Native American Month


November is Native American Month. In acknowledgment of Native American Month, here is a brief summary of some historical events involving the Native Americans over the last half of the last millenium.


Dates  Events
     
October 12, 1492   Christopher Columbus arrives at what will be called the "New World". It is not clear which of two islands in the Carribean was the first to encounter this brutal explorer. Within days of being on First People lands he was already making plans to enslave them and to capture some to return to show Queen lsabella of Spain his human trophies. Columbus had extenive plans to enslave the First People to work on Spanish land holdings and was actively engaged in First People slave camps in the New World. Historic records suggest that Columbus's as well as the interests of the Spanish Royal Court were exploitation of lands, any humans encountered, and the unending search for gold for self-enrichment.
     
1775 - 1783   American Revolution
     
September 21, 1728   Pennsylvania militia sets out to destroy Susquehanna River Indian Towns
     
March 8-9, 1782  American Colonel David Williamson massacres peaceful Indians at Gnaddenhutten, Ohio
     
January 7, 1802   President Thomas Jefferson believed Indians had more land than they needed. He felt that if they became indebted at the government trade houses, they would sell their lands to pay the debts. He also voiced the opinion that if they became farmers that they would need less land. On this day, he addressed the Wea, Potawatomi, and Miami Indians on the latter issues. He extolled the virtues of renewable food and clothing supplies. "We will with pleasure furnish you with implements for the most necessary arts, and with persons who may instruct you how to make and use them." [emphasis added]
    [Quoted from: This Day in North American Indian History: Important Dates in the History of North America's Native Peoples for Every Calendar Day, Phil Konstantin, The Perseus Books Group Publisher, 2002]
     
June 19, 1812   USA declares war on Great Britain
     
May 28, 1830   President Andrew Jackson signs the Indian Removal Act
     
December 6, 1862   Thirty-eight Santee Sioux are hanged in the largest mass execution in the USA with the approval of President Abraham Lincoln.
     
December 14, 1886   Use of Indian Language became illegal in Mississippi Schools.
     
November 20, 1890   Cavalry and infantry reinforcements arrive at Pine Ridge (now in South Dakota) and Rosebud (now in South Dakota) reservations to counter the practice of the "Ghost Dance" religion. Some 3,000 First People were gathered.
     
December 15, 1890   Infamous quote from the editor of the Aberdeen Saturday Pioneer newspaper by its editor Frank Baum (best known as the author of The Wizard of Oz) penned the following passage:
    "The spirit of the original owners of these vast prairies inherited through centuries of fierce and bloody wars for their possession, lingered last in the bosom of Sitting Bull. With his fall the nobility of the Redskin is extinguished, and what few are left are a pack of whining curs who lick the hand that smites them. The Whites, by law of conquest, by justice of civilization, are masters of the American continent, and the best safety of the frontier settlements will be secured by the total annihilation of the few remaining Indians." [emphasis added]
     
December 29, 1890   Five hundred US soldiers under Colonel James Forsyth surround Big Foot's camp. Soldiers take the camp with Hotchkiss guns. Military kill approximately 300 (known as the Battle of Wounded Knee).

SOURCES:

This Day in North American Indian History: Important Dates in the History of North America's Native People for Every Calendar Day, Phil Konstantin, The Perseus Books Group Publisher, 2002