The Howling - A Short Story
Leech Lake Minnesota 1898. Most Ojibwe have ceded their land to the U.S. Government in exchange for Reservations in their ancestral homes.
Stone Hand stand on the shore of Leech Lake, now his home. Once all the land was theirs, no one to tell the Ojibwe that they had to stay on the Reservation, a prison for his people. The White lumber companies were encroaching onto the Ojibwe Reservation in search of lumber, taking what the Ojibwe were using to live on. The rations supplied by the Indian Agent were rotten, old and useless, his people were starving. The children crying and asking for food. Winter was coming soon, this would be a terrible time for the Ojibwe.
Elders and Chiefs from the Ojibwe tribe had requested that the lumber companies stay off the reservation, had begged for food for the children, all refused by the Indian Agent Tom Williams. Williams living in his big house getting rich at the suffering of a proud people.
Something must be done. Stone Hand puts his had to his head, the pain was fearsome, his belly ached, his head was like pounding thunder. Hunger was taking it's toll. Stone Hand sit's down on the shoreline, splashing water from the lake on his face, trying to clear his thoughts.
In Walker Minnesota, across the lake from Stone Hand, Tom Williams was making another deal, selling the food that was to go to the Ojibwe to the lumberjacks, making a tidy profit. Taking the cash allowance that was the payment for the Ojibwe lands and pocketing it added more to his account. He would soon be a very rich man.
Tom pushed back from the supper table, across from him sat Wilbur Johnson, owner of the lumber company. Wilbur hands Tom a thick packet of bill. Wilbur tells Tom that they are doing very well harvesting the hard woods off the Ojibwe Reservation but feels that the Ojibwe are becoming a problem with their protests. Tom assures Wilbur that he will take care of the ''Indian Problem''. It's Toms intention to withhold what little food he was giving to the Indians until they gave up more land. The money from Wilbur and the lumber company was good, making Toma rich man, no Goddamn Indian was going to stop that.
Stone Hand knew that today was the day for the food allotment from the Indian Agent. As the people gathered for the meager rations, Tom, standing on the back of his buckboard tells them, no rations, you've been causing trouble with your protests. Until you stop the protests there will be no rations for you. Whirling Girl, a young mother who's child is near death from lack of food, falls to her knees, no longer able to stand, the baby tumbling from her arms. Whirling Girl lies still, the baby not moving. Whirling Girl and the baby are dead. Tom looks at them with disdain and rides away.
Stone Hand comes back to the village later that evening. The people are quiet, sad, starvation is taking it's toll. Stone Hand goes to the Elders and ask's what should be done. The Elders have nothing to say, the lack of food is slowly killing them. Stone Hand raises to his feet, throws his head back, anger flashing like lightning. Now was the time. No longer will he allow his people to die at the hands of the white man. Greed will be paid back with a vengeance. The power and vengeance of Stone Hand and the Ghost Wolves.
Stone Hand leaves the village and heads into the forest, it's dark but he knows the land, this is his land, his father's land, his father's father's land. He is in his element, seeking out the ones that can help his people.
Deep in he forest a silent killer sits on his haunches, eyes searching the night, ears straining to pick up any sound. To his left stands another, he is surrounded by his kind. Senses at high alert, breathing slowly they watch Stone Hand coming towards them. Finally Stone Hand senses that they are all around him. No human, no Indian, no White man could match Stone Hands skill in the forest, only one creature could give him reason to pause, and they were all around him, hidden, but he knew they were there.
The Ghost Wolf know's why Stone Hand is here. It is time for Stone Hand to join the pack. They were his protector when he was born on that cold winter night, and he will be part of the pack forever. Ma'iingan howls into the night, a chilling sounds, sending fear into anyone that hears it. He is joined by the others, now all howling. The sound echoes across the lake. Tom is settled into his warm home for the night, but hears the howl. Wilbur, planning to destroy more Ojibwe forest hears it. Nothing but a pack of wolves, nothing to worry about.
Little did they know that they were listening to their death song. Stone Hand and the Ghost Wolves had spoken.
Tom Williams decided that he would harass the Ojibwe in ways that would seem legal. He started a campaign to arrest Ojibwe on trumped up charges.
Tom worked closely with Wilbur and the lumber company. Pocketing more money and allowing Wilbur to burn parts of the forest and then take the so called ''dead wood''
Stone Hand watched as Ojibwe were arrested and sent to Duluth and Minneapolis on trumped up charges. There they were turned loose, two hundred miles from home with no way to get back except to walk.
Tom's plan was working, the village was getting smaller and smaller, old men, women and children were the majority, and they were starving. The genocide of the Pillager Band of Ojibwe was moving forward, soon none would be left.
Tom and Wilbur met and discussed their plan. Tom said to Wilbur. Wilbur I'll need more money from you, the Goddamn Indians are soon going to be all dead and you'll have the whole forest to yourself. Wilbur knew that this would make him a rich man and agreed. Laughing at the plight of the Indians, they toasted with a drink to their success.
Stone Hand seeing that the band was getting smaller by the day. Death was taking his warriors who would give their small rations to the women and children slowly starving themselves. Stone Hand would seek help from the Red Lake Band of Ojibwe.
As he was walking along the road, he heard a shout from the U.S. Marshall, ''Hey Indian, where are you going''..Stone Hand looked at the Marshall saying nothing. The Marshall shouted at Stone Hand ''I think that your a thief, that knife isn't yours, to nice for a savage.'' Stone Hand still said nothing. Arrested and dragged to jail in Walker, Stone Hand knew that the time was soon.
Tom paid the Marshall his due for the false arrest and suggested that Stone Hand be put in chains and taken to Duluth some 150 miles away. Now, Tom and Wilbur would be rid of their one big problem, Stone Hand.
Stone Hand was put in chains and walked behind the buckboard, his wrists torn raw from the chains, his feet bleeding, the guard would jerk the chains pulling Stone Hand off his feet and then drag him until he could right himself. This left his arms and legs bloody and raw.
Tracking the guards and Stone Hand were Arrow Maker and Walks Tall, two warriors from his band. The guards stopped the buckboard at Crooked Creek to water the horses. As Cpl. Ben Rogers stood up, Stands Tall takes aim, pulling the bow string back the arrow leaves with the hate of Stands Tall guiding it. Cpl. Rogers feels a sharp pain and stumbles backward, unbelieving that there is an arrow through his gut, blood spurting out of his body, he drops to the ground his life ebbing out of him.
Arrow Maker and Stands Tall charge out of the timber, the guards, Pvt. Billy Sherman and Pvt. Jacob's reach for their rifles but it's to late. Stone Hand uses the chains as a garrote wrapping them around Billy's neck, pulling the chains taunt, Billy struggles for air. Stone Hand drops the chains and uses his bleeding and bloody hands to strangle Billy to death. Jacob runs for the timber, but again to late as Arrow Maker throws his war club, striking Jacob in the neck, crushing the neck bones. Jacob drops to the ground, dead.
They strip the soilder of their weapons and take the horses. They arrive back in their village late the next day. The village is dying, hunger is everywhere. Many have died over the past weeks. It's late September and winter is close. The smell of death hangs over the village.
Tom and Wilbur want the U.S. Army to capture Stone Hand and wipe out what's left of the Pillager Band. Stone Hands escape and the killing of the soldiers is a perfect excuse for the Army to kill all the savages.
Two companies of U.S. 3rd Infantry are sent to Walker from Fort Snelling. Stone Hand knows the end is near, he has seen how the U.S. Army kills women and children. Eight years earlier the massacre at Wounded Knee took place. Stone Hand remembers well this great victory by the U.S. Army over old men, women and children. This will not happen again. Stone Hand prepares for war.
Painting their bodies in red and black, the war colors of the Ojibwe, the few warriors left will fight to the death. Better to die a warrior then live as a slave. Stone Hand and his few warriors disappear into the timber surrounding their village.
Across Leech Lake the 3rd Infantry boards the boats to take them to ''Sugar Point'' the village of the Pillager Ojibwe. On arrival they see nothing but desperation, old men, women and children wrapped in old army blankets, more holes then blanket, the children hollow eyed, looking at nothing. Their mothers sobbing silently. The old men trying to defend their village as best they can.
Some of the soldiers can't look, the sight of starving children will haunt them. Others start burning the homes and beating the old men.
One old man, Thunder Water the father of Stone Hand stands to face a soldier who spits on him. Thunder Water throws back the blanket covering him and with his remaining strength swings the hidden bagamaagan (war club) at the soldier, the massive club crashes into the soldiers head, crushing his skull, he falls mortally wounded.
Shots ring out, arrows fill the air, soldiers fall, wounded and screaming to the ground. They form a defensive line and return fire, but there is nothing to stoot at, no warriors are seen, the women, children and old men are no longer there.
The First Sargent shouts to his commander ''Where the hell are they, they can't vanish, Goddamn Indians''..He swings around to rally his men, there in front of him is Stone Hand. War Paint covering his body, hate in his eyes, hand gripping his bagamagan. Where the hell did he come from, he wasn't there a minute ago. The First Sargent fires point blank at Stone Hand, nothing, others fire at him, still he is standing there. Suddenly a War Cry erupts from his lips, swinging his bagamagan he delvers a crushing blow to the Sargents head, splitting it open, killing him instantly.
The battle rages through the day. Soldiers dying and Indians seemingly ghosts, none have been killed. . Major Tolls shouts to his men to ''charge the savages, kill them all''..the men are fearful, these Indians seem like ghosts. Major Tolls starts to move forward, then a arrow pierces his throat. He longer will he return to his family, he has suffered the fate that he has delivered to so many savages. The Infantry is in confusion, retreating back to the boat is there only escape. Lt. Whelen tries to steady his man for a fighting retreat.
Moving back to the boat, the shooting has stopped, the air is silent. Lt. Whelen is worried, this isn't right, the Indians should be attacking. He and his men turn to towards the boat.
Oh my God, screams one of his men. There between the retreating men and the boat are the Ghosts Wolves, yellow eyes hungrily searching for a victim. Lips drawn back and the ugly deadly fangs snapping at the air. Soldiers trying to get away jump into the lake, but the wolves have chosen their victims. Few survive to tell the story.
The battlefield is silent, death clouds the air. Ojibwe warriors appear, seemingly out of thin air. The old men and women start picking up the weapons of the fallen soldiers.
They are preparing for more blood letting. They know the Army will be back.
Stone Hand looks at his few warriors, only 29, plus the elders, women and children. They had defeated a force of 80 U.S. Infantrymen, killing many and wounding many more. He was proud of his people, they had lost no warriors.
Stone Hand stands before his father, Thunder Water. Stone Hand speaks to his father: Father we have defeated the Chimookamonnug (Long Knives). Yes my son, but they will return more, there is no end to the Zhaagnaash (white people), we will go into the deepest part of our land, they will come for us but will pay dearly. We will die a proud people, willing to give our lives for our freedom.
As the Pillagers moved silently into the forest, the women now caring weapons of the dead sodiers, they too would fight. The Elders, armed with bow and arrow, knives and war clubs would fight until they were cut down. The U.S. Army had no mercy on savages.
Word had spread of the Pillager victory at Sugar Point. The Red Lake Ojibwe began arming themselves. The White Earth, Cass Lake, Mille Lacs and Bois Forte Ojbwe were also arming themselves, ready for war. Other small bands from Warroad and Grand Rapids joined the larger bands. Over 3,000 Warriors all ready to die for their freedom.
Panic was spreading in the towns, Bemidji, Cass Lake, Deer River, Grand Rapids and Walker. Additional federal troops were sent from Fort Snelling. The Minnesota National Guard mobilized. Local settler organized impromptu militias.
Tom Williams and Wilbur Johnson were sure that now the Ojibwe would be wiped out and they would control the land and it's timber. Each, seeing the money they would get from the death of the Ojibwe, but no Indian attacks came.
A few days later an old Indian, Thunder Water, walked into the town of Cass Lake, no weapons, only a piece of paper in his hand. Panic spread through the town. All watching Thunder Water slowly walk down the street, paper in hand.
A local resident, Wayne Nelson raised his gun, others hollered: Kill the damn Indian. Thunder Water did not stop, he kept walking toward them. Wayne's wife grabs his arm, no, don't you dare shoot him, he's an old man, we have taken their land and I know what the Indian Agent Williams is doing to them, let him be. At that moment their young son, Joshua, around 10 years of age broke loose from his mothers grip and ran to the Indian. His father aimed at the Indian ready to shoot, but the boy simply asked Thunder Water, did you come to kill us. Thunder Water looked at the boy. No, I have come in peace to deliver this to the town newspaper. Handing the paper to Joshua, he turned and walked back into the timber.
The boy took the paper to the newspaper, The Cass County Pioneer. Ben Owens, the editor of the paper read the note, shocked, he re-read it. How could savages know how to write, many Whites didn't know how.
''We, the undersigned chiefs and headmen of the Pillager band of Ojibwe Indians of Minnesota...respectfully represent that our people are caring a heavy burden, and in order that they may not be crushed by it, we humbly petition you to send a commission, consisting of men who are honest and cannot be controlled by lumbermen, to investigate the existing troubles here...We now have only the pine lands of our reservation for our future subsistence and support, bu the manner in which we are being defrauded out of these has alarmed us. The lands are now, as heretofore, being underestimated by the appraiser, the pine thereon is being destroyed by fires in order to create the class of timber known as dead or down timber, so as to enable others to cut all sell for their own benefit.''
Ben knew that this was an important paper and set about publishing it. Later that day the letter from the Ojibwe appear in the Cass Country Pioneer. The settlers read it, not sure what to make of it. Tom Williams and Wilbur Johnson read it and were furious. Damn Indians, they all need to be killed said Tom.
Several days later US Commissioner of Indian Affairs, William Jones negotiated with the Pillager leaders in a council at Leech Lake Reservation. The council concluded, Commissioner Jones critized local and state offcials of the ''frequent arrests of Indians on trivial causes, often for no cause at all, taking them down to Duluth and Minneapolis for trial, two hundred miles away, and then turning them adrift without means to return home."
Jones later said in a report to the Secretary of the Interior: ''The Indians were prompted to their outbreak by the wrongs committed against them and chafed under unfair treatment. They now will go back to their homes and live peaceably if the whites treat them fairly, which is very likely, as the white were thoroughly impressed with the stand taken by the Indians. In this respect the outbreak has taught them a lesson.''
The Pilager returned to their home on Sugar Point. At least for now there was peace. Tom and Wilbur were not to give up their evil ways just yet.
A few days later Tom and Wilbur met in the Timber Saloon for drink, food and to figure another way to get more of the Ojibwe timber, not caring if it meant killing more of the Ojibwe. Talking and planning late into the night, they now knew what they must do. Full from food and drink, pleased with their new plan they walked out into the night. It was now late October, the nights in Northern Minnesota were cold, the leaves falling from the trees, both men pulled their heavy coats around them and mounted their horses.
Heading down the road into the forest, the night was bright, the moon casting flickering shadows as they road. Tom though that he heard a strange sound. He said to Wilbur: Wilbur did you hear that sound! Wilbur replied, no Tom didn't hear anything. Again in the distance the sound found it's way to them. Damn Wilbur it's the Indians beating on drums, damn fools. Laughing Tom and Wilbur continued down the road, knowing that soon they would control the timber.
Stone Hand stood in the shadows, hidden from Tom and Wilbur's view. Suddenly both horses stopped, they spured their horses, but they wouldn't move. What the hell said Tom, starting to get off his horse. Wilbur sees a movement in the darkness. Tom there is something out there. Tom looks around and tells Wilbur you've had to much to drink.
Then the sound, the chilling sound of a wolves howl. Close, to close, then another and another. Each more terrifying than the last. Tom and Wilbur were panicked, spurring their horses who would not move. Closer, now the howling was next to them. Tom tried to pull out his rifle, but it was to late. The yellow eyes and slashing fangs cut through the night. Savagely they were pulled from their horses, the wolves ripping their flesh. Tom and Wilbur were in their death dance, the Ghost Wolves their partners.
Stone Hand watched their death dance, eyes never moving from the attack. Now he turned his back to them and moved into the forest, his home. The death howl of the Ghost Wolves mixed with the beating of the drums made a macabe sound.
The Ghost Wolves, his brothers had extracted their revenge. Tom and Wilbur had paid for their greed with their lives.
Vengence of the Ghost Wolves was complete.
Kavika 2011 All Rights Reserved. Do Not Use Without Permission.
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This story is based in part on a true story, some names are part of history, some are not.
My grandfather fought at the ''Battle of Sugar Point''. Today I have a artifact from the battle that was my grandfathers.
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Hope that you enjoy the story.
Give me some time and I will try to produce imagery to accompany this.
Wow! What a powerful story!
I'm so glad that Tom and Wilbur were killed by the ghost wolves-- they caused way too much suffering, all for their own greed. Just desserts, so to speak.
How can the Ojibwe forgive and live with the white man in peace? I hope that they can... I hope that their burden is lessened in the future.
Just one of many injustices done to the Ojibwe people...The ''Tragedy at Sandy Lake'' is another, Dowser.
The injustices against Native Americans continue, though it's no longer via the Europeans:
Your story was well written btw
Vic, I suggest that you keep up with the current situations regarding that (injustices). You are not well informed on the subject.
Yes, there is corruption on some rez's...But actually what does that have to do with the overall position that the government has taken against natives for the last 500 years or so?
Your story was well written btw...Thank you.
What do you mean by 500 years? The US government is only about half that age. I also have a close friend who lives in Gallup, NM. She lives near quite a few reservations and tells me the corruption by tribal leaders is fairly common. You say no?
Vic,
He means since the white man set foot on the continent. In that context he is accurate.
If you want to be technical, since the founding of America 241 years ago, but as always the prior few hundred years were no picnic for natives.
There are 326 reservations in the U.S. and 567 federally recognized tribes. I would suspect that with that many rez's and tribes there will be some corruption, don't you?
As for your friend in Gallup, I guess the first question is, is she native? What are her facts or proof? Or is she just taking a guess?
Here is a little information for you Vic, I suggest you look up Gallup NM and racism against Indians. BTW that would be the Navajo nation/rez that she is close to.
It seems that you're trying, for some reason, to equate natives with corruption and not face the facts that U.S. government corruption against natives is the subject, past and present.
As a side note, the U.S. government is far from being free of corruption.
There is no question my friend that corruption exists on both sides....
In fact it stands to reason, wherever government have been formed to control societies, corruption soon follows.
I believe it has something to do with one set of people wanting what other people have..... (and believing that taking is easier than earning.
Jesus, Mary and Joseph.....I am so tired of hearing what the white man did to the entire universe, I could puke.
Of course there is NWM, my point being that the U.S. government corruption against the natives is the subject and the settlements due to this corruption against natives is and has been staggering.
Corbell vs Jewell resulted in an settlement for tribes of $3.4 Billion dollars. This was a negotiated settlement since the actual theft was considerably larger. That is one of many suits that natives have won in court due to the corruption of the U.S. Government.
I know your sick of it and want to puke Magnoliaave, the truth does that to people that want to avoid it.
In one respect I agree Mags, it does get old hearing about how a whole genetic subgroup of humans are less than human. Over and over again.
But that is a two way street, and anyone who takes an honest look at it has to agree. But we as people always like to bemoan and lament the past, but it is history.
the real issue is where do we go from here....
And we need to learn about it from all sides so we do not repeat the same mistakes.
I wish what was written here was the absolute truth, but unfortunately, it is a great story but a work of historical fiction.
Lets enjoy it for what it is, not whatever meaning we wish to interpret it as.....
I agree.
There are 326 reservations in the U.S. and 567 federally recognized tribes. I would suspect that with that many rez's and tribes there will be some corruption, don't you?
It is a reasonable assumption
As for your friend in Gallup, I guess the first question is, is she native? What are her facts or proof? Or is she just taking a guess?
She is not a native American. It would be local small talk. She works in a supermarket
Here is a little information for you Vic, I suggest you look up Gallup NM and racism against Indians. BTW that would be the Navajo nation/rez that she is close to..
I hope your'e not suggesting my old girlfriend is a racist - I can get pretty hostile myself. However, if you mean there are people who don't like native Americans In Gallup - I cant really argue that. I have been there. I met a lot of native Americans and I think they were some of the nicest people I had the good fortune to meet. There are a few serious problems in Gallup that are kind of unique, but not relevant to this discussion.
It seems that you're trying, for some reason, to equate natives with corruption and not face the facts that U.S. government corruption against natives is the subject, past and present.
You are half right. I do face the facts of US government corruption. They did occur and were definitely more egregious than what some tribal leaders have done to their own people - that's the part were you are wrong.
You see corruption & oppression is not confined to Europeans or the US government. Tribal leaders have been involved in corruption and the warrior nations like the Sioux raided & subjugated other tribes like the Pawnee.
That was my only point.
Fair enough
Your word is good with me. Thanks for the clarification.
I did not say that there wasn't corruption in some of the tribes Vic. As far as warrior nations subjugating other tribes, I don't see what this has to do with the article.
I'm glad that we agree on the nature of corruption. The warrior nations had nothing to do with this particular article - It is because I have read all of your articles since Iv'e been here, that I added it. It was beginning to appear that you were painting the white race as the oppressor race. Nobody is the sole owner of that title. History shows that all groups have been both oppressor & victim.
Thanks for commenting.
It was my pleasure
So am I!
Just remember, neither you nor I have anything to feel guilty about. As a matter of fact we can be proud to be citizens of the most decent & generous & free nation that ever existed
Actually it isn't historical fiction NWM. The battle of ''Sugar Point'' took place in the time frame and area as shown in the article. Some of the characters are actual. The words of the government officials is a direct quote. The cities/towns and newspapers are accurate.
The reason for the battle is two fold, I only took one of them.
Of course some of the characters are fictional.
I don't why either of you, Vic and Magnoliaave are thinking that you should feel guilty. It was a story that was taken from actual events and presented as a piece of American history.
Seems that you protest too loudly.
God.....my people innocently came to the new world. Not to kill Indians, but to have a life that was denied them in England. The travel brochure didn't say anything about killing American Indians.
Criteria....you will be travelling alone and you must kill six American Indians to survive. Just got off on a damn ship that was hell. Put my foot on land and wham o.....
My people came here not to have slaves, but to be slaves to the earth and to a new way of life. Free from religious persecution only to find out that 300 years later they are still persecuted for things they ran away from.
It doesn't make sense.
You damn right we do. I don't feel guilty, but weary of it.
Look, this is kind of plain and simple. Why anyone is taking this personally I don't understand. It's a story. The fact that the indians lost their home is a fact. No one is accusing you specifically, so I don't understand your indignation. We can't sanitize history because it's ugly. It is what it is and we can all learn from it, instead of getting hot under the collar about it.
I think we can all agree on that.
Sure, why not?
Indignation? You betcha!
It is Historical fiction, but a lot more history than fiction NWM.
If you don't have anything to add that deals with the history and article presented, please take your whining somewhere else Magnoliaave.
You have been off topic with every comment. No more off topic or they will be deleted.
Do you understand that Magnoliaave?
"No one is accusing you specifically..."
I disagree. White people are constantly cast as the villain in world history. Bullshit. I'm not ashamed of anything I personally did and I reject any personal responsibility for the failures of other cultures.
''It is because I have read all of your articles since Iv'e been here, that I added it. It was beginning to appear that you were painting the white race as the oppressor race. Nobody is the sole owner of that title. History shows that all groups have been both oppressor & victim.''
Vic, I don't know how long you have been here, but I doubt that you've read all or even most of my articles. I write and post on many different subjects to include humor and animal stories. So if you were beginning to, or feel now, that I blame the white race as the oppressor race I think that your mistaken. The fact of the matter is this article is history, if that seems to you that I'm blaming the white race as the oppressor race, what I'm doing is simply posting history. You can make of that what you wish.
In reading your comments it seems to me that you're trying to avoid history. It is what it is Vic, avoidance or denial of history only leads to repeating it.
It was my pleasure having this debate with you.
I don't deny that my friend, your facts as laid out are mainly correct and I have no objection to their telling, you already know that.
But when you add fictional characters talking fictional lines and doing fictional acts, it becomes a work of historical fiction wrapped in a very specific time telling a very specific story.
Exactly the type of story I like....
And you already know that I do not feel that anyone alive today can be held responsible for what was done decades or even centuries ago. that being said, governments that were in existence back then, and propagated atrocities in my opinion can be held responsible to the oppressed, if they still exist today, to the extent such atrocities can be proven.
Time never assuages atrocities.
You and I have had words over this topic before, I don't want to have words with you. The truths as I see them lie somewhere in between our two positions. We would do well to learn from each other and find the truths together rather than beat each other up needlessly.
Your story tells a truth, the truth that the natives were not stupid savages, they understood what was happening to them, not all of them reacted violently and there was even division between the natives on just what should be done and how the white man should be handled.
(Investigate the history of the Creek War if you want proof of that last statement)
But then you already know what I'm saying.
Really really I appreciate your take on this subject, I apologize if my approach does not acknowledge you as the Native American expert. I am not a paleface expert so we are even in that regard. I recognize your right to stand for your heritage, and me mine as much as I can. (doing that today could get me accused of being A Nazi given the political environment)
I would stand with you to defend you against all unreasonable vile attacks as I'm sure you would reciprocate. What is right is right and wrong is wrong.
And that is what matters. If I think your wrong I'll state my case, that does not mean I'm insulting you or denigrating you.
You write beautifully, and I enjoyed it very much, both the factual parts (which need to be told) and the fictitious parts which served to highlight the factual parts.
Literature sir is the history of our society as communicated. As opposed to raw history being about facts and places. It is about not only recounting how people acted back then, but their thoughts on what should be which sometimes isn't told in the other branch of the historical records.
My Kudos to you for an excellent historical retelling.
You really should go and get published, even if it is only a compendium of shorts, you have an obvious talent for it.
Peace, My Friend
NWM
PS: Some will have issue with the repetition of stories of how bad others were treated historically and how we should feel guilty for it cause we are descended from them. there are even people who have directly said such on the forum. You have not specifically done that sir to my knowledge.
But there are people that do, and to be fair, it does get old.
Cerenkov, what are you talking about? How did this end up being about world history.. or you personally?
As for the failures of other cultures.? Do you blame Jews for the Holocaust? Armenians for their genocide? Do you not see how flawed that argument is..
I'll accept that explanation, here, now. However, I'm rather fond of posting historical articles as well. I'm doing a little research on the Fort Recovery Massacre. Maybe I'll post it, for the sake of learning from history, of course.
If the story is in a historical setting and whites mistreated Indians at the time the story is set, what are you whining about Cerenkov?
Nice strawman. I don't blame victims for their victimization. I also don't accept personal blame because of my ethnicity. That's bigotry.
Whites did not oppress Indians. White individuals oppressed them. Collective punishment (or blame) is immoral.
Yes, going back in time can be tiresome to many, unfortunately it didn't end in the 17th, 18th 19th or 20th century. In our lifetimes there have been a number of ruling/actions that have perpetuated the injustices against Indians.
I know that you're familiar with the ''fish wars'' of the PNW and the Boldt decision of the 1970's. In fact after the decision the Indians that were arrested and convicted of crimes never had their convictions overturned. They have had to go through life with felony convictions if I'm not mistaken.
Of course you can add the adoption era, boarding school era, tribal termination act, Walleye wars, etc etc....All in our lifetime.
That was not a strawman and in fact, you are kind of proving my point. The indians were the victims here. The indians lived here for thousands of years and were fine. Then an alien group of people arrived on their shores and within a relatively short period of time, they were all but gone. They just happened to be from Europe. If they were Asian, the indians would have felt the same way.
It is not bigotry to state facts. These are the facts.
Yes my friend, it seems like a never ending battle, I can throw a few more into the arena, the cigarrette tax wars, the Indian Gaming Act, The Indian Civil Rights act. The Tribal Sovereignty Act.
The list goes on and on.....
Someday we will learn we are all one people separated by a common heritage, the days of our forefathers is over.
Well, that would be misplaced indignation. On one hand, you had indignation when people were trying to take down statues because they were part of your past, but on the other hand, you have indignation because indians don't want to forget their past? Do you not find that ironic? I do.
We are indeed all one people. The only thing that separates us are our biases of one another. Once those biases are resolved, we will learn that we are all truly connected by one undeniable fact. We simply all human beings.
Indeed, the bigotry is in denying them.
The U.S. government and various state governments oppressed Indians, and as part of the U.S. it would seem that many individuals supported the government Cerenkov.
You are aware of U.S. government policy towards Indians are you not?
FYI, ethnic cleansing and or Manifest Destiny is a hell of lot more immoral than your example.
I think the guys that crucified Jesus, you know, Mary's boy, may have been on the White-ish side of the color wheel.
Why such paranoia here? No one is asking for a collective guilt concession from NT Caucasians.
But let us not shy away from the reality that Native Americans had their land stolen and their lives taken by uninvited immigrants who happened to be white Europeans, who, subsequently wrote laws that retroactively made their carnage, pillaging and murder ... "legal"!
Was this an act of genocide ... would the European whites have placed other whites on the "Trail of Tears"?
If history contained a Native American "Chief Donald Trump" ... would he have built a wall and had Europeans pay for it?
There are many inconvenient truths in the history of so-called "humanity," many of which are indicative of how inhuman we can be.
Are we personally responsible for the "sins of out fathers?" I don't think that's the issue here; what is the issue IMO, is a reluctance to denounce certain crimes against humanity if they even remotely make us feel that we might not be trying hard enough at being out brother's keeper.
Can of worms.
Please do post an article on the ''massacre'' Vic. It will be interesting to sort out the root cause of it.
I was thinking of adding more articles that deal with King Phillips War or the Great California Genocide or I might go with the Long March.
Of course mine will be in the interest of true history...
The study of history IS the search for truth my friend, there is no true or false history.
Without truth, it is nothing but a bunch of disjointed facts and lonely places with no relevance to the human condition.
The least important thing is where or who it comes from.
Unfortunately, there are many in the world that will vigorously deny or try to refute the truth of anything they choose to disagree with. That is their choice. However, that will not change the truth. Something that truly perplexes those who choose to deny it.
Amen Sister!
I echo Dowser...." what a powerful story" As always, this is written VERY well. You really should get at least some of your stories. (if not all of them) Good going Prez!!
Thanks Nona...Maybe someday I'll try to get them published.
my friend, a little more fleshing out and your stories would be better than most.
I for one would buy them....
Thanks NWM, I try to keep them short. If I was to go into detail, the stories would be much longer.
Excellent story Kavika. And a good glimpse into the corruption of the Agency.
Thanks Bruce, it was quite corrupt.
Another of your very excellent stories, Kavika. Thank you for posting it. I remember it well from before. It is great to read it again, as the story is very powerful.
Thanks RW.
Great story and writing !
Thanks pat.
I have yet to put my two cents in ... I am going to read all the comments and try to address in a single comment subsequently, those with which I agree and disagree and summarize my view.
Great read Kavika and thank you!
Interestingly we just returned from a weekend with my folks at Chase on the Lake over on Leech.
Great photo Larry. Hope that you had a great time there.
Thanks for stopping by.