Something that I would like to see happen before I take my last breath.
To my loved ones with Original American bloodlines, please feel free to help me in any missteps in this post. If we have hugged, then should be able to work together in furthering my education. I am but a lowly work in progress taking steps towards the path of enlightenment.
I would like each Original American tribe to poll its population to form a position on two (hopefully more) items of consideration that will be mentioned below. Think of it as a tribal congress. Each member gets a say in these items. The tribal delegate is named to carry the vote of the tribe to a national gathering, either in person (preferred), or virtual meeting. This national gathering would allow for collected groups to review the votes and take an official stand on the items being considered.
What kinds of issues should they consider? Well, let’s start with two points of contention, one of importance and one perhaps petty.
“Happy Columbus Day”. I put those two words in quotes, and it is a phrase that I only use in an academic sense. I do not believe that the words belong in a group together. I used to be good with it, and said it, but I am an adult now and have many more experiences under my belt. I have learned from various media forms, but more importantly to me, the friends and loved ones around me to the more accurate history that we have “whitewashed”.
While it would be easy for each person to draw their own concussions to the magnitude of Christopher Columbus’ magnitude of ass hattery and cancel him from their lives.
For simplicity I have had ChatGPT list off the atrocities that history knows of regarding Columbus:
1. Enslavement of Indigenous Peoples
Columbus and his men enslaved thousands of the Taíno people. Initially, Columbus sent 500 Taínos to Spain as slaves. When that proved unprofitable, he and his men enslaved the indigenous population locally, forcing them to work in gold mines and on plantations. The Taínos were treated brutally, with many dying from exhaustion, disease, and abuse.
2. Forced Labor and Tribute System
Columbus imposed a tribute system on the Taíno people, where they were required to bring a specific amount of gold every few months. Those who failed to meet their quota had their hands cut off, and many were left to bleed to death. Because gold was scarce, this system led to widespread suffering, death, and the collapse of the indigenous society.
3. Massacres and Violence
Columbus and his men used extreme violence to suppress resistance. They massacred large numbers of indigenous people, including women and children. Columbus’ men would decapitate, dismember, and burn people alive. Documented instances describe them using mutilation and public executions to terrorize the population.
4. Exploitation and Abuse of Women
Columbus allowed and encouraged the sexual exploitation of native women. Many were given to his men as slaves, and there are records of young girls being raped. Columbus himself wrote about how girls as young as nine or ten were in demand among his men.
5. Introduction of European Diseases
Although unintentional, the arrival of Columbus and subsequent European settlers introduced diseases like smallpox, measles, and influenza to the indigenous populations, which had no immunity. These diseases decimated the native populations, leading to the deaths of millions across the Americas over time.
6. Suppression of Revolts
When the Taíno people and other indigenous groups tried to resist the brutal treatment, Columbus responded with violent reprisals. Entire communities were wiped out in efforts to crush resistance. His troops hunted down the leaders of rebellions, executing them publicly.
7. Genocide of the Taíno People
By the time Columbus left Hispaniola, the Taíno population had been reduced from hundreds of thousands, possibly millions, to a mere fraction of their original numbers. The combination of forced labor, starvation, disease, and violence led to what many scholars consider a genocide.
8. Extreme Punishments for Minor Infractions
Columbus governed with an iron fist. He used public torture and extreme punishments for even minor infractions, not only against the native peoples but also against Spanish settlers who defied his rule. His brutal governance led to his arrest and removal from power in 1500, after complaints reached the Spanish Crown.
These atrocities have led to widespread reevaluation of Columbus’ legacy, particularly in light of the suffering endured by the indigenous populations under his rule. Many modern historians and activists argue that he should not be celebrated as a hero but remembered for the darker aspects of his legacy.
What is it that I hope to gain from a national tribal decision? It is easy. We have a national holiday honoring this inhumane prick. Since I do not have tribal blood that I know of (I am contemplating a test) I do not feel that I am qualified to take a stand other than my own personal opinion. I need to hear from those tribes. Yes, there are individuals who are happy to post this side or that, but let’s get the collective opinion. If the indigenous peoples really do not care, then perhaps “Columbus Day” stays. If, however, there is a significant majority that want it stricken then remove the day. Let the tribal congress return to its people asking for a date to replace it with along with a respectful day of commemoration. A tribal memorial day, a day of respectful remembrance if you will. Let the impacted people determine how and when this would be observed. We cannot undo the damages, but we can at least do better today and moving forward.
Personally, I find saying “Happy Indigenous People’s Day” on “Columbus Day” to be equivalent to suggesting that the Jewish peoples to celebrate the first firing of the ovens. To me that is just a white person feeling their ancestral guilt. I will not feel guilty over the things that I did not do, but I will learn from them and do everything that I can to prevent them from happening further. Let the tribes have their say on this matter.
For the pettier issue to consider, the NFL team in Washington DC. I have heard many debates on the previous name. There has been the assertion that the team’s name was in honor of a player or even the collective tribes. I get that the word “Redskin” has been used in a terrible and hurtful manner. Can the word be used in a respectful context? I have held positions on the topic and those have changed back and forth. Again, since I am unqualified for this discussion, I would like to hear a national consensus from those that ARE qualified to speak on the matter.