The Native Americans are also called Red Indians. Columbus came into contact with them and noted that they were gentle people who went around unclothed. He also remarked that they could be commanded to work where need be.
According to an Abenaki Legend, the Native Americans believe that the world was created by the Great Spirit. He first commanded Tolba, a great turtle to come from the water, and he became the land on which the Great Spirit built mountains and valleys. He then wanted to insert creatures that would make the world a happy place. He wanted everything to be perfect, but he got weary of thinking about how he could create the world to perfection. He slept, and whilst he slept, he dreamt about his creation. When he woke up, his dream was his creation, and he deemed everything to be perfect. The Great Spirit is, consequently their god. White J (pp. 2-3).
The Native Americans’ ideas conflict with the society because first of all, they believe their women are their leaders, and they are allowed to make vital decisions for their communities. Most social institutions preach equality between men and women. Their leaders include chiefs’ and in the current world, this form of leadership has been passed by time. Chiefs’ are no longer recognized as leaders in most communities. They also do not believe in God. They believe in the Great Spirit. They also think that there is a difference among people, and this is brought about by their color. They call themselves the red people while the Americans are the white people. The Native Americans also hold the belief that they are the god’s chosen people, and so they deserve to be first-class citizens.
The Hawaii state is mainly populated by Native Americans. They have been from time immemorial felt that they suffer oppression from other people. Red Jacket says that “You have got our country, but are not satisfied; you want to force your religion upon us,” Jose Cardena (pp. 1- 7). On the other hand, the article on “Chief Joseph surrender speech” admits after a long and losing battle that he will fight no more. White J (pp. 1-2). In the past, they fought for their land. There then came the signing of many treaties that allowed the Indian’s permission to trade and cross borders into other states. Cardena Jose (pp. 1-32). Currently, the law has made it legal to push them off their land. The government denies the Hawaiians having a sovereign state because it would lose its military base. Hawaii is also a holiday resort and the US government also fears that it would be losing a source of income. The Hawaiians, on the other hand, value their ancestral land, and they have a policy that their children should inherit their land. Cardena Jose (pp. 11-12).
The solution for both these parties would be to come to an agreement on how much the government can encroach on their land. The government deems Hawaii to be a holiday resort; therefore, to the government, it should be just that. It can make money from these islands. The military base should only be on the shores since they use submarines. They should have no authority over the lands.
The Hawaiian Islands are mostly occupied by Native Americans. They can, therefore, be allowed to practice their traditions. Their laws and regulations should also be acceptable to their people and people from other states. There should be equality in how crimes are dealt with. This would make Hawaii a sovereign state as Native Americans would rule themselves without interfering with the US government.
Works cited
- Cardena, Jose. “Red Jacket.” (1830): pp. 1-7
- Cardena, Jose. “Native Roots: Indians of the Americas: From Maya to Aztec to Native American indian Nations”. pp. 1-32
- Cardena, Jose. “Native Americans Indians”. pp. 11-12
- White, J. “Chief Joseph Surrender Speech”. pp. 1-2