Who are they really?

The Native American culture that many of us know today can be a confusing and touchy subject. What really happened then? Who were they really?  How did we “Americans” get this land to be ours? Many stories and facts of tribes are spoken about and taught about to children and people of all ages? Are we receiving the correct information? What is the proof?

In elementary school I was taught about the “six nations” which really consisted of the very famous five Native American tribes we mostly know here in upstate NY; the Mohawks, Oneidas, Onondagas, Cayugas, and the Senecas. The Tuscaroras made the 6^th nation once it migrated over into Iroquois territory. As a kid, we learned their culture and beliefs quite well and were never really given bad or racist information about them from my teacher. To me they’re a part of my nation because they are from where I am from...the Hudson Valley...or better worded the same land as us.

“Six Nations: The Oldest Living Democracy on Earth” on www.ratical.org/many_worlds/6nations talks about the natives’ government and their impact on our government of the United States of America. In many ways we have gotten ideas that the native peoples are below us that came over from Europe. Many ideas in school and textbooks have shown us what others did to Native Americans and their cultures. However, other information has taught us the real meaning and beauty of their peoples. This sit has not necessarily changed my opinion or knowledge of the Native American Peoples because I have always believed and read that they have had a major impact on our nation we like to call “ours: today. This site and information on www.ratical.org/many_worlds/nations has shown me that the idea of their government have an impact on ours is not such a crazy concept. These Six Nations consisted of peoples who “comprised the oldest living participatory democracy on earth” (www.ratical.org/many_worlds/6nations). Their tribes we run with a Chief (like our President) as head of the tribe and peoples (citizens as we see ourselves) have say in the government

Have you ever thought about or pondered the idea that maybe our Declaration of Independence and Bill of Rights were actually inspired by the natives and not thought about completely by ourselves in 1776? Look closely, things may not appear as they seem. As I read the article and information on this website, it made sense to me. All of the ideas and beliefs that the Iroquois had when we learned of them in elementary school began to seep over into my knowledge of America. American history and our government had to start somewhere. It had to be inspired and tried out somehow. Native American culture has more impact on us than we think. Americans then would make propaganda just like we do today when politics and voting come around. It seemed to come off like Natives were simpleminded people who needed guidance. But really, they had already begun their journey way before us. For example, on May 16, 1914 women of the native tribes conquered women’s suffrage and in their exemplar they showed this. It read:

 “’Savagery to Civilization’

We, the women of the Iroquis

Own the Land, the Lodge, the Children

Ours is the right to adoption, life or death;

Ours is the right to raise up and depose chiefs;

Ours is the right to make and abrogate treaties;

Ours is the supervision over domestic and foreign policies;

Ours is the trusteeship of tribal property;

Our lives are valued again as high as man’s.”

This said that Iroquois women had the right to determine if their baby lived or died (abortion today). They had the right to impeach a chief (impeach a president). They also said they even had the right to have an impact on domestic and foreign policies (trade). This sounds very similar to women’s suffrage from the 1919. Hmmm??? What are your thoughts??