an American flag on the steps of f.b.i. Headquarters. 12 hours later a fire killed his wife, his three children and his wife's mother. The f.b.i., which has jurisdiction on federally mandated Indian reservations, declined to investigate."
really sets the page on fire right from the start.
Monday, April 13, 2009
We Shall Remain
Episode one of We Shall Remain was so moving. I loved every second of it. From the friendship of the Wampanoag chief Massasoit and New England leader to the betrayal of the English men of the Indians. I loved how the acting was done. Most documentary/story films are cheaply done but We Shall Remain was a fantastic production. My favorite quote was the son of Massasoit telling the English that they should be shown the same respect that Wawpanoag showed the English when he whites were the weak people now that the Wawpanoag were strong. Another of my favorite uses of rhetoric was when they stated the fact that modern interpretation of Thanksgiving is a myth. I can't wait for episode II.
Friday, April 10, 2009
Flowing silk skirts
Our discussion Wednesday was inspiring. Listening to Qwo-Li read his poems opened my heart and gave me such a deep understanding of those specific poems. The images were so powerful. Also hearing the story of Qwo-Li turning to that man and saying "Dude! I'm a cross-dresser" was awesome. I want to wear skirts now. I'll look into that...
From the heavy debris of loss
we emerge
feast on the memory of your first laughter
sing an honor song
to the slow heart beat
of your final breaths
weary from wailing
Hold up hot fierce
blueness of Colorado sky
Listen for your breath
caught in branches
where sun stains sky
crimson and gold
What is breath
if it cannot hurl storms across the continent
What are words
that can't block blows
feathered smoke rising from sage
braid thunder through your hair
<3
From the heavy debris of loss
we emerge
feast on the memory of your first laughter
sing an honor song
to the slow heart beat
of your final breaths
weary from wailing
Hold up hot fierce
blueness of Colorado sky
Listen for your breath
caught in branches
where sun stains sky
crimson and gold
What is breath
if it cannot hurl storms across the continent
What are words
that can't block blows
feathered smoke rising from sage
braid thunder through your hair
<3
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Walking With Ghosts
I put my headphones in and play Pink Floyd's The Division Bell. Great reading music. And my roommate is watching Braveheart, which is distracting me. These poems are short and spaced very broadly apart. I'll be finished with this book soon is my initial thought as I finish the first 10 pages. I loved the Beginning Cherokee. The lessons were very powerful. Map of the Americas was very powerful as well. I like the formatting of north and south America on the second page. My other favorites were Ghost Dances and Wild Indians. I'm not sure which of those two was my favorite of the entire collection, but I'd put them on the top. However the most moving poem of the book for me was A Long Story Made Short. The most powerful thing I have ever read regarding homosexuality. I want to share this poem with everyone. As I came to the last 5 pages or so my CD finished. The desire to listen to Queen's greatest hits album was quite strong.
A friend of mine had written a note on Facebook less than a week ago asking for recommendations of books to read over the summer. Halfway through reading Walking With Ghosts I put it on there.
I checked this book out from Milner, though they didn't have it in stock so I had it brought in from UofI in Chicago. I will be purchasing this book along with Flight and Grapes of Wrath first thing this summer.
Thanks for sharing this book with us.
A friend of mine had written a note on Facebook less than a week ago asking for recommendations of books to read over the summer. Halfway through reading Walking With Ghosts I put it on there.
I checked this book out from Milner, though they didn't have it in stock so I had it brought in from UofI in Chicago. I will be purchasing this book along with Flight and Grapes of Wrath first thing this summer.
Thanks for sharing this book with us.
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Rape of the Land
Wow...
This excerpt left me speechless.
Some real shit. I don't know what to even write about it. The work speaks for itself. I had heard of the government testing nuclear weapons on their own people in the Pacific islands, but the graphic truth written here blows me away. And the ignorance of some people's take on environmentalism and population control is way f**ked up. So the Constitution reads that in the case of a corrupt government it is the peoples right to overthrow its own government. Anyone marching to D.C with me? I really don't know what else to say about this piece. The violence perpetuated by our government is sick. So many human rights are violated and the justifications are almost worse.
I need to get out of this country and go home to Canada or England.
This excerpt left me speechless.
Some real shit. I don't know what to even write about it. The work speaks for itself. I had heard of the government testing nuclear weapons on their own people in the Pacific islands, but the graphic truth written here blows me away. And the ignorance of some people's take on environmentalism and population control is way f**ked up. So the Constitution reads that in the case of a corrupt government it is the peoples right to overthrow its own government. Anyone marching to D.C with me? I really don't know what else to say about this piece. The violence perpetuated by our government is sick. So many human rights are violated and the justifications are almost worse.
I need to get out of this country and go home to Canada or England.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Smith and Laduke
Andrea Smith's article on Indigenous Feminism is quite different than the views presented in the Sacred Hoop on gynocentricism. Smith opens by outright rejecting the possibility that American Indian women's feminism is less valid than white feminism. I agree because the same issues that face women of any other color, also face Native women. But they also have more problems to deal with due to their situation post-colonialism. I only partial agree with her statement that "This allegiance to “America” or “Canada” legitimizes the genocide and colonization of Native peoples upon which these nation-states are founded. By making anti-colonial struggle central to feminist politics, Native women place in question the appropriate form of governance for the world in general." One can be loyal to the Country they live in while still fighting to make it a better place, despite the apparent corruptions within it. Her only similarity to the views in Sacred Hoop are that native cultures were primarily matriarchal pre-colonialization. I also agree that native feminism should be accepted by people other than native women, under the logic that it will take a great many people to win the revolution.
Laduke's information on the pollution of their lands is jaw dropping. The amount of chemicals being produced by the U.S is stunning. And that American media has the nerve to point the finger at China is embarrassing. The effects that the Mohawk are receiving are terrible. And the fact that companies like GM have to nerve to cover it up is terrible. Though, the fact that Obama has taken the initiative to ask the CEO of GM to step down shows that we are making some small progress. The steps that it would take to reverse all these pollutions will be difficult, and the people effected will never fully recover. The only thing our government can do is try to learn and make much harder regulations.
Laduke's information on the pollution of their lands is jaw dropping. The amount of chemicals being produced by the U.S is stunning. And that American media has the nerve to point the finger at China is embarrassing. The effects that the Mohawk are receiving are terrible. And the fact that companies like GM have to nerve to cover it up is terrible. Though, the fact that Obama has taken the initiative to ask the CEO of GM to step down shows that we are making some small progress. The steps that it would take to reverse all these pollutions will be difficult, and the people effected will never fully recover. The only thing our government can do is try to learn and make much harder regulations.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Summary of The Sacred Hoop by Paula Gunn Allen
The Sacred Hoop by: Paula Gunn Allen provides a deep and insightful look into the reality of the world that is American Indian. The feminine traditions discussed within this book show the fall of traditional sacred feminine beliefs into the modern patriarchal dominance which prevails today. This collection of essays also shows the traditional value of homosexuals within native communities before contact.
The book is divided into three parts. The first part, The Ways of Our Grandmothers discusses many traditional native beliefs. It seeks to show many parallels between various native practices as well as acknowledge that matriarchal society was primarily dominant before European contact. The primary belief seems to be that in the beginning there was thought, and from her came humans and the spirituality that is healing. Following this collection of narratives is the section titled The Word Warriors. This part uses examples from various other authors to show ways in which women are empowered today through their writing. It also seeks to show differences between Indian ceremonial practice and assumptions made by people foreign to the cultures about Indian culture, based on the beliefs that these people (primarily white) have because of the culture they were raised with. The final section, Pushing Up The Sky deals with issues facing women and homosexuals today. It examines gender based roles as well as violence and rape by Indian men as a result of the destruction of the traditional, peaceful, gynocentric (societies where women hold political and religious power) way of life that was before European contact. The fact that American Indians constitute less than one half of one percent of the American population screams the truth about American genocidal intent through relocation and assimilation. The Sacred Hoop is a collective piece which is necessary to anyone interested in feminine or American Indian culture.
Monday, March 16, 2009
...hey Sherman
So I read Sherman Alexie's Absolutely True Diary of A Part Time Indian over spring break. I flew through it in two sittings and loved it. I have decided to do my Literature Review on his book Flight, a book written in March of the year Alexie wrote Part Time Indian (September '07) and also from the point of a teenager. While I was home on break, my friend and I were hangin out and I told him about this book I was reading over for class. He told told me he read a similar book for class at College of Dupage and that he thought it was the same author.
The perspective of the novel is very enlightening to someone like me who has not experienced such a childhood. Understanding that Alexie based Junior's childhood of his own makes the novel that much more powerful. The pictures and teenage style will probably draw me back to this book. I have already decided I will force my younger brother to read it (who doesn't read books). I can relate to his character so much. The reality that shook Alexie when his grandma, father's friend, and older sister passed away in such a short time must have been devestating. But out of our biased, capitalist, self destructive society Sherman Alexie realised that we are ALL the same. Everybody feels pain in the exact same way. Everybody is just as afraid as the people living beside them.
I spent an hour this afternoon watching a video of him speaking "at Rutgers University's Newark Campus shortly after the World Trade Center attacks" http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6715652215188621499 Afterwards I watched Bush's phone call to Mayor Giuliani two days after 9/11 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvGas9Xq_kI
The perspective of the novel is very enlightening to someone like me who has not experienced such a childhood. Understanding that Alexie based Junior's childhood of his own makes the novel that much more powerful. The pictures and teenage style will probably draw me back to this book. I have already decided I will force my younger brother to read it (who doesn't read books). I can relate to his character so much. The reality that shook Alexie when his grandma, father's friend, and older sister passed away in such a short time must have been devestating. But out of our biased, capitalist, self destructive society Sherman Alexie realised that we are ALL the same. Everybody feels pain in the exact same way. Everybody is just as afraid as the people living beside them.
I spent an hour this afternoon watching a video of him speaking "at Rutgers University's Newark Campus shortly after the World Trade Center attacks" http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6715652215188621499 Afterwards I watched Bush's phone call to Mayor Giuliani two days after 9/11 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvGas9Xq_kI
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Chippewa Buffalo & Wild Rice Casserole
I enjoyed this dish. I am not usually one for mushrooms, but they tasted great in this dish. I loved the wild rice, it was fantastic. I am interested as to how it would be with buffalo apposed to pork. I looked up thyme through google and it appears to be an herb common in American Indian dishes. It also appears to be readily available year round. I also searched marjoram on wikipedia and found that its name is French.
I also enjoyed the pumpkin bars!
I also enjoyed the pumpkin bars!
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Down By The River
I have a great respect for the rhetorical approach of La Flesche. Even as a child her letter to St. Nicholas was impressive. Despite her assimilation into white culture, I believe that her choice to accept white medicine and incorporate it into her own people's culture was the most intelligent choice she could have made.
Powell starts her story with creation stories. I think this is a great device to begin with. She says "I offer this beginning, an emergence" and " we must stop our easy and narrow reliance on Greek, Roman, European, even European American thinkers; that 'we must break from the colonial mindset and learn from the thinkers from our own hemisphere'."
The injustices made by the American government which are talked about throughout this essay make me so mad that ignorance like that is even conceivable. Questioning whether the "savage" is even worth "civilizing" just begs so many infuriated responses. But when she talks about a white man working with the CIA to bring funding to medical education for Indian women shows me at least some of them had decent human sensibilities.
I also appreciate when she breaks down what she understands rhetoric to be. that all her definitions start with "an art"
Powell starts her story with creation stories. I think this is a great device to begin with. She says "I offer this beginning, an emergence" and " we must stop our easy and narrow reliance on Greek, Roman, European, even European American thinkers; that 'we must break from the colonial mindset and learn from the thinkers from our own hemisphere'."
The injustices made by the American government which are talked about throughout this essay make me so mad that ignorance like that is even conceivable. Questioning whether the "savage" is even worth "civilizing" just begs so many infuriated responses. But when she talks about a white man working with the CIA to bring funding to medical education for Indian women shows me at least some of them had decent human sensibilities.
I also appreciate when she breaks down what she understands rhetoric to be. that all her definitions start with "an art"
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Marrow Memory and Columbus Had It Coming
Columbus Had It Coming is a humorous title for this essay. And the first sentence is light hearted as well "Let us begin with the discover of America, an amusing concept". It seems they leave the fact that Columbus sent Natives away from their homes over seas was left out of the history books. The story about the boy who wrote so small so that he might control his teachers with his language is amusing as well. It shows the power language and literature can hold. What struck me more however was with the suggestion that a native learning European culture is in fact a foreign language yet the school system does not make that consideration. The thesis of this essay is that it is important to read across cultures, and to read into them, not just about them.
Marrow Memory throws a perspective about ancestory at me which I have never considered. To think of bones as a container both physical and spiritual of history and memory constructs a vision of a very real spiritual world. Imagery is used such as the whirlwind of ancestor ghosts. This view of history understands the importance of storys as a tool for wisdom and understanding in a world that seems to neglect the spiritual world. The story about Martha and the nun doesn't surprise me. That kind of neglegant teaching and religious practice sets me off. The ending remarks of this essay are also very interesting. "Their genetic material contained more than DNA and genetic markers, they contained tribal memories that live still in the bones of their descendants. In this way, the vitality of the people still lives, connecting contemporary people with distant relatives, so that we may know."
Marrow Memory throws a perspective about ancestory at me which I have never considered. To think of bones as a container both physical and spiritual of history and memory constructs a vision of a very real spiritual world. Imagery is used such as the whirlwind of ancestor ghosts. This view of history understands the importance of storys as a tool for wisdom and understanding in a world that seems to neglect the spiritual world. The story about Martha and the nun doesn't surprise me. That kind of neglegant teaching and religious practice sets me off. The ending remarks of this essay are also very interesting. "Their genetic material contained more than DNA and genetic markers, they contained tribal memories that live still in the bones of their descendants. In this way, the vitality of the people still lives, connecting contemporary people with distant relatives, so that we may know."
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Listening to ghosts: an alternative (non)argument
I enjoyed this piece and the way it was written. Malea Powell challenges modern discourse and various other educational practices. I particularly like when she has to say about our theories of civilization and that in Western culture, we are taught that folks are either "savage" or "civilized." I this is still very relevant today in the way media depicts the other countries of this world. Canada is a vast forest with country neighbors... South America and Africa are poor and disease ridden with an excess of crime. Muslim nations are filled with extremists and infidels. There are so many false ways we describe the world around us. We dehumanize the people that live in these places, and our society is flawless. Her tattoo truely relates to some of my beliefs. Especially that of the spiral.
For Indian people to have reinvented themseleves through English is an insightful theory. That the languages we speak give us a means of defining ourselves. And she follows with the idea that the native peoples are given a chance to reinvent themselves further by following up on their roots, by learning the ancient languages. I am impressed with the way she begins her discourse, with the image of clearning the wax from the ears and realizing that "Hey, you are speaking now". Even further, that she decides to finish with an invitation. An invocation. Listen to the whispers of ghosts. There is so much to learn from the history.
For Indian people to have reinvented themseleves through English is an insightful theory. That the languages we speak give us a means of defining ourselves. And she follows with the idea that the native peoples are given a chance to reinvent themselves further by following up on their roots, by learning the ancient languages. I am impressed with the way she begins her discourse, with the image of clearning the wax from the ears and realizing that "Hey, you are speaking now". Even further, that she decides to finish with an invitation. An invocation. Listen to the whispers of ghosts. There is so much to learn from the history.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Sum it up already...
I'll start by explaining myself. I am lazy and arrogant. I neglect my journal because of this. Now that we have established this, I will discuss my opinion toward the American Indian and their struggle.
I will begin today with the rhetoric of empire. Rhetoric is the art of both spoken and written word. Rhetoric seeks to understand and develop methods which become increasingly persuasive through skill. The rhetoric of empire seeks to diminish the conquered by both dehumanizing them while legitimizing the efforts of the conqueror. The Christians have been particularly good at this through the ages. When I watched the movie The Kingdom which was about the first crusade, there was a preacher calling to all incoming soldiers claiming "to kill an infidel is not a sin". People often deal with the guilt of murder by claiming the glory of God. It is sickening. Rhetoric can also be used to rally the confused to their call. By offering land to white men who would settle the west, they were able to expand the American population and draw new people to its cause. This duality of rhetoric among the conquered and the conqueror is both frightening and powerful.
Personally, I feel that the common ideas between many American Indian belief systems run parallel with many of my own. I have spent a long time studying religion. I never considered myself a Christian, and my parents raised me to be open to all ideas. For a time I was very interested in ancient religion. I learned that in the beginning, god was the mother, the earth. That many small societies were run by women, and that the feminine was sacred. But it was the patriarchal societies that brought war among them. Ancient Greek religion although patriarchal and polytheistic, still recognized the mother as a significant power. I have always known that we come from the Earth, and we will return to the Earth. The Earth is so beautiful and so powerful. It is a damn shame what we do to her.
John Trudell blew my mind. I had heard of him previously but did not recognize his name. The incident at Oglala had been told to me before but I was unsure of the details. Hearing Trudell speak really opened my eyes and made me return to many of my revolutional thought processes that predominated my mind as a high schooler. The strongest image for me in this video was the burning of the American flag on the FBI steps. But what struck me even harder was Trudell's justification. He said that the American flag has been desecrated, and that there is only one proper way to deal with a flag that has been desecrated. Such deep understanding of the soul of a country astonishes me. I start to wonder what we can do to make our world a better place. Fighting the system from within eventually will corrupt. "and there is usually nothing wrong with compromising a situation, but compromising yourself in a situation is another thing entirely." -Immortal Technique.
Today in class we examined a poem by Trudell about Crazy Horse. I found it interesting while doing my research assignemnt that horses were not native to the Americas. Of course this makes perfect sense, but it had never occured to me before. One of the strongest images from the poem put to music on youtube was the image of Trudell on a chair outside with South Dakota hills as a backdrop. This was a stillframe taken from the video we watched, but thinking about it again really takes me deep. His home has no roof. His home has no walls. How can we claim ownership over anything?
I will begin today with the rhetoric of empire. Rhetoric is the art of both spoken and written word. Rhetoric seeks to understand and develop methods which become increasingly persuasive through skill. The rhetoric of empire seeks to diminish the conquered by both dehumanizing them while legitimizing the efforts of the conqueror. The Christians have been particularly good at this through the ages. When I watched the movie The Kingdom which was about the first crusade, there was a preacher calling to all incoming soldiers claiming "to kill an infidel is not a sin". People often deal with the guilt of murder by claiming the glory of God. It is sickening. Rhetoric can also be used to rally the confused to their call. By offering land to white men who would settle the west, they were able to expand the American population and draw new people to its cause. This duality of rhetoric among the conquered and the conqueror is both frightening and powerful.
Personally, I feel that the common ideas between many American Indian belief systems run parallel with many of my own. I have spent a long time studying religion. I never considered myself a Christian, and my parents raised me to be open to all ideas. For a time I was very interested in ancient religion. I learned that in the beginning, god was the mother, the earth. That many small societies were run by women, and that the feminine was sacred. But it was the patriarchal societies that brought war among them. Ancient Greek religion although patriarchal and polytheistic, still recognized the mother as a significant power. I have always known that we come from the Earth, and we will return to the Earth. The Earth is so beautiful and so powerful. It is a damn shame what we do to her.
John Trudell blew my mind. I had heard of him previously but did not recognize his name. The incident at Oglala had been told to me before but I was unsure of the details. Hearing Trudell speak really opened my eyes and made me return to many of my revolutional thought processes that predominated my mind as a high schooler. The strongest image for me in this video was the burning of the American flag on the FBI steps. But what struck me even harder was Trudell's justification. He said that the American flag has been desecrated, and that there is only one proper way to deal with a flag that has been desecrated. Such deep understanding of the soul of a country astonishes me. I start to wonder what we can do to make our world a better place. Fighting the system from within eventually will corrupt. "and there is usually nothing wrong with compromising a situation, but compromising yourself in a situation is another thing entirely." -Immortal Technique.
Today in class we examined a poem by Trudell about Crazy Horse. I found it interesting while doing my research assignemnt that horses were not native to the Americas. Of course this makes perfect sense, but it had never occured to me before. One of the strongest images from the poem put to music on youtube was the image of Trudell on a chair outside with South Dakota hills as a backdrop. This was a stillframe taken from the video we watched, but thinking about it again really takes me deep. His home has no roof. His home has no walls. How can we claim ownership over anything?
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Historical Contact and Conflict
The conliflict between American Indian and the white man appears to be one instigated entierly by the white man. It amuses me how the Thanksgiving feast shows the white American's dependance on the American Indian, and in the years to come, he turns around and pushes his keeper into less fertile lands and wages war with him. United States propoganda tells us that the American Indian was a savage pagan and that he could not be assymilated into European culture. It sadens me that so much was lost over ignorance. It seems to be the everpresent story of the white man. Dangerous, afraid, and armed to the teeth with weaponry and technology.
I read this historical account and it blows my mind how many non violent attempts there were by the native peoples to coexist despite cultural differences. It is shameful.
I read this historical account and it blows my mind how many non violent attempts there were by the native peoples to coexist despite cultural differences. It is shameful.
Land and Identity
I feel that I have a deep understanding of the ideas described in this analysis of the American Indian's connection to the land. The culture that once dominated this continent was one with the land. European culture has traditionally taken from the land and built on top of it. I hold a deep reverence for the American Indian's respect for the Earth and their beliefs toward moderation and hunting. They understand that although man and animal deserve life, man must eat animal to survive. And thus it must be. This way of thinking develops a personal connection with the other inhabitants of the land. Because the American Indian did not build cities. They lived among the land with the other animals. The fact that they used natural landmarks as territorial boundaries also affirms their relation to the land.
The spirituality of this culture interests me in that it is so different from eastern religion, and that the many widespread tribes each have their own variations in belief.
The spirituality of this culture interests me in that it is so different from eastern religion, and that the many widespread tribes each have their own variations in belief.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Expansion and Removal
Thomas Jefferson; William Henry Harrison; Andrew Jackson... these names tend to recall the dusty sense of freedom and prosparity that was promised in the Declaration of Independance. But being exposed to the truth about what transpired in this country during the 1800's changes one's perspective. Prior to the start of this spring semester I had little knowledge regaurding the disapearance of the American Indian. I knew white colonists were responsible. I knew they had lied, murderded, and stolen the land from its former caretakers. Reading this text has given me a strong sense of the loss these peoples suffered.
Although this chapter describes the persecution of the American Indian, I am interested in learning more about the vast array of cultures that these people lived by.
Although this chapter describes the persecution of the American Indian, I am interested in learning more about the vast array of cultures that these people lived by.
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