UnThanksgiving

November is Native American Indian month it is only right to write a post on the quality of life for Native Americans living under the American Government. First of all I find it mocking that Native Americans, along with African-Americans, Women, Puerto Ricans etc. all receive a month of acknowledgement as if to say that your history only counts during this month and your contributions to the building of this country don’t matter after it is over. All of these groups make up the United States of America and their personal histories should be celebrated every month of the year right along with the White Male European History that is taught in every school across the country.
Since the founding of the United States of America Native American people have been instrumental in helping the European immigrants. In the beginning there was Pocahontas, a Native American girl who saved John Smith, an explorer, from being killed by her father, the chef. Pocahontas married settler John Rolfe and this union brought peace to the Native Americans for eight years. Another famous historic Native American is Sacagawea who helped explorers Lewis and Clark on their expedition through the lands that were obtained in the Louisiana Purchase. Sacagawea traveled thousands of miles leading the expedition from 1804-1806. She was the only woman on the entire journey and carried her infant baby on her back. She was instrumental in obtaining horses and other guides for the journey. Her help was invaluable to the health and safety of the explorers. Other famous Native Americans are Geronimo, Sitting Bull, Red Cloud, Chief Joseph and Crazy Horse who were all warriors who fought honorably for their people and preservation of the land they knew to be given to them by the Creator.
Today there are still Native Americans that are famous. Adam Beach is a Native American actor who has been in fifty films and TV shows. Ben Nighthorse Campbell was a U.S. Senator until 2005. He was the first Native American to hold a position in the U.S. Senate since 1933. Ira Hayes was a member of the team of Marines who raised the flag in Iwo Jima that raised patriotism during WWII. The photo is famous for its depicting of “American Freedom”.
Yet, even with these individual accomplishments of Native Americans the majority of Native Americans are still disadvantaged and can be argued to be the most disadvantaged people living in the U.S. Native Americans lack in political, social, and economic status in America.
Politically, as stated Senator Campbell was the first Senator since 1933. He is now retired from his position and now Native Americans have no representation in the Senate. Native Americans have also been politically repressed in this country not becoming citizens and obtaining the right to vote until 1924.
Socially, most Native Americans try to hold onto their ancestral heritage and traditions. However, many worry that too much assimilation into mainstream “American Culture” will have a negative effect. For example, the number of languages spoke by Native Americans when Europeans first arrived to America was about 300 different languages. Now about only 190 languages are still spoken. There is only about 40 languages spoken by people of all ages in the tribes. Moving to urban areas has had an impact on the social structure. Families were once considered the entire tribe, whereas today the family is viewed in European fashion consisting of a mother, father, and child.
Economically, things have somewhat improved but nothing that can really establish change. Education for Native Americans in the 1960’s averaged about eight and half years. Today, a majority of Native Americans graduate from high school. Yet, only 9% of all Native Americans go onto college. This is nothing if change is to be made. Other ways that Native Americans have made some economic gains is through opening casinos. Nevertheless, these small steps do not amount to much. The average income for Native Americans is still lower than the national average. Most hold low paying, unskilled jobs. Suicide and infant mortality rates are higher and life expectancy is lower than the rest of the United States. Alcoholism is also a big problem amongst Native Americans. This is a drug that was given to them by the European settlers.
Though there is much against Native Americans in the United States some have tried and risen against the power structure that systematically oppresses the masses of people, specifically Native Americans. A.I.M. (The American Indian Movement) is one of these groups that has tried to make strides for Native Americans. In 1968 A.I.M. was founded to work for equal rights, better living conditions, economic independence, and autonomy over tribal areas, and restoration of illegally seized lands for Native Americans.
A.I.M. brought attention to the grievances of Native Americans by having a series of public protests. They participated in the nineteen month occupation of Alcatraz in 1969 and then went on to protest at many other things that downplayed the role Native Americans played in American history. One of the more famous events was the take over of the BIA building (Bureau of Indian Affairs) in Washington D.C. in 1972 where A.I.M. members demanded the review of U.S. treaty violations and the establishment of improved educational and economic programs.
One of the most famous A.I.M. members and Native Americans of our current era is Political Prisoner Leonard Peltier. Mr. Peltier is a Chippewa Indian born on the Turtle Mountain Reservation in North Dakota. Mr. Peltier is being incarcerated for the murders of FBI agents Ronald A. Williams and Jack R. Coler who died in a shoot-out on the Pine Ridge Reservation. Mr. Peltier has been unjustly imprisoned since February 6, 1976. There have been many irregularities to the case. First, an FBI agent has changed his story on what type of car the other agents were following onto the Reservation. Initially, the agent said a pick-up truck and later changed his story to a red and white van, the same vehicle that Peltier owned. Second, three teen-age Native Americans said that FBI agents threatened and forced them to testify against Peltier. Thirdly, the marks from the firing pin from Peltier’s gun did not match those of the shell cases. These are all part of a larger issue at hand. It is ironic that during a time in American history when the FBI, under J. Edgar Hoover, with his COINTELPRO program targeted progressive organizations would set-up Mr. Peltier. Mr. Peltier has remained in prison for almost 30 years. Peltier is an icon of the Native American struggle and how the American government still represses Native Americans. Some have even argued that regardless if Peltier killed the agents it should not matter because it occurred during a war-like atmosphere on the reservation in which FBI agents were terrorizing residents of the Pine Ridge Reservation. Mr. Peltier has gained support from the following: Nelson Mandela, Rigoberta Menchú, Amnesty International, the U.N. High Commissioner on Human Rights, Tenzin Gyatso (the 14th Dalai Lama), the European Parliament, the Kennedy Memorial Center for Human Rights, the Rev. Jesse Jackson, music artists Rage Against the Machine and Dead Prez, and many other leftist organizations.
Please follow the links below to learn more about Mr. Leonard Peltier and how to help him. His foundation is hosting a Christmas Drive to help the children living on the Pine Ridge Reservation.

www.myspace.com/freepeltier
http://www.leonardpeltier.net/documents/giftdrive.pdf
http://www.leonardpeltier.net/