Wednesday, November 27, 2019
Honoring Our Native Peoples
Perhaps we can honor this Thanksgiving by correcting the myths surrounding the holiday. We best honor the truth of the hardships poured upon the native people by the white Europeans and their progeny. A more accurate telling is that the American Native peoples welcomed the first arrivers and intended no harm. In return, the Europeans, particularly the second and later generations, disrespected Native culture and attempted to extinguish Native cultures.
Fortunately many in the US are calling for our history textbooks to include accurate information on US treatment of enslaved people. We must do the same for Native Peoples by acknowledging the harm done to tribal cultures and their individual members. That harm at times included genocidal policies.
Among our gratitudes this year can be our commitment to truth-telling.
https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/human_rights/2019/11/honoring-our-native-peoples.html