Changing Attitudes towards Native Americans during the Early National Period
During the gone twenty-five years, the general publics’ attitude towards the Native Americans has changed in some ways. This has been represented due to the presence of some federal laws allowing these Native Americans to practice their almost forgotten traditional religious ceremony and in at the same time, this has also affected their religious ceremonies that are traditional. The Congress passed laws that allowed the general public to be considerate and sensitive to the Native American people’s culture. With regards to this, it has always been practiced that when any land issues concerning the federal government or any land management policy, the government will always consult the native Americans, or so the Indians. According to the Indians, who are the majority of the Native Americans, it is said that they have traditional affiliations to most of the landscapes. The Cultural Landscape for example for these people would mean a lot to them and in return would the Indians would preserve and manage these aspects properly. Currently, this is associated with their ability to fight forest fires, and in this case, they can become conservation rangers or Native American archeologists. In the Original Journals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, 1804-1806, recorded on Wednesday, May 14, in 1806, said that that they had camped at a ground that was an ancient habitation spot for the Indians and also a strategic point that offered a defense for the latter. This shows that they recognized the importance of this historical site that is regarded by the Indians as a strategic point for the defense. After their hunting escapade, the two captains shared a bear that they had hunted with fifteen Indians. The journals tell that this was a good treat to the natives who seldom took meat within a week or more. This shows how the two captains came to like the natives and accept their role in the society. In one occasion, Lewis records that they had not been visited by the Indians for the first since their camping days started. This shows how these Native Americans were accepted and were hospitable to an extent of visiting the two captains in their respective areas. On July 3, in the year 1806, the hunters the two leaders had sent captured three deer and they gladly shared half of their hunting with them. The Indians expressed a significant level of apprehension and, therefore, had great respect for Minatare.
The United States policies governing and directed towards the Native Americans, including smaller ethnic groups has become a matter of concern by very many historians not only in America but the world as a whole. In the book by Anthony Wallace, he attempts to investigate the increasing and rising level of dissatisfaction by the native of the white inhabitants from their states. These countries include Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, Alabama and finally Mississippi. The author describes that there is an increased tendency of eviction or ousting of these people from their native lands by the land speculators. These are a reason that is associated with their attitude towards the public, and the reverse stands at the same time. The previous hostilities that these people experienced during in their native lands including eviction orders that were given by the then President Andrew Jackson. The president had authorized the removal of various communities including Cherokees, Creeks, Seminoles, Choctaws and Chickasaws. Therefore, Wallace describes that the Indian society has always been in a state of flux that is constant ever since the expansion of the European colonization techniques. The president described above had a direct mistreatment of the Indian community. On this basis, the attitude of the American public during this time was hostile and for this reason, the atrocities including forceful eviction was an issue that would make the Native Americans bitter.
In the book by Laura McCall, she describes from the journals of Lewis and Clark a tale of a woman called Sacagawea, who they had purchased from her captors or had been won in a game associated with chance. She became a member of the discovery of corps and was highly associated with the success of this group. At times, Sacagawea acted as a guide to this group. It is said without her services during this time, the expedition that had been ongoing could have been of great failure. Through her hard work, she had allowed the group to get access to their horses that they had been using for transportation. Her presence had assured this team some degree of safety. This confirmed to the Indians, Native Americans, which this was not a war group. Therefore, in conclusion, it is said that without Sacagawea, the expedition would have come to an end. They could have been turned back; this could have caused the failure of the team. According to McCall, if this could have happened, the history of the United States of America could have been changed a lot. In this case, the writer shows how the role of this woman confirmed the hospitality of these people. Assurance she offered to the group safety demonstrated how the Native Americans could be very protective and caring with regards to their traditions. The attitude of the general public in the United States of America has changed a lot proving to be positive. In the spirit of positivity, Sacagawea has been mostly recognized because of her role in the making of the United States history. Due to this fact, she is the second woman to be depicted on United States coin. This is a clear indication that the attitude of the general public has changed a lot.
Bibliography
Lewis, Meriwether, William Clark, Joseph Whitehouse, and Charles Floyd. Original Journals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, 1804-1806: Volume 6. Edited by Reuben Gold Thwaites. Vol. 6. Digital Scanning Inc, 2001.
McCall, Laura. "Sacagawea, a Historical Enigma." Ordinary Women, Extraordinary Lives: Women in American History (2000): 39-54.
Wallace, Anthony, and Eric Foner. The long, Bitter Trail: Andrew Jackson and the Indians. Macmillan, 1993.
