The Indigenous Critique

The Trail of Tears is a tragic chapter in American history - as is the Wounded Knee Massacre, and the many that preceded it. The legacy of the European invasion of North America is, at this point, exhaustively documented; the abuses and injustices unleashed by white men on the indigenous inhabitants are, at this point, well known. What is less well known is their actual legacy. Many, if not most, think of the Native American tribes as bands of savages - violent, brutal, immoral. But they are wrong to think so. In fact, the legacy of Native America lives in our deepest commitments as a nation, and is enshrined in the holiest of our documents - the Constitution of the United States. What follows is a brief exposition of the latest historical research that articulates the truths and realities of Native American life, and the heritage we share. They gave us a framework for our government; a clear concept of liberty; a love of freedom strong enough to bring down kings and oppressors. In short, they provided - ironically - a model for the nation we became.