Confronting ignorance about Indians

Williams:  The politics of ignorance in our schoolsThe politics of ignorance can be a vicious educational tool. Simply put, people are taught that governmental policy is always in the best interest of the people, and unfortunately, as a result, most people believe what the government tells them.

The level of ignorance among average Americans about American Indians is almost unbelievable. Most Europeans are more knowledgeable about American Indians as they are encouraged to study the fate of the indigenous people of North America.

American schools only briefly (if at all) include American Indians in the curriculum, and if so, this is done in the fourth grade. Time is spent learning that Indians lived in tipis and liked to dance. Usually there is the required making of a headdress out of paper, usually around Thanksgiving, while avoiding the real story of Thanksgiving--which is the devastation that the colonists brought to the country in the form of disease which had annihilated many nations on the eastern seaboard by that time. This practice is offensive and demonstrates a high level of ignorance about Indian history.

In order to come to terms with one’s history, one must confront it, and to do so, one must be educated about it. Avoiding it or painting a different picture than what really happened does not allow for healing--or rebuilding. An example of a nation that has had to grapple with a dark history is modern Germany. The country has had to confront the horrors of the Holocaust to rebuild its political institutions and search for ways to prevent history from repeating itself. Rather than avoiding the topic, German schools teach about the Nazi dictatorship and the Holocaust at schools, and the topic is not limited to a niche in the history syllabus like the “The Battle of Little Bighorn.” The topic is incorporated across a broad spectrum of subjects at different times, including civics, current affairs, religion, ethics and literature to allow German students to confront their ancestors’ guilt and help them appreciate institutions that protect freedom and democracy while reinforcing appreciation for diversity.Comment:  I couldn't agree with this posting more. It's a great explanation of why we must keep confronting the ignorance about Indians until it no longer exists.

Williams implies the purpose of this ignorance, but I'll state it plainly. The people in charge--mainly whites--keep Americans ignorant about Indians so they can maintain their wealth and power. Admitting the truth would require federal, state, and local governments to acknowledge tribal sovereignty and treaty obligations. It would require significant changes in our policies on land use, resource exploitation, and federal spending and taxation.

Of course, many people don't realize they're helping to maintain America's power elite. For instance, Indian mascot supporters are contributing to the idea that Indians were too primitive to have cultures, religions, and governments. These savages couldn't have developed and civilized America, so the European invaders were free to take it.

Whether people like mascot supporters realize it or not, they're contributing to America's ignorance. So we need to confront and challenge their beliefs to change the status quo.

For more on the subject, see Why Does Rob Keep Criticizing?