Different views exist as to whether there should be Native American Day. Nonetheless, the common bind weaving perspectives is that it is probably better than Columbus Day.
Columbus came to the America in 1492 where he allegedly “discovered” America while people were already living there years before. Native Americans and their history predate the arrival of Christopher Columbus and had their proper legal, political and socio-economic structures and ways of knowing. Nonetheless, history books have constantly touted Columbus as a hero, an Italian explorer who “discovered” America. Columbus also came with a “civilizing mission”, aimed at “civilizing” and “pacifying” not only Native Americans but West Indians and Natives in other countries in the Americas, and Caribbean, sometimes resulting in slavery, subjugation, disease and complete eradication.
The United States is not the only country which celebrates Columbus Day. However, other places are trying to reverse this. South Dakota has changed Columbus Day to Native American Day in commemoration of the Native Peoples who suffered under the “civilizing mission” of Columbus by carrying out his objective of annihilation and genocide-a legacy which still persists today in post-colonial United States and Canada. Native Americans’ Day is a day which was sought in pursuit of ere-education and sensitivity and appreciation of the culture, diversity and richness of background o Native Americans. And help meld the gap between Natives and non-Natives. In the United States, cultural activities in raising awareness, POW wows and markets. In South Dakota and Berkeley, California, government offices are close and all public institutions. The South Dakota legislature unanimously approved the legislation in 1989 as the “Year of Reconciliation”.
Discrimination and racism in the United States and Canada is not a remnant of a long-ago past. Despite the pride of many Americans and Canadians for being international leader in human rights and peacekeeping, discrimination remains part and parcel of American and Canadian society, albeit in contestably more subtle forms manifesting via innocent passages. Since the arrival of Columbus, early legislation had been constructed to imperialize First Nations lands, culture and heritage, suppress other immigrant groups whilst profiting the civilizer, missionaries and the State more generally. Legislation has been used to contain and eradicate First Nations Peoples as well.
Post-colonialism has manifested in areas of politics, socio-economics spheres and the legal world and has engendered the empowerment of Western ways of thinking and perceiving the world. Thus forth, spaces of intellectual knowledge are constructed from a Western standpoint and paint the Native peoples instead of allowing Natives to speak for themselves. Post-colonialism has been immensely beneficial for colonizers and the State and has turned the discrimination and subjugation of Othered bodies as forming a legal and tolerated practice
Ironically, Western ways of knowing law are seldom challenged despite evidence that written history and Western knowledge is no fewer suspects to bias, and inaccuracy than Aboriginal ways of knowing. Aboriginal ways of knowing law are consumed by Western ways of knowing. Perspectives of Aboriginal women are sidelined even in grave matters which concern them. The focus on the "victim" takes the critical lens from off the perpetrator". Stewart Motha in "reconciliation as Domination" held that reconciliation "returns a form of domination through the subordination of 'backward' indigenous cultures that are to be overwhelmed by 'modernity'. Post-colonial still seeks the 'native' in order to include her.
Native American Day can generate many discussions about the meaning of Columbus Day and what it means to have a reconciliatory day for Native Americans. Native Americans’ Day is not necessarily a trumping on Italian Heritage. Pride for heritage and culture and the honoring of pioneers may be considered commendable; nonetheless, consideration must be had for the celebration of the suppression of another culture, genocide, and exploit.
© 2017 Jobs & Hire All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
