The Teaching Of Native American History And The Colonization Of America

Colonization was detrimental to not only the physical bodies of the Native Americans, but to their minds as well. The shift in indigenous education was a destructive one; Western education completely overtook the indigenous education that had thrived for generations. Instead of allowing education to benefit both indigenous and European peoples, it was used as a tool to destroy indigenous culture. When the settlers from Europe and Spain first came to the Americas, “indigenous men and women articulated their petitions for more educational spaces” (Díaz 60). The attempt to share educational spaces was continuously rejected by the settlers in an attempt to spur assimilation instead of cooperation.

Popular culture has shaped our understanding and perception of Native American culture. From Disney to literature has given the picture of the “blood thirsty savage” of the beginning colonialism in the new world to the “Noble Savage,” a trait painted by non-native the West (Landsman and Lewis 184) and this has influenced many non native perceptions. What many outsiders do not see is the struggle Native American have on day to day bases. Each generation of Native American is on a struggle to keep their traditions alive, but to function in school and ultimately graduate.

During the end of the nineteenth century, the United States had formed policies which reduced land allotted to Native Americans. By enforcing these laws as well as Anglo-American ideals, the United States compromised indigenous people’s culture and ability to thrive in its society.

Having a tumultuous background, the Native American history in itself should be respected, but there seems to be a nuisance doing so. In the 1830’s, after removal policy failed to prevail, “not only did individual Indians remain, but native communities also struggled over the next century and a half to carve out a place for themselves in the South"(Perdue 3). Native American’s were challenged to find a place in the idealistic society, but their ritualistic culture was not fit for the United States. Further on, they dealt with poverty, discrimination, and violence against their community.

Native American racism has long been going on in the United States and is still prevalent to this day. The actions on the part of the people and government of the United States against the Native Americans has had a lasting effect on Native Americans. From the beginnings of the the United States, the U.S. government has pushed Native Americans off of their land to make way for white settlers and manifest destiny. The reservations that Native Americans were pushed onto have some of the lowest living conditions in the country and have high rates of poverty and unemployment. Over a span of just under one hundred years, the U.S. government pushed many Native American children into boarding schools and assimilation programs. These assimilation programs effectively slowed down the passing down of generational customs because the children were forced to adopt the new customs that the government wanted them to adopt. Children’s books commonly have stereotypes against Native Americans that warp young children’s perceptions of that particular group of people. Many sports teams across the country have Native American mascots and team names. These mascots are insensitive and contain offensive stereotypes that hurt people’s perceptions of Native Americans. For some, these are the only examples of Native Americans that they ever see, further damaging their outlook on Native American perspectives. It is important for the citizens of the United States to learn about Native American history

During the time period of 1607, when the first British colony was established in America, to the last established colony in 1733, differences in each colony was evident due to the different beliefs of conduct in colonization and government. All of the colonies, however, faced unbelievable difficulties upon collaborating with Native Americans, some much severe than others. Furthermore, the impact of North American colonization affected not only Britain and the Natives, but all of Europe as well.

On the second Monday in October, Christopher Columbus is celebrated for “discovering” the Americas. Since preschool and all through middle school, children are taught that he was a great Spanish explorer who sailed to the Americas on the Nina, Pinta, and the Santa Maria. Children are taught that he is a hero for the discovery, and that we ought to celebrate him. This becomes a local issue because many locals believe that Columbus should not be celebrated. They argue that through Christopher Columbus’s tyranny and greed, Native Americans were slaughtered, lost their homes, and the Trail of Tears took place.

Columbus said that they were gentle, generous, and intelligent, but how many students today even know the name Taíno, let alone know anything of who they were and how they lived? Last year, Seattle City Councilmember Kshama Sawant put it well when she explained Seattle’s decision to abandon Columbus Day: “Learning about the history of Columbus and transforming this day into a celebration of Indigenous people and a celebration of social justice ... allows us to make a connection between this painful history and the ongoing marginalization, discrimination, and poverty that Indigenous communities face to this day.” We don’t have to wait for the federal government to transform Columbus Day into something more decent.

The majority of school districts in the U.S. call of school for Columbus Day to honor the “discoverer of our country”. Not only do we falsely idolize this man, but many do not know the horrors that were done unto the Native

The Native Indian history of violence and debasement changed their views and self-image as well. This change later affects how they adapt to American culture and education after being dissuaded from embracing their own for so long. The violence and indifference shown towards the Native Americans during the “Trail of Tears” contributed greatly to this change. In this dreadful journey, Natives of all kinds were forced off

Since the beginning of time mankind has fought with itself, whether it be through disagreements, disrespect, feuds, or even over the smallest of matters. For example, one of the biggest feuds in American history that just ended recently was between the Hatfield’s and McCoy’s. This just shows you how petty, ignorant, and uncivilized we as a people can become. However, the greatest and most crucial feud of all was between the entire Native American Nation and the United States of America. This war of hate and disrespect towards tribes of people and their culture is uncalled for and has left a stain that will last forever in time. We choose not to realize the great impact it had on the Native American Nation, and most of what really happened is not mentioned in the text books that we have today. Instead we focus more on the three main academics which are reading, writing, and arithmetic. Doing so has left many people clueless about the events that have occurred in the past, and I think the main reason for this is caused by the American government being embarrassed about what they did to a people who meant no harm, a culture that only lashed out due to the European American settlers drawing first blood. This is why I decided to do my essay on this topic. The truth needs to be heard, and the reasoning for all the massacres, the violation of countless treaties, and how we impacted the way of life for the Native Americans needs to be told. Why did we do this to a culture? The

Since the beginning of time, conquering other societies has been a common occurrence. Almost every battle that has taken place has been documented. When stories of past battles are retold, only one side of the tale gets told, the victor’s side. In history, the ones who have been defeated never get to present their perspective of the tragic quarrels. Most never even lived to tell the stories, but the ones who do survive are not thought of as important accounts in history. The Native Americans suffered tyranny far a plethora of years, and still do. When learning about the indigenous people of America, it is taught through the “white man’s” prospective, never through the eyes of the sufferers. By not telling both sides of the story, the facts get skewed, skewed enough to have lies become the truth. So what is the real story behind Native American oppression?

In Jeannette Armstrong’s poem, History Lesson, she writes in perspective of Indigenous people reacting to the first encounters with European settlers. Historically, Indigenous people did not have a positive encounter with the first settlers due to their clash of beliefs and values of how communities and structures should run. Instead, they had many disagreements which caused the partial destruction of their whole culture. It is clear that Armstrong uses the theme of history to portray the destruction that the first European settlers had on the Indigenous way of life through various points in history. Armstrong imbeds the theme of history throughout her poem to further emphasize her stance on the assimilation of the Indigenous people with the restricting and destructive effects the early settlers had on them throughout history.

Americans are taught one narrative of the colonization of North America; it is the European or white man’s version of events. Children all over the United States see pictures of Indians barely wearing clothes and wearing headdresses covered in feathers and larger than the very heads they sit on. Though, this narrative is not contained to inaccurate history books it is represented in books, movies even advertisements. Time and time again Indians are portrayed as savages who lack morals and are devoid of humanity.

Education is a beneficial tool because knowledge of different subject areas can create opportunities for children. Schools additionally teach students where they belong in a stratified, limiting society in indirect ways. Throughout my history courses, I learned that explorers and settlers enculturated the savage Indians. Textbooks emphasized how whites built their wonderful communities after ridding the land of Native-American influence. I now know this story is not accurate. In Occupied America: A History of Chicanos, Chicano Studies professor Rodolfo Acuña (2015) notes that Western thinkers “disrespect or slight” Indian history because “it challenges the legitimacy of [Western] conquest” (p. 1). Since most history textbooks