This is somewhat like the fate of Ishi, the Last Wild Indian in North America, who "stumbled into the twentieth century on the morning of August 29, 1911, when, desperate with hunger and with terror of the white murderers of his family, he was found in the corral of a slaughterhouse near Oroville, California."
Native historian, Jack Forbes, wrote, "The bulk of California's Indians were conquered, and died, in innumerable little episodes rather than in large campaigns. it serves to indict not a group of cruel leaders, or a few squads of rough soldiers, but in effect, an entire people; for ...the conquest of the Native Californian was above all else a popular, mass, enterprise."
Some of my grandmothers.
As a second-generation "white" Californian and also a descendent of a tribe whose name is lost in the "melting pot," I believe it is important that this part of our history be remembered, so we can create a more just and peaceful future for everyone, everywhere.
Article comments
1 - Ruvy
You don't seriously expect Americans to admit to genocide, do you Lynettte?
2 - John Wilson
I'm an american and I admit genocide by americans.
It's not just that I've read extensively from the literature of american history, real autobiographies of real americans, indian and white, who few have heard about. Famous peoples biographies are always self-justifying lies.
I admit that my brother committed genocidal atrocities in the south pacific by incinerating everyone who came before his flame thrower, whether japanese soldier or civilian. Of course it killed him too, though it took 50 years for him to finally lay down and be buried.
I suppose there are men and women in Iraq and Afghanistan who will come to admit the genocidal atrocities of americans against those peoples.
What good does it all do? Either the genocide or the admitting?
3 - Ruvy
John,
In a war, one has to have different standards than in "peacetime", which presumably is what Lynette is talking about here.
But admitting to these things cleanses the soul to a degree. Lynette's article dealt specifically with the genocide of her ancestors, Native Americans who lived in California.
But to cut through all the crap, you did admit to genocide by Americans. And you surprised me - quite pleasantly. While my ancestors didn't commit genocide in the States (they were in Poland), we all appear to have benefited from the genocide committed by whites who "cleared the land" of Native Americans on the east coast several centuries ago.
The benefit is that we are willing to admit to that. The next step is seeking forgiveness, where it can be gotten. That is the good the admitting does. It gets you ready for the step of seeking forgiveness.
4 - zingzing
it's not like the genocide of the native americans is pushed under the rug anymore. it's in the history books i was given in middle and high school.
my ex-girlfriend went to school in amherst, ma. i was killing some time one day while visiting her and went into the lord jeffrey amherst inn, obviously named after lord jeffrey amherst. it kinda served as a visitors' bureau, and had a little "history" of the town. turns out amherst was the one who approved of the idea of giving infected blankets to the local natives (in another part of the country). his colonel, henry bouquet, is the one that came up with the idea. of course, this was in 1763, and they were british.
but still, the genocide went on for another hundred years after that, and although the treatment of native americans has been "better" in the years since, it's still rather shitty. what was promised and what was delivered were two different things.
5 - Lynette Yetter, author of the novel, Lucy Plays Panpipes for Peace
Thank you Ruvy, John and zingzing for reading this article and taking the time to post your thoughtful comments.
Zingzing, I am glad to hear that the history books you were given in school include more of the truth.
6 - All is fair in love and war
I'm actually a descenedent of Ishi's tribe, the Yahi, our story of survival dates back to our intergration into the neighboring Wintu, and my great great great grandfather's adoption by a white man. This thread is probably dead anyway, but I'd like to say, thank you california, your only founded upon the blood of so many natives like my own ancestors.
7 - Lynette Yetter, author of the novel, Lucy Plays Panpipes for Peace
Thank you for posting a bit of your powerful history, "All is fair in love and war". I hope to hear more from you.