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Lakota (“Sioux”) History 101 Part I

AHITONWAN YANKE



 

What is imperialism?

It is a label applied to the English, French, and Spanish nations in their attitudes toward all Native American/American Indians/Indigenous people. They had a policy  of extending their power and influence through establishing colonies among our peoples, first through cooperation and later through military force. Along with imperialism comes colonialism. What is colonialism? The word is actually a noun, even though when you say it, it acts like a verb. It is a practice through which one country acquires control over another, bringing settlers, and exploitation of the land and original people that had lived there. I grew up on the Pine Ridge reservation, thinking that these things (imperialism and colonialism) happened elsewhere like what the French did in Vietnam where many Lakota relatives served in a war that was later taken over by the U.S. Imperialism as Europeans practiced it occurred in many places all over the world. Colonialism, as well. The question we continually need to ask ourselves is: Did it happen to our people?

On August 3, 1990, then president, George H.W. Bush declared the month of November as NATIONAL American Indian Heritage Month, also referred to as Native American Heritage Month. During this important month, Lakota peoples on the Pine Ridge reservation and in the state of South Dakota are to observe the month with appropriate programs, ceremonies and activities. Part of that should be a conscious decision to learn about our history as Lakota speaking peoples.

So, what is our experience with colonialism? Before the early 1800’s we had very few interactions with the U.S. federal government. The forces that cause change within the process of colonization were slower for us, than with most Native American/ American Indians/ Indigenous peoples.

Our main experience with European Americans was through the fur trade; many of us carry French blood (however small, you can find out through your DNA). What that introduced to us was dependency. We began to rely on guns, ammunition, and alcohol.

A story as told by Father De Smet was that the European Americans would bring boat-loads of alcohol of the worst kind and leave it near the docks of the great rivers for the tribes that lived along the Missouri river. Within days everyone in a village would be drunk, committing all kinds of atrocities against each other, including murder.

We knew the European Americans as traders, whiskey dealers, freighters, surveyors, soldiers, and later as miners and ranchers. Later, demands for our lands, for opening up the Great Sioux Reservation, came from capitalists who wanted the trains to extend through our land and more settlers to come in.

The Great Sioux Reservation and other Sioux lands included half of the state of Dakota, (west of the Missouri river) including all of the Black Hills. Our hunting grounds extended into northeastern Colorado and a third of eastern Wyoming at the eastern edge of the Big Horn Mountains; parts of Montana, south of the Yellowstone river; and North Dakota south of the Heart river including the Cannonball river; as defined in the 1868 Treaty and as found by the Indian Claims Commission (established in 1946).

It was this land, in the 1880’s came from the territorial (South Dakota) leaders. What happened then should be taught in our state schools; but especially the reservation schools. The federal government did not act alone, but under pressure from the Dakota Territory to “negotiate” land agreements.

This is the history that must be taught to our children and grandchildren; they must never forget. Today’s state and county lines are imaginary lines when you consider how long we have been here. We have to start renaming these rivers and places to tell our children where and how our ancestors fought to retain their territories for them.

For me, that is the meaning of National American Indian Heritage Month. Until we begin to change our own minds about who we are, and what this land means to us, we can expect to continue to be colonized and conquered truly. Throughout this month, I will try to teach some of our history in the state of South Dakota for those who understand the need to decolonize our minds.

Delphine Red Shirt can be reached through email redshirtphd@gmail.com

Delphine Red Shirt can be reached through email at redshirtphd@gmail.com

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