Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Native American Contact and Conflict

Tiffany Garcia
English 48A
December 8, 2009
Native American Contact and Conflict Journal

"Native Americans seemed to regard their lighter-complexioned visitors as something of a marvel, not only for their dress, beards, and winged ships but even more for their technology-steel knives and swords, fire-belching arquebus [a firearm]…other items unusual to the way of life of Native Americans. "
-Angelfire.com

"significantly different value systems than those of the European colonists. The differences in culture between the Native Americans and Europeans, and the shifting alliances among different nations of each culture, led to great misunderstandings and long lasting cultural conflicts."
-Wikipedia

"Native Americans had no concept of "private property". Because of this many treaties were signed giving "white men" the right to take the land." -
West Virginia Archives and History

Pontiac:
“‘How can you hope, encumbered as you are, to succeed in your design? Go down to the foot of the mountain, throw away your gun, your ammunition, your provisions, and your clothing; wash yourself in the stream…’” (Norton 439)
Summary: A native gave a speech, explaining their need to go back to their ways, the way they lived before they were influenced into the white men’s ways of living. Native Americans had forgotten their traditions and customs which benefits the white men. He sees the French as their friends though and mentions it in his speech.

Occom:
“Mr. Wheelock wanted to See me as Soon as possible. So I went up, thinking I Should be back again in a few Days; when I got up there, he received me With kindness and Compassion…” (Norton 442)
Summary: Occom, a Native American was educated by a Reverend E. Wheelock. He was In this short manuscript, Occom speaks about himself becoming a minister but doesn’t mention Wheelock’s treatment to his family. While Occom was raising funds for the Indian education school, Wheelock was to watch after Occom’s family but didn’t for when Occom came back he found them in great poverty.

Jefferson:
“the sincerity of a treaty should be distrusted, from which so distinguished a chief absented himself…” (Norton 444)
Summary: Logan, the Mingo chief, gave a speech to be read as he wasn’t present as the Natives lost the war in 1774. He had a representative to surrender for him. His speech speaks of his kindness to the white men and how they repay him by murdering his loved ones. He does not fear them or death. It was because of those who had murdered his family that he sought out revenge.


Jacket:
“‘Brother: The Great Spirit has made us all, but HE has made a great difference between his white and red children’” (Norton 446)
Summary: Red Jacket gave a speech as an answer to the Christians request for them to all convert to Christianity. He spoke of his and their respect for their religion but must decline as it is not theirs and gives his reasons why. They believe the Great Spirit wants them to keep their own customs. He however notes of the whites quarreling with other whites of religion so doesn’t know who speaks truthfully so cannot take everything accounted for, another reason to decline the offer.

Tecumseh:
“‘The white men despise and cheat the Indians; they abuse and insult them; they do not think the red men sufficiently good to live’” (Norton 448)
Summary: Tecumseh gives a speech to other Native tribes of the selfish, abusive, land-hungry white men. He speaks of their need to join together to fight them out once and for all. As they white men now seek to kill them if not the other way around.

Opinion:
All of these readings share “I helped the White men but now they are strong they turn on me” greedy for land and prosperity. Pontiac’s speech explains their need to go back to their own ways because he sees the white men turning on them when they are growing into the white culture. They will stop supplying them when they feel like it, when they want more land. Losing their culture they lose the way they could survive without guns and clothes. The moment the white men turn is the moment the Indians become easy targets to swipe out. Occom was brought taught the white ways and became a minister. When they could use him to earn donations they sent him but didn't look after his family as promised. It was no value to them to look after them so they didn't. Occom just ignores it, he is the oblivious Indian, having been brainwashed in their so called "education" they provided him. We don't know if they were just teaching him to become a minister or to learn the white men were great and to never go against them. Jefferson’s notes and his quote of Logan’s speech shows the injustice of the white men. The white men come to rob them and the Indians must pay them even though it was the Indians that showed them kindness and allowed them to be on their land. Jacket’s speech is my most favorite as he criticizes how the white men call their way “the right way” while they and other white men quarrel over it as there are differences. He and the other Indians accepts their religion as their way but not of the Natives way as if it was meant to be so the Great Spirit would have given it to them himself. He admits he and the other Natives can’t and won’t believe all they say as they have lied and poisoned them, giving them alcohol to act and do foolish things such as winning their land in Poker night when they were drunk. Tecumseh wants to get rid of the white men once and for all, to prevent them from doing more damage to their people and the land that they rightfully own. To do this he needs support from other tribes. I see his voice being pure hatred for the white men as they did make them strong but now wish to use that strength to kill them. It’s interesting how he
uses the “Great Spirit” a lot in his speech a lot, “God.” I think these parts were added by the boy Osages as it was him who recorded this speech and might not be accurately Tecumseh who said this. It seems to be to Pilgrim like thing to say.

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