"Smoke Signals"

"Before our white brothers arrived to make us civilized men, we didn't have any kind of prison. Because of this, we had no delinquents. Without a prison, there can be no delinquents. We had no locks nor keys and therefore among us there were no thieves. When someone was so poor that he couldn't afford a horse, a tent or a blanket, he would, in that case, receive it all as a gift. We were too uncivilized to give great importance to private property. We didn't know any kind of money and consequently, the value of a human being was not determined by his wealth. We had no written laws laid down, no lawyers, no politicians, therefore we were not able to cheat and swindle one another. We were really in bad shape before the white men arrived and I don't know how to explain how we were able to manage without these fundamental things that (so they tell us) are so necessary for a civilized society." (John Fire Lame Deer 1)
Native Americans were the first and original inhabitants of what we now call the United States of America. When we, as Americans, look back at our shared history we often forget that it did not begin with the colonists but with the indigenous tribes that were here long before white people set foot on Plymouth rock. As a nation we lose a great deal when our past is buried. No matter how sad, unfair or painful it may be to look at the past and our history it is an essential part of evolving and growing as an open, free and honorable society. If we do not know the errors or mistakes we have made, we can’t and will not learn from our mistakes and are bound to repeat them. Prejudices, intolerance and eventually hatred can result if a people are taught to treat another group as inferior. Usually this grows worse because of ignorance or fear. History Of Injustice It is important to remember that British colonists sought a new world where they could escape the British monarchy, tyranny and escape