when Christopher Columbus discovered what would later become the United States America.
The goal of the attacks has been to eradicate the Native American Indian culture and secure
their homelands as property for the United States Government. From the early settlers forcing
Christianity upon the Indians to politicians of the United States forcibly removing children from
their parents’ home to be fully educated in the ways of the “white man” and further removing
them from the native roots. The steady barrage of attacks on their culture and their land has
had a profound effect on the Native American’s, but through it all they have managed to keep a large portion of their heritage in-tact. …show more content…
Arguably, the most devastating attack the Native Americans have faced is the force removal
of their children to attend boarding schools. After failing to assimilate Native American adults
they quickly turned their attention to the children. They fully expected the children to “jettison
their old ways and language and become English-speaking Americans.” The goal was to have Indian children attend school full time away from the reservation away from the influences of family and friends. There was no escaping this new school as attendance was mandatory. Page 2 Families either sent the children willingly or lose what little benefits they had. Those that chose to turn their back on the benefits, say soldiers or Indian police haul their children off to a school far removed from everything they had ever known. If removal was horrific, there was certainly no improvements when the children arrived at the school. Upon arrival to the school children were given new Anglo-American names, haircuts and uniforms. They were forced to pray to a new God and forbidden from speaking in their native tongue. Many children died while at schools, some by disease others by suicide. Standing Bear lamented “The change in clothing, housing, food, and confinement combined with lonesomeness was too much.” As recently as 2015 the government was still trying to force assimilation on the Native American Indian Population. As with many poor and rural communities, many Native Americans choose to serve in the United States Armed Forces. The pay and benefits are usually fairly good, some might say they are worth waiting for. While, Native Americans living on the reservation are able to sign up to fight for the country they …show more content…
This
injustice has finally been corrected, however it is further proof of the attack on Indian culture.
Native American Culture is not the only facet of their lives that have been under attack. Since
the days of DeSoto and Cortes American Indians have bartered, fought and signed treaties all in
Page 3 the hopes of saving the very land that they and their ancestors have always lived. The Siege at
Wounded Knee is a great example of their willingness to to what it takes to preserve their
homelands. After a skirmish with local law enforcement that led to federal marshals showing a
display of force, the American Indian Movement regrouped and joined forces the Oglala
traditional leaders and “announced the creation of the Oglala Sioux Nation. The new nation
swiftly announced its independence and used the Treaty of Fort Laramie to distinguish