I just read an interesting article by Rev. Dr. Randy Woodley, titled Remembering Native Americans – Beyond November, posted at Sojourners.com. Here is an excerpt below. You can click the link to read the entire article. — Rich Avery.
Rev. Dr. Randy Woodley
In November we first think of Thanksgiving, and as we Native Americans say, Thanksgiving is a time when we once again reflect upon all we have and the genocide it took to get it. Even in November, which is officially Native American Heritage Month, most Americans don’t think about the massacres, land thefts, boarding school oppression and anti-native religion laws carried out against Native Americans throughout U.S. history and even right up to the present day. But this year on Nov. 5, President Barack Obama remembered!
This President has already shown that he may be the first president in a while who intends to keep his promises to Native Americans. Obama met with about 400 of the 564 federally recognized tribal nations and he was quoted as saying, “You will not be forgotten as long as I’m in this White House.” It would be easy to become cynical and assume he will end up being just like all the rest of the politicians in our unique history of making empty promises or breaking treaties. But here are some reasons I’m holding out hope for a better outcome.
