The American Indian and the problem of History

I am amazed by the fact that scholars believe they have the right to simply eliminate someone’s history. It is shameful how so many historians claim that Native Americans have not participated in “history” and are only mentioned when they have encounters with the European White’s who claimed to have created “history”. Even worse often when they are recognized they are referred to as barbaric and an uneducated culture. I cannot believe that such intelligent individuals including historians, anthropologists, and archeologists cannot come to a logical consistent conclusion and therefore must imply that Native Americans lack a history and future. Scholars never gave Indians the opportunity to demonstrate how intelligent they truly are and how civilized there communities were before Europeans invaded America. They overlooked supporting evidence such as linguistics, cultural, and political structures that the Native Americans used before European’s even knew of their existence. I sincerely believe that scholars must take into consideration every aspect of Native Americans and not only focus on what benefits the European White’s. Native American’s were well established in culture, and social behaviors. They had many rituals and tribal practices that they believed benefited their existence many of those traditions are still carried on in the remaining tribes of modern day America. Unfortunately, Europeans viewed Native American’s as barbaric because they were incapable of communicating with them, or lacked the desire to try. Visitors would take advantage of the Indians hospitality and would inflict violence in their villages. Native American’s could have taught a lot to the European culture, such as rather than killing for number, pride, money, or even greed based motives, Native American’s viewed killing as a gift from the God’s who provided them with warmth, food, and even shelter from their hunting. The suffering that Native American’s endured is one of America’s most ugly blemishes and the affect of that is still felt today in the very depleted culture of Native Americans who have few, scattered reservations. It is an ongoing struggle trying to balance traditional culture with modern life, not only with Native American’s but also with all immigrants of the United States. It seems that the great American melting pot can be more like the great American segregator of race and culture. I personally can relate to this article because my family and I are immigrants from Mexico. It is difficult to stay connected to ones roots and traditions while being surrounded by such diversity in this country. Keeping our native identity is an ambitious challenge, but regardless of natural, social, and religious environments our past cannot be changed by anyone or anything and although our past might influence our future it doesn’t guarantee it. European’s cultures and traditions are very diverse from Native American’s and many other individuals; they cannot expect a national identity, which requires us to abandon our own cultures and values because they aren’t the “dominant” class. One day I hope that all recognizes Native American’s true history instead of disregarding the importance of their past.