The Words of Honnayawis

[aneaglesangel]

I leave you with wise words. I think modern man could benefit from the wisdom!

freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~massasoit/ccod03.htm

But it was a hard struggle, a bitter fight carried on in the soul of the Wampanoag. The speech of Honnayawis, an Iroquois chief in 1827 shows the thoughts which two centuries before ran through the mind of many Wampanoags. This speech was addressed to the missionaries who first came among the Iroquois:

"Friends and Brother: It was the will of the Great Spirit that we should meet together this day. You have spoken to us on your religion and requested us to speak our minds freely.
"Brother, listen to what we say. There was a time when our forefathers owned this great country. The Great Spirit made it for the use of the Indian. He had scattered fowls through the air, fishes through the water and animals over the land, and taught us how to use them for food and clothing. All this he had done for his real children because he loved them.
"But an evil day came upon us. Your forefathers crossed the great waters and landed here. Their numbers were small; they found friends and not enemies. They told us they had fled from their country because of wicked men and came here to enjoy their religion. They asked for a small seat. We took pity on them and granted their request and they sat down amongst us. We gave them corn and meat. They gave us poison instead!
"The white people now had found our country. More came. They wanted a larger seat which we gave them as friends. Their numbers increased and finally - they wanted our whole country!
"Wars took place, for our eyes were open and our minds uneasy - too late. We trusted too long. Indians were hired to fight Indians. They also brought strong liquors among us which has slain thousands.
"Brother, you say there is but one way to worship the Great Spirit. If there is one religion, why do you white people differ so much about it? Why not all agree, as you can all read the book. We never quarrel about religion. We do not wish either to destroy your religion and take it from you, but to enjoy our own!"

[aneaglesangel]

Someone else's words, but still awesome. Same site!

Never has it been recorded in history of an Indian cutting a white man's body in quarters. True, the Indian was noted for scalping. Scalping was a religious ceremony. It was the belief that by removing the scalp from the head the dead could never enter heaven. What did the so-called "savage" Indian do so savage? Compare his acts of cruelty with the placing of King Philip's head on a pole to rot. Was Philip a savage? No! Philip was king of the Pokanoket country, upon which country was the enemy coming to take away home, food, and loved ones. Philip was a hero, who fought to the last as few kings fight, to save his country, his tribe and his race. Only to lose his uncles, his brother and sister and have his beloved wife and son taken captive. And when did an Indian scalp or slaughter white women and children? What about the death of Weetamoo? Womanhood we all should honor.

And the question of savagery arose then and still arises today, due partially to the school books and teachings of the people of the older generation, who think only of the Indian by his occasional revolt against extermination, which he foresaw and struggled against.

A reprinting of history, giving the Indian's story. The truth of him who for freedom fought. And the knowledge that the eastern Indians still exist, especially our old Wampanoags, our Indians of Cape Cod and southeastern Massachusetts. And a knowledge of their present conditions and their advancement towards betterment in all ways.

[blueemerald]

I heard someone say once that History is always told from the victors point of view.

When I was in college and studying Native American history, I learned that the whole scalping deal was started by the white man. If I remember correctly, it was so they could keep up w/ how many Indians they killed or to get payment for those deaths.
The Natives picked up the act as a way to rebel back against the whites.
That isn't saying that it wasn't part of some Native cultures.

You know what I find incredibly sad? February is Black History month. You can't turn on the tv without knowing that it is BHM.
Natives have November as Native American history month. But WHO knows about it? Maybe a handful of people.

I love my heritage and blood. I am proud to be a Native ancestor. It is what makes me who I am. If you saw my Facebook page, you can see that I inherited some of the feature - hair, skin, etc.

[aneaglesangel]

Hmm, maybe I should try to help people know about Native history month? I'm not into watching TV very much, so I wouldn't even know what they're promoting. I think a lot of it is being ashamed. I think that people have finally realized how badly we treated the Natives, and don't want to admit to it. Who stole the cookie from the cookie jar? Who stole the lives of the Natives?? I'm going to remember and hopefully I can help others remember! Hugs!

[blueemerald]

Well ignoring something never made it go away.
Yeah I agree. It is hard enough for us to deal with the slavery issue (girl, being from the South makes things real complicated there)... why would we look further back into our distructive past?

The reason people had to start bringing over African slaves is that the European diseases were killing off the Natives at a staggering pace. Tribes of 200k and 300k were wiped out by flu, measles, etc.
The natives were the first slaves. They were made to work the new tobacco crops.

Native American History Month I heard about a while back I think when I was in school. But it is never addressed on television.

If it weren't for the Natives, the people at Jamestown would have died. They were so stupid they built their fort in a malarial swamp. That what happens when you send a bunch of noblemen with no real trade or clue to start a colony. LOL

[aneaglesangel]

It was the same here! The Pilgrims would have starved if not for Massasoit, (Chief Yellow Feather) and his people. They helped them through that first year when the whites had no clue of what to eat or hunt. It's a shame we can't tell the truth, for the me, the truth sets you free, and you learn from truth. Covering things up never was a good way to live, and usually it comes back and bites you in the butt!

[blueemerald]

You are correct. The phrase "the truth shall set you free" is true for a reason!

[aneaglesangel]

Sometimes I wonder if things would be different if we told the truth of how our country was started. It wasn't started by brave men who did right as they explored the country. It was started on the blood of the people who really owned the land. Would we be different people if we'd been honest about our history? Would we be different if, instead of killing the natives off, we had learned to live in harmony with them? I don't know, I can only wonder!

[blueemerald]

The Natives laughed at the idea of "owning" land. They looked at it so differently than the Europeans.

How many wars have been fought over ownership of land?