Month: April 2021

These days New York State and the city are in the news not good news now mind you. It has many problems such as crime, overcrowding, politicians, rundown buildings and many other things.

The story of this place is famous for the price that was paid to the tribe that lived there before there was a New York. The story goes that for a few trinkets and beads the Lenape Indians sold it to the Dutch. All this added up to about a deal valued at $24.00 dollars in good old American terms. The value was because as most people know is that it was unimproved land. Real estate is worth more if it has improvements like denuding the land of trees, and putting up modern trees like telephone poles and stringing wire.

Here is a deal I believe is worth looking at. Was this a rental agreement between the Dutch and the Indians? With New York is in debt could they afford the rent now? I wonder who holds the note for the amount it currently owes? I don’t think it’s the Indians and why would they want it back?

 I wouldn’t give $24.00 for it.

Well, I might but they would have to do away with the so, called improvements to it. That would include tearing down the buildings and replacing  them with trees. Tearing up sidewalks and asphalt and replanting grass. Unpolluting the rivers and filling in all those subway tunnels they have dug. Not to mean those miles of rails and all those rail cars that would rust away.

That paints a picture of a very unsightly mess.

Progress they call it!

Where would they put all that trash? On some other Indian land? Maybe ship it to Africa?

I don’t think the EPA would help the Indians out with all that cleanup. Then again, we didn’t make the mess.

I do have to admit as civilized tribal, indigenous, first peoples, and so on, we are prone to help pollute and tear up the country too. At least we only build a few small Casino’s.

Just a few at a time though. Right?

We have built community buildings too along with head start schools for the kids. The grownups got ballfields and tribal housing. Although now some houses have seen better times and the yards have a few junk cars in them. We won’t sell the cars because we plan on fixing ‘em up somewhere in the near future. In the mean time they gather dust and getting rustier every day.

Dang I almost forgot about those big tribal headquarters offices. That’s where the important people live and work. Where they drive to work in their fossil fuel burning luxury cars. I’m not sure if there aren’t any of those gas guzzling, Jeep Cherokee’s. Who knows?

So, is it worth it? I guess it depends on what you treasure or value. What does your heart say? Is it worth it?

Would you really want it back now?

I’ve been watching the goings on for over a year now of the pandemic, peaceful demonstrations and peaceful rioting, voting fraud, voting rights, police shootings, reporting, good and bad etc, etc..

This country seems to be going around in circles chasing its’ own tail because of minorities and very loud voices!

So, with that said let us look at a little bit of history.

The history of two minorities, that highlights the disparities, and the reasons for it.

The Civil War raged from 1861-1865 and three years later the blacks were given citizenship through the 14^th amendment in 1868.

The Indian on the other hand wasn’t granted citizenship until the 1924 Indian Citizenship Act signed by then President Calvin Coolidge.

The reason for the lag time of 56 years for the Indian was that America and the Indians were still fighting. Up until the 1890’s. The Indian wars were fought over land rights and the freedom to live on it.

Through the years the Indian had suffered through bloody battles, massacres, court fights and forced removals. One can argue about massacres but look at why they happened. 

Once tribes were subdued and put on land of the governments choosing all was good.

For America at least but not for the Indian.

 It wasn’t until much later that the original inhabitants were brought into this great thing called America!  With the citizenship came resentment, and prejudice against the savage redskin.

Animosities die hard, sometimes they keep perpetuating themselves.

As with the blacks the Indian faced the same  restrictions on voting rights. Interestingly enough the last state to give the Indian their voting rights was Utah in 1962. It was also the first state to give women the right to vote.

In 1962 this author was seven years old and just starting his education. It is a continual thing education and a lot of anger and soul searching.  Anger? Yes, that too!

This week my wife and I watched the PBS American Experience series entitled “WE SHALL REMAIN: America through native eyes.” The story of the Indian and the white man. It could be entitled “A hunger for occupied land.”

I’ve also watched the battle over Georgia’s voting laws. Why you might ask? I’m interested in politics and watching the state where the troubles and the removal of the Cherokee’s started. Interesting stuff.

History isn’t pretty at times but it is there and it did happen that we can be sure of. The stories and who tells them is another story.

At times I get upset when I think about it. Though it has happened we must not let it stop us as a people from moving on and growing.

If we hold anger in and let it fester and hold grudges it stops us from enjoying life. We can always find an excuse or people to blame when things don’t go your way.

That bottle of despair we have drunk from is our curse. The one I wasn’t forced to drink from but took of freely at times. The blame resides on me no one else.

As for the movie I still remain alive and well and enjoying life!

There’s more to say but as with all things each person has to think and look for themselves. I leave you with these two thoughts. “How Far Have We Come?’’ “How Much better are we at living with one another?”

Remember the Bill Clinton defense “it all depends on what you mean by the word—.”

Today words are thrown around and some don’t even understand their usage. American English has a lot of words and new ones are added when they become common place.

Like ginormous really?

When big or bigger even biggest work ok.  I know you’re asking what does this have to do with us ndn’s well let me inform you.

Here’s my story of the word (yo-nag) and how it came to be.

Way back yonder that is a word too.

There were these two Cherokee friends.  Ok I have to use that word too. Lets’ give them names to make the story flow better. Uh, maybe Hawk and Crow. 

Well, they hadn’t seen each other in quite a while and Crow decided to stop by and visit his old friend Hawk. He found him outside splitting some wood. Hawk greeted his friend Crow and they stood outside talking and sharing old stories about friend and relatives. They joked and laughed about their own foolishness and mishaps in life. How they had come to this time and place.  

As they talked, Crow looked at Hawk and asked the universal question “you married?” Crow answered with a no while Hawk said “yes.” Looking at the ground in embarrassment time stretched out as if the words had been forgotten. Finally, Crow asked so how is this marriage thing working for you Hawk?

Well, Hawk started it’s ok, at times it can be frustrating and at times makes you wanna run off.

Crow arched his eyebrows as he asked “is littlefeather that hard on you?” Hawk answer of no, I didn’t marry her was met with another raised eyebrow from Crow?

Crow then asked the next question if not her then is it Birdie? Hawk shook his head no. Crow said “surely not that Willow girl?” Hawk answered him with no it’s, it’s not anybody you would know.  Curiosity building up in him Crow asked if not them then who?

Her name is Maude she’s a white woman, Hawk sheepishly replied.

Crows’ eyes widened in surprise and said “Really a white woman?”

Before he could ask another question the door of the little cabin opened and out stepped Hawks’ wife. She looked around for Hawk and saw him at the woodpile. He was talking with Crow who she didn’t know nor even met.

She stood there glaring at them or maybe just one of ‘em.  The next words extinguished the good natured, fellowship Hawk and Crow had been enjoying. What are you doing talking to that good for nothing, no account, ndn? You know he just comes around when he needs something. Why Crow thought she don’t know me, then again maybe we ndn’s just all look alike?

Crow looked at Hawk sideways and said in a low voice “your nag?” it obviously wasn’t lot low enough as she spluttered what, what, did he call me a “your nag!”

Hawk quick wits took over and his response was “uh, uh, no honey what he said was yo-nag.” Yes yo-nag” That’s it!  It’s the Cherokee word for white woman.

Well! She hummphed! As she went stomping back inside. It was time for Crow to leave. After a few minutes both embarrassed by the exchange and nothing more to say nodded to each other as they turned away.

Saying as they separated (donadagohv’i) which means “let’s see each other again.”

Quick thinking had saved this marriage.

This little story is about word usage and it is fictional.  We ndn’s and other races are our own worst enemies in making up stories and the words we use.  Then again as Bill Clinton said “it all depends on what you mean by the word____.”

What is the word for today Cancel? Racist? Suppression? Aggravation? Neanderthal?

Some may be offended by the characterizations in this afore mentioned story I understand that. These thoughts were and are actually still here today. I live with them day to day but those also were the times we lived through. No one is perfect! Those who show us our mistakes, deeds, sins of the past must be, and have to be, better than us!

Jesus said to the men who brought the women caught in adultery in the very act. “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone!”

Do you know who cast the first stone?

I know I certainly can’t unless, you can say “it all depends on what you mean by the words____,

____,____,__________________________.”

Oh, come on, don’t be such a nag!