Behind the Scenes on Native American Legacy

Being of Native American descent, I have grown to love the small part of me that is Native American that’s why when I found out we were going to have a Native American speaker I was excited to learn more about my heritage. I thoroughly enjoyed his humbleness and his pride that he has for his culture, and the way he discussed being a part of what he calls his family. However, I was infuriated to hear the things that go on behind the scenes of to those of Native American Heritage.

Growing up learning about Native Americans in school has completely manipulated me into this belief of Native Americans, and it is truly discouraging. Our guest speaker covered multiple points about the history of Native Americans which I want to discuss in this paper.

Our speaker had a well-laid-out presentation which helped organize and look at every single idea. One topic that truly made me rethink the education system was the post-civil war.

This event in our history hit close to home, and I tried to recollect instances in the education system that has talked about American history in this brutal way. Never. Not once.

All lessons about Native Americans were very blunt and hid the fact of the racism and suppression of cultures that went on in our country or tried to cover it up with excuses. From as young as I can remember Native Americans were always stereotyped as long black-haired, dark skin, and lived in tipis–this was very evident in the second grade when we all made tipis for our class project.

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I can never fully understand why instances such as the post-civil war were never thoroughly discussed. As a kid, this made me so unaware of what Native Americans, like my ancestors, have gone through and it is truly disheartening.

One point our guest speaker touched on was the idea of Native American boarding schools. The idea that the force of integration of white culture in Native American society changes the lives of Native Americans. Again, another example of history that was completely left out.

I have grown and learned a lot about my Native American side, but I was always shamed for it because I was a very small percentage. Foundations that come from the federal government have declined my sister and me scholarships numerous times because our bloodline is thinning. Having someone continually tell you that you aren’t even a part of the Native American community because you don’t have enough blood is disheartening. My Native American side is either half-blood or full.