Native America, Discovered and Conquered
Thomas Jefferson, Lewis & Clark, and Manifest Destiny
by Robert J. Miller

Archive for November, 2009

Another commentary on the “real” Thanksgiving

Saturday, November 21st, 2009

I have already posted one entry on the “real” Thanksgiving.
Here is another lucid explanation from a professor at Univ. Texas at Austin about the reality of what the Thanksgiving myth hides in American history.
I quote just a small part of the article: “Over the past few years a growing number of white people have [...]

New book on Indian Child Welfare Act

Saturday, November 21st, 2009

The Michigan State Press has just published a new book entitled “Facing the Future: The Indian Child Welfare Act at 30.”
It is a collection of chapters by different authors, many of whom spoke at a conference on this same theme in 2008. I co-wrote one of the chapters with Terry Cross, the executive director [...]

Op/ed piece on Obama meeting with tribal leaders

Saturday, November 21st, 2009

I’m excerpting part of this opinion piece that ran in the Kentucky news.
“on Nov. 5, hundreds of Native American tribal leaders gathered in Washington, D.C., fulfilling a campaign promise President Barack Obama made. One representative from each of the 564 federally recognized tribes was invited and nearly 400 came to the White House [...]

Thanksgiving – the true meaning?

Friday, November 20th, 2009

The student newspaper at Western Illinois University has a great editorial by the paper’s board on the truth about Thanksgiving: “Remember what the true meaning of Thanksgiving is next week”
I’m only excerpting a bit of it here so if you want to read the entire editorial go to this link.
“Thanksgiving is upon us [...]

California tribes give generously to charities

Friday, November 20th, 2009

As just one example of what many tribes do with casino revenues, the press reports that the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians has donated $30 million to charities since 2001. The tribe was recently recognized by the Council for Resource Development for giving to community colleges.
Also, the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians [...]

BLM nominates 63 Indian sites for historic protection

Friday, November 20th, 2009

The Bureau of Land Management has nominated 63 sites along Nine Mile Canyon in Utah to be placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The canyon is known for rock carvings and paintings that were created by Ute people. The BLM wants to ultimately nominate up to 800 sites for the register, the Associated [...]

N.D. tribal college starts nursing program

Friday, November 20th, 2009

There is currently a shortage of nurses in the United States and a looming crisis due to a lack of nurses in the near future.
The Fort Berthold Community College in North Dakota and the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation are taking steps to cure that problem both off and on the reservation.
The college is offering [...]

Op/Ed piece on the power of tribal unity

Friday, November 20th, 2009

Professor Steve Russell writes in part in a recent Indian Country Today:
“Tecumseh, Pontiac, Dragging Canoe – you could make a long list of historical personages whose primary contribution to American Indian political thought was the realization that all Indians have a target on their backs and will until we have been separated [...]

Oneida Nation of Wisconsin returning to native foods

Friday, November 20th, 2009

The Oneida Nation of Wisconsin is restoring its corn farming tradition in hopes of improving tribal citizens’ health and preserving its tribal culture.
The Oneidas went to their ancestral homeland in New York 16 years ago to obtain seeds for white corn. “Even though we’ve been removed from New York, we’re still connected. The [...]

Tribe buys investment company

Friday, November 20th, 2009

The Lower Brule Sioux tribe, based in South Dakota, purchased the Westrock Group. The company is reportedly the first fully Native American-owned investment firm.
The press reports that as a result, Westrock will gain an advantage because tribal business do not have to pay federal income tax.
Don Hunter, Westrock’s chief executive officer, also [...]