1. VIEW FROM ABOVE
SUMMARY
The narration starts with a trip on the atmosphere of Bolivia towards Brazil. At Beni, a Bolivian Province, snow and water can be seen covering the whole land surface flowing towards the northern rivers which form some of the tributaries of the Amazon. Countless islands of forests can be seen some of which form almost perfect circles. History has it that before 1491, America was almost untouched. Apart from the Beni’s inhabitants being involved in the building of several infrastructures, they also trapped fish in the seasonally flooded grassland. Beni’s future is uncertain as there are proposals that the land be used for ranching whereas some people propose that the land to act as a reserve for nature.
IMPRESSION
Benians are opposing the view of preserving the land as they believe that they may be denied the chance of using the land as they used to it before. The narration is about the history of the indian’s in Beni, the controversies surrounding it and the theories that have been put forward to explain this aspect of history. The impression that can be got from this reading is that the Benians have been despised for along period of time and the US government still looks down upon them. This makes them to be suspicious of the government and not ready to adopt any suggestion proposed by the government.
2. THE GREAT LAW OF PEACE
Feeling the Nazi conquest of Europe Nabokov went to America. Nabokov was among the first émigré to be surprised with the difference between the Americans and the Europeans. Cultural divide this turning point made it possible for the idea of implicit equality and liberty. Beneath the swirling tattoos asymmetrically trimmed hair and bedizened robes. The implicit equality of all people is today accepted all over the world. It is true that one can easily recognize a person who is closer to him or her better despite the origin than recognizing an ancestor or a person of his/her origin but who is a bit further away.
IMPRESSION
This reading has an impression of peace. The writer flees from Europe in an attempt to find peace I America. However, in America he gets surprised when he learns about the differences that exist in America. The writer advocates for equality while in America. Another impression that is evident in this reading is that of harmony. The writer tells us that a person’s origin should not be a deterring factor as far as relations are concerned. He says that is very easy to recognize a person who is closer to you despite the origin that recognizing a person who is far away from you but from the same origins as you are. Many inhabitants in America have come from different places scattered all over the world. Harmony should be the guiding factor and people should learn to accept each other the way they are.
3. HOW THE WEST WAS LOST (AND WON)
SUMMARY
The United States was expected to treat the Indians in a more descent and a pleasant way but this was not meant to be. They acted in a way that was no better than the British monarchy. George Washington was known in the Indian country as a town destroyer. The Indians have struggled with all the odds that even threatened their existence but they have now been able to overcome and emerge victorious. The conquest of the United States land took a very long period of time. The Indians were pushed to land base that was less than 6% of what they originally owned. However, they have been able to accommodate their activities in these lands and have been able to exist freely once again.
IMPRESSION
This reading gives an impression of the brutal nature of both the United States government and that of the British monarchy. The Indians are mistreated by these governments and their lands taken away by ‘newcomers’ to their native lands. We can see the Indians being pushed to occupy a very small portion of land (about 6% of the land they occupied initially). Despite all these odds the Indians have been able to fight for their sovereignty until the Indian law was put in place. They were accommodated back and were now able to assimilate with other immigrants into the land and lived peacefully.
4. GUNS TO LAWS
SUMMARY
This was a turning point in the US government tactics which was the passing of the General Allotment Act in 1887. During this time the tactics changed from the violent means to the non violent means. Even though the congress had spelled out that the utmost good faith was to be observed towards the Indians, this never came to be as bad faith was still prevailing even after a century when the rule was passed out. Later on Allotment broke up the Sioux nation and settlers were allowed into the land. The Indian got independence but it was not fully realized as they still had to rely on the federal government for protection and assistance in form of hard cash. About 155,000 acres of land was turned to the US government during this time. The history of the Indians has a lot of disgust as they suffered a lot in the hands of the federal government. Indians hold large tracks of land in states like Montana, North and South Dakota, Oklahoma and Alaska. Despite all these odds, tribes and nations have survived and have precisely held together as they have rejected the American ideology both in its aspirations and nature of competitions. This is what has led to the Indians remaining to be Indians without much assimilation.
IMPRESSION
This reading gives an impression of peace. The violence experienced in this place came to an end and the inhabitants resorted to law as a way of solving their differences. The congress had initially spelled out that the Indians be given the first priority but this was not observed that prompted the Indians to take arms. When things moved from guns to law, the Indian Act provided for consideration of the Indians rights which were observed. Despite the past injustices, tribes and nations managed to survive and lived together. The Indians disregarded the Americans ideologies thereby helping them remain as Indians without being assimilated into the ‘newcomers’ culture.
5. FIVE HUNDRED YEARS
SUMMARY
Indians of the United States are the survivors and the descendants of the survivors. The Indians were brutally murdered and their numbers reduced by 90 percent. It is however unimaginable that the same people who misguided the Indians about nuclear plans that some little radiations was not harmful to their health now want to start advocating for their rights. The Indians are not the same with other minorities as they were the first inhabitants of the land. They are of the land, with the land and the government should stop referring the Indian lands as reservations. Canada was no different. Initially the Indians were valued as guides, allies in war and as fur traders.
However when the land grabbing process began, the government issued a Victorian Policy which turned the Indians into prisoners in their own country within a night. This is the time that Louis Riel was hanged for high treason. The Indian nations of the United States battle for sovereignty so that they can become independent. The native Hawaiians are on the other hand Polynesians. Hawaii was considered an independent kingdom until 1893 when it was conquered. The United States is a multicultural society with inhabitants from all over the world. It is therefore very necessary for them to stay in harmony in order to heal the wounds of the conquest.
IMPRESSION
The impression brought about by this reading is that of colonialism. It shows how the Indians became prisoners in their own country and how land was grabbed from them. In this reading, we get to know about sustainability. It shows how the Indians of the United States were able to survive the odds and still become nations. Even though their numbers reduced by 90percent, some were able to survive. The reading shows how the very people who participated in their elimination now want to take the responsibility of fighting for their rights as they seek justice. It is a very ironical occurrence but the Indians are very reluctant to let them take the task. The reading encourages for living with harmony as most of the inhabitants of the land are foreigners.
6. FORGOTTEN PEOPLE THE METIS
SUMMARY
Indians of the United States are the survivors and the descendants of the survivors. The Indians were brutally murdered and their numbers reduced by 90 percent. It is however unimaginable that the same people who misguided the Indians about nuclear plans that some little radiations was not harmful to their health now want to start advocating for their rights. The Indians are not the same with other minorities as they were the first inhabitants of the land. They are of the land, with the land and the government should stop referring the Indian lands as reservations. Canada was no different. Initially the Indians were valued as guides, allies in war and as fur traders. However when the land grabbing process began, the government issued a Victorian Policy which turned the Indians into prisoners in their own country within a night. This is the time that Louis Riel was hanged for high treason.
IMPRESSION
The impression in this reading is that of fighting for sovereignty. The Indian nations are involved in fights as they fight for sovereignty. The Indian nations of the United States battle for sovereignty so that they can become independent. The native Hawaiians are on the other hand Polynesians. Hawaii was considered an independent kingdom until 1893 when it was conquered. The United States is a multicultural society with inhabitants from all over the world. It is therefore very necessary for them to stay in harmony in order to heal the wounds of the conquest.
7. THE METIS AND INDIAN QUESTION
SUMMARY
The strongest desire of speculators to develop Rupert’s land and the lands that were beyond it was the main driving force for confederation. Some of the Canadian annexationist wanted to brush aside the native inhabitants and take over the land as it comprised of raw materials. However, the Metis did not allow them in. The Metis took up arms in order to defend the land and prompt the government to address issues that could protect them. The government was slow to respond to this. Later on in 1876, the parliament passed the Indian Act which was meant to encourage assimilation. The act was also meant to protect the interest of the native inhabitants especially those who resided in the West of Ontario.
IMPRESSION
After the Canadian annexationist had gathered enough information about the lands productivity, they sought for support from the British government in order to invade the land. This was never meant to be as the Indian Act provided for the land to remain under the custody of the native inhabitants. This reading gives an impression of injustice. We can see how the Indians faced injustices in the hands of the United States and the British monarchy. We can also see how the ‘newcomers’ tried to grab the lands from the native inhabitants of the land.
8. METIS
SUMMARY
As the Ojibwa and Cree were trying to find a niche in the evolving fur trade, the Metis took centre stage and became the most success group in the region in terms of the fur trade. There were several innovations that were brought about by the Metis community. The most important one was the extensive use the 2-wheel Red River Cart to haul their belongings. There were several cases of racism in the Hudson’s Bay Company in terms of worker recruitments. In the recruitment process, the traditional communities were left due to the higher wages offered at the company. HBC only recruited people from the Indian community, Metis and Mixed blood communities so as to meet its requirements.
IMPRESSION
The new breeds of immigrants dreamed of turning the prairies into wheat fields but did not envisage the plains nations. Their dreams were however incompatible with the traditional land use practices of the native groups previously occupying the lands. This made their dreams not to come true. This text shows us how the Metis have fought all the odds that were surrounding them to emerge victorious. They were able to become the most potent economic force in the region despite the fact that they were almost forgotten in the past. It also shows the hardworking nature of the Metis and the innovations that they brought to the land.
