INPUT FROM AUSTRALIA

My good friend Artfox over in Australia sent me this for the blog.  Here is an example of how the treatment of the native people by 'settlers' is not unique to the United States.

Benjamin Lee

You know, as you explore the early history of your family in Australia, you can find yourself wondering what part your pioneer ancestors played in the aquisition of the land of native peoples, and just how they treated the Koori (aboriginal) people.

The behaviour of colonists was not unique to America, in Australia we too passed out the smallpox infested blankets to native peoples. We introduced them to alcohol. We pushed them further from their sacred lands. We dismissed their wisdom and spirituality. And if they preyed on our sheep, fought back or just got difficult, we killed them.

So I was pleased to discover that at least one of my ancestors was willing to stand up against colonial and public attitudes and, as part of a jury, to find 7 men guilty of the Myall Creek massacre of 28 men women and children, all aboriginal people.

This was the first time in Australia that any white men were hanged for such a horrific crime.

My respects to my great great great great grandfather Benjamin Lee.

I am proud of you.

Artfox

BLOOD OF THE NATIVE AMERICANS

[Note- This paper is my opinion and does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Chinook Nation.]

So much of our world is simply how you look at it. Perhaps all of our world is how you look at it.

As american citizens, we idealize equality; we make believe that we have it. We do not. In much the way man thinks he can manage fisheries better than the Great Spirit, he also tries to manage racism and bigotry; yet it runs rampant.

Do you judge a person by their skin? You know it's wrong- your government told you it was wrong; however, your government does just that.

Let's say a man is born of a black father and a white mother. They tell you he is black. Let's say he marries an oriental lady and they have a son. He is still black...and so on, and so on.

Now lets say a Native American marries outside his race...and their son marries outside his race....etc. The government has determined how much that your blood can be watered down until you are no longer a Native American.

The only difference between these two examples is the color of skin; therefore, the United States government is discriminating by skin color. Maybe their intentions were good; or maybe its a long term goal to eliminate our people.

Considering their history of not ratifying treaties that we signed in good faith, of my Great Great Grandmother's signature being forged on a deed to the Fort Columbia property ( an 'X' signature from an educated woman? Seriously...), the slaughter of Chinooks who were salvaging a wrecked ship (falsely accused of attacking it- apologies from the whites after they killed them), and the mysterious illness that wiped out thousands of us, said by the white man to be our own, only mere years after they introduced smallpox just south of here through a 'mission' (When that tribe fought back and killed those who were killing them, it was called a massacre); considering all this, I would lean towards a long term general plan to eliminate the troublesome redmen.

It's rather amusing, in a dark way. It used to be that Native American tribes would, on occassion, welcome members of other tribes and/or races to become members. The Chinooks were known to have some red-headed indians in the past; in fact, my own daughter has red hair. Yet the American government tells us we cannot be indians anymore unless we start marrying within ourselves to preserve the bloodline. Preserve the bloodline. Where have we heard that before? Ahhh yessss...the nazis.

A NATIVE AMERICAN’S TAKE ON THE SETTLEMENT OF THE AMERICAS THEORY

First, I would like to tell you a little about myself.

I am a Native American. My great-great-great-great grandfather on my father’s side was Chief Cumcumly of the Chinook Indians. My father, my grandfather, and my great-great grandmother were all leaders of the Chinooks.

When the Chinook Indians decided to protest their fishing rights being imposed upon, my father went to jail for them. He used his phone call to call the BIA, who said they would send someone. What they sent was an observer, while my father was convicted without a lawyer.

Now you know who I am and we can get to the problem at hand.

I have run across two rednecks in the last few months that have both told me the same thing- they feel that because the American Indians migrated here from Eurasia and that the white man migrated here from Europe, that they have just as much right as we do to claim the country. The first fellow was on Facebook so I simply unfriended him. You can’t fix stupid. The second fellow was sitting at my dinner table eating with me. At the time, I simply told him that I believe the best argument is that ‘we were here first’ and changed the subject; however, I feel it’s time to address this before it gets out of hand.

The theory of the Settlement of the Americas is simply that- a theory. A theory that, beginning 60,000 years ago, we migrated here. 60,000 years, people. Even if we took that theory as a fact, you are 60,000 years too late.

But that brings me to my next point. What kind of self-righteousness possesses someone to decide that they are the source of life on earth and all the other continents could only be inhabited by people from their own continent?

Alternative theory- The Indians have always been right here. That somewhere deep inside, you know that what you did to us was wrong. That deep inside, you need to reconcile this so you can live with yourself.

Make up whatever you want, people. Whatever gets you through your life; but please, don’t share your ignorance with others.

~Layton Elliott