National Holiday Sought To Honor Native American Contributions To The U.S.

[Bob Hubbard]

Be nice if something was done..I mean, not counting the 200+ years of theft, betrayal, murder and genocide... I mean something positive.


From http://www.indiancountry.com/?1071588168

Excerpt:
National Holiday Sought To Honor Native American Contributions To The U.S.

Author: Ernie Stevens Jr. and Tex Hall Source: Indian Country Today

Title: NATIONAL HOLIDAY SOUGHT TO HONOR NATIVE AMERICAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE U.S.

As the first Americans, Native Americans have a proud story of perseverance and achievement. We have an important place both in the history of the United States and in the governmental framework of the Nation. It is time that the United States designated a national holiday to honor Native Americans and our contributions to America. To honor our Indian nations, our grandfathers and grandmothers, and the contributions of Native American people from yesterday and today, we call upon Congress and the President to designate the Friday after Thanksgiving as Native American Heritage Day.

Before Columbus, our Indian nations had made remarkable artistic, scientific, political and cultural achievements. For example, in the 1400s, Cahokia, the Native American city that was located near present-day St. Louis, was larger than London was in its day. Through generations of agriculture, Native American peoples developed staple crops, including corn, beans, squash, tomatoes, potatoes, and peppers, that make up 60 percent of the food found on tables throughout the world today. Our Indian nations were among the first to recognize the status of women as political leaders, and the Founding Fathers came to the Six Nations Confederacy in New York to learn about our unique system of democratic confederacy, with our system of divided powers and checks and balances. They used the lessons they learned there in framing the Constitution of the United States.

 

[arnisador]

The basic idea certainly seems fair to me.

 

[RCastillo]

Originally posted by Kaith Rustaz
Be nice if something was done..I mean, not counting the 200+ years of theft, betrayal, murder and genocide... I mean something positive.


From http://www.indiancountry.com/?1071588168

Excerpt:
National Holiday Sought To Honor Native American Contributions To The U.S.

Author: Ernie Stevens Jr. and Tex Hall Source: Indian Country Today

Title: NATIONAL HOLIDAY SOUGHT TO HONOR NATIVE AMERICAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE U.S.

As the first Americans, Native Americans have a proud story of perseverance and achievement. We have an important place both in the history of the United States and in the governmental framework of the Nation. It is time that the United States designated a national holiday to honor Native Americans and our contributions to America. To honor our Indian nations, our grandfathers and grandmothers, and the contributions of Native American people from yesterday and today, we call upon Congress and the President to designate the Friday after Thanksgiving as Native American Heritage Day.

Before Columbus, our Indian nations had made remarkable artistic, scientific, political and cultural achievements. For example, in the 1400s, Cahokia, the Native American city that was located near present-day St. Louis, was larger than London was in its day. Through generations of agriculture, Native American peoples developed staple crops, including corn, beans, squash, tomatoes, potatoes, and peppers, that make up 60 percent of the food found on tables throughout the world today. Our Indian nations were among the first to recognize the status of women as political leaders, and the Founding Fathers came to the Six Nations Confederacy in New York to learn about our unique system of democratic confederacy, with our system of divided powers and checks and balances. They used the lessons they learned there in framing the Constitution of the United States.

Long overdue. Don't forget the treaties that were broken. I wouldn't even guess the number involved.

Imagine that; America still has a culture group of many factions, that were left devastated in pieces by our history, government, living right within our own country. Even then, the American Indian is still ignored today.

Boy, I would love to see how foreign history books look at America today.

What a long lasting "Black Eye " for us.

 

[Bob Hubbard]

They are still being broken today.

NYS is now, and has been actively seeking to collect NYS sales taxes on Indian Reservations. Now, I'm not a lawyer, and ain't an expert but, my understanding is as follows:

1- Indian Reservations are a soverign nation, and have their own government and laws.

2- State and Federal laws do not extend to them.

So, how can the state, and feds collect a tax on forign soil?

It's the Supreme Law for the U.S.

So why is New York preparing to break it?

The U.S. Constitution calls treaties "the Supreme Law of the Land." And yet New York State is about to violate U.S. treaties that have lasted over 200 years. The state plans to implement regulations that would impose sales tax on petroleum and tobacco products sold on Indian lands. These regulations would violate sacred treaties between the U.S. and Indian tribes.

Since 1794 the U.S. has acknowledged Indian independence, and the Treaty of 1842 clearly says the Seneca Nation will not be taxed by any US government. Including New York State. The state's unconstitutional action will cause over 1000 Indians and non-Indians to lose their jobs, consumer prices to rise, and businesses to close.

Some links:
http://www.honorindiantreaties.org/news/index.cfm?article=5
http://www.honorindiantreaties.org


Y'know.... the NYS thruway goes right through 2 reservations. The last time this crap came up, they baracaded the highway.

This time, they should put up toll booths. Charge a $2/car 'toll" to cross Indian land.

:soapbox:

 

[theletch1]

While there have, from time to time, been large protests from native Americans that have garnered national attention, natives have, for the most part done what has always been the way... persevered in stoic silence. I, for one, would love to see a national holiday or even, dare I say, a native American history month.

 

[Bob Hubbard]

Originally posted by theletch1
While there have, from time to time, been large protests from native Americans that have garnered national attention, natives have, for the most part done what has always been the way... persevered in stoic silence. I, for one, would love to see a national holiday or even, dare I say, a native American history month.

Why not? We have a Black History month. Womans week. And a slew of others too.

 

[Klondike93]

Count me in as positive on this. There should be a Native American week just like there is a Black History one, they were here first after all. I have a buddy that thinks they need to get over it (the white man) and start living their lives in the present not the past. Me, I feel we've screwed them long enough and need to help them out a little more than other ethnic groups, but how is the huge question.

 

[rmcrobertson]

Or, as a friend of mine used to say---the way that some folks whined about King Day (or any such holiday), which was after all a paid holiday, was a great index of their....problems.

 

[Cruentus]

I think its a good start. It's almost insulting that us whities have irrepairably screwed an entire race of people, and now we are like "here...have a national day!" Babysteps, I guess. If it were up to me, I'd dedicate the entire thanksgiving week to native american heritage.

PAUL

 

[Rich Parsons]

Originally posted by PAUL
I think its a good start. It's almost insulting that us whities have irrepairably screwed an entire race of people, and now we are like "here...have a national day!" Babysteps, I guess. If it were up to me, I'd dedicate the entire thanksgiving week to native american heritage.

PAUL

No disrepsect to my Native Brothers and Sisters, A Holiday would be nice. Yet, I think there plan is to get all of our money from the Casino's . Paul, has a very nice idea of dedicating the Thanks Giving Week. Maybe we should write letters to our congressmen?

 

[theletch1]

Yet, I think there plan is to get all of our money from the Casino's

Only what's left over after you spend most of your money on the state lottery.

 

[TonyM.]

State lottery=stupidity tax.
As a Cherokee of mixed blood I could care less about any holiday created by washington. Besides, we already have our own. You can check it out at Cherokee.org. If the past is a good indicator of the future this is what will happen anyway. The gubmint will move it to monday and hew hampshire and arizona won't honor it anyway.

 

[theletch1]

Tony, I'm Apache (also of mixed blood) but I believe that at least if a holiday is created it will raise awareness in the view of the rest of the public beyond the old black and white movies of Native culture.

 

[TonyM.]

Wouldn't that be cool. You know they used to teach there were no Indians in Vermont. The Abenaki were not amused. They also used to say there were no Catamount so when I saw one I didn't bother to report it. Figured someone would try to shoot it anyway. Now miraculasely there there are both Indians and Catamount here. Go figure.

 

[Rich Parsons]

Originally posted by theletch1
Tony, I'm Apache (also of mixed blood) but I believe that at least if a holiday is created it will raise awareness in the view of the rest of the public beyond the old black and white movies of Native culture.

Always used to cheer for the indians.

My Heritage has American Indian, Iroquois from NY, only it far enough back not to worry about it with out tribal recognition. I never try to gain anything from this limited connection. Yet, I feel that the American Indians did get a raw deal, and that the US Goverenment ignored and re-negotiated treaties to fit their need.

So, a holiday for the recognition and awareness, even jsut for teh diversity awareness, is in order in my mind.

Now, I believe that all the tribes should honor their holidays, as they see fit. Yet, a separate holiday even if it is not a day off, to recognize and educate people would be a good idea in my mind.

:asian: