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1492
The Americas are "Discovered"
It is beleived that Christopher Columbus founded the Americas in 1492, but what history lessons often leave out is the way he treated the Native American tribes he came across. https://elpais.com/elpais/2018/11/16/inenglish/1542382462_591917.html This website takes a look into the ways in which Christopher Columbus is viewed in different countries across the world. In countries in the middle Americas, he is not seen as an icon like he is with the white pop. in the United States -
The Settlers Arrive
Years after Christopher Columbus discovered the Americas, settlers from Britain began to arrive and settle. What we don't learn is that at first the settlers interactions with the Native Americans were harsh and hard, but after plague overtook the tribes, they were forced to be peaceful. Things became rough again after settlers wanted to expand their territory. https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2015/11/151121-first-thanksgiving-pilgrims-native-americans-wampanoag-saints-and-strangers/ -
Removing Native American Tribes
https://www.loc.gov/teachers/classroommaterials/presentationsandactivities/presentations/immigration/native_american2.html This link takes us to the 1800's when the Native American tribes were persecuted and forced to move off their land and onto preservation. The website provides a very moving song that the Native tribe wrote to congress to try and fight back for their land. -
Trail of Tears
https://wosu.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/akh10.socst.ush.exp.trail/trail-of-tears/ This video explains in more detail the movement of Native American tribes, known as the "Trail of Tears" -
Establishing "AIM"
In the year 1968, in Minnesota, the American Indian Movement was founded by three social activist and Native Tribesmen by the names of: Dennis Banks, NeeGawNwayWeeDun, Clyde H. Bellecourt, George Mitchell. Their goal was to set out and connect Native American people together to fight against problems facing the community such as: poverty, housing, and police harassment. -
Occupation at Alcatraz
In the year 1969, young Native American tribesmen occupied the island that once held Alcatraz island, claiming that it should be converted into a learning center and preservation for the Indians. They occupied the island till sometime in 1971 and this greatly influenced the government's decision to abolish its policy of Termination and Relocation and to pass the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act of 1975.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adpVf6yMlew -
Broken Treaties
Native Americans formed a caravan to go from west coast to the east coast to protest and bring attention to the living standards that Native Americans faced in the country. They also drafted a 21 point proposition paper to give back power to the Indian nations, but was shot down in congress.
https://www.aimovement.org/ggc/trailofbrokentreaties.html -
Wounded Knee Incident
For 71 days in South Dakota, AIM's members overtook a small town named wounded knee. Their reasoning was because wanted to protest the removal of a tribal leader, and for Native Americans’ basic needs. This location was the site of the previous Wounded Knee massacre in 1890. Two officials were wounded and two Native Americans died. -
The Long Walk
In the year 1978, the American Indian Movement gathered over 2000 members and walked from San Francisco to the Washington monument over the course of 5 months in order to protest the 11 bills that were threatening the Native American population. Roughly 24 people made the entire journey. -
Recent Persecution
In recent years, the persecution has not stopped against the Native American people. At the beginning of 2019, a group of Native American men were out peacefully protesting, when a group of high school students interrupted them and were stopping them from what they were doing. What this shows is that nothing is changing and justice is not being served.
https://nypost.com/2019/01/21/teen-who-taunted-native-american-man-at-march-defends-his-actions/
