Letters | Viral video a chance for Trump’s America to reflect on what Native Americans did for the US and for democracy
- The indigenous people of North America practised a form of democracy before the Europeans arrived and have served the US military faithfully since the Revolutionary War
I am aware of the numerous tribal wars which occurred for thousands of years before European settlers arrived in the “New World”. Yet, despite these conflicts, the overall legacy of our nation’s indigenous people reveals a remarkable story of human migration, survival and the spread of civilisations. In fact, the very roots of American democracy began not with Washington, Jefferson and Madison, but with the Six Nation Iroquois Confederacy.
Furthermore, no matter where European immigrants arrived from, once here, they were confronted by environments that were both foreign and hostile. It was native wisdom that enabled the immigrants to successfully hunt, fish, plant food and endure the elements. I wonder if the students would have behaved in such a manner if they understood their real indebtedness to the ancestors of those they were mocking.
What is more, I wonder how many of those students knew that Native Americans have served militarily in this country in every conflict since the Revolutionary War. Although there are questions about the exact story behind the drummer Nathan Phillips’ military record, whether he actually served in Vietnam, the fact remains that many Native Americans did.
Because Native Americans are so often denied the opportunity to be seen as anything more than sports mascots, casino owners or cultural victims, the sight of many proud Native Americans joined in solidarity was not a scene that those young students were prepared to confront.