1927 "In our Indian history we have had many great men, commanders, statesmen, farmers, lawyers. These men should be represented to the school children."
November 27th - Chicago - The first Americans have gone on the warpath for "America First."
A committee of Indians in war paint and regalia, will call on Mayor Thompson when he returns from Washington, pledge support to his efforts to make history texts 100 per cent American, and ask that the red man be given a proper appreciation in the books. The grand council fire of American Indians met yesterday and adopted resolutions naming the delegation to visit the mayor and present the Indians' side.
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| 1927, November 7. Chicago Tribune. |
The Indians named several members of their race who they believe merit places in American history. Pocahontas, Chief Joseph of the Nez Perces and Tecumseh, were some of those mentioned. Scott H. Peters, a Chippewa Indian and president of the grand council fire, added to the list of deserving Indians names that of Chief Pedadwom, of Saginaw, Mich., (his own grandfather), who he said had been a great friend to the white man and should be considered for a place in the 100 percent book.
"Mayor Thompson's scheme of making American history truly American is one of the greatest things that has occurred in recent years," Peters said. "I think this organization is the one to start real 100 per cent Americanism. In our Indian history we have had many great men, commanders, statesmen, farmers, lawyers. These men should be represented to the school children."
The Indians believed that much inaccuracy has crept into accounts of massacres, reflecting upon the American Indian, whereas Indian deeds of valor in support of the white man's cause have been slighted or overlooked entirely."
.... "There is Chief Joseph of the Nez Perces, who made one of the most notable marches in military history and outgeneraled Gen. O.O. Howard and his regular army forces many times, although Howard had many more men. There are many other heroic incidents in Indian history which are not in our textbooks. Now is the time for the Indian organizations to step forward and present our ideas to the mayor. The Indians should have some representation in every public school and university in the country." - Chicago Tribune. Nov 7, 1927
1927, Nov 10 - The Brooklyn Daily Eagle
INDIANS AND HISTORY REVISION
When old Tecumseh was invited by General Harrison to be seated at a peace conference, he replied proudly: "The Sun is my father and the Earth is my mother. I will repose upon her bosom." There was the child of Nature speaking in Nature's poetry, but how many New York City of Chicago school children ever heard of Tecumseh?
When the Council Fire of American Indians meeting in Chicago, with representatives of a dozen of the Northwestern Indian tribes and with Chief Scott H. Peters of the Chippewas as spokesman, decides to demand from Mayor Thompson and his School Board a revision of history books that will do justice to the real "100-percent Americans" it is logical. And how "Big Bill" will be able to bluff off a delegation in war paint and eagle feathers which will meet him on his return from Washington it is difficult to guess.
Longfellow did full justice to "Hobomok, friend of the white man," and he idealized Hiawatha. Lo has always lent himself to the working of the poetic imagination. But in history, written by those who hated him and wanted his lands, he has unquestionably been ill treated. It is time to revise things. Particularly is this true after the World War. If Caucasian civilization hasn't yet taken to scalping women, it has no hesitation in dropping bombs from the air to blow up women and children. Perhaps in the view of even-handed justice one thing is as bad as the other.
The cruelties of our Indian wars were not all on one side. And any fair-minded old plainsman will tell you that on ore than one occasion the worst of outrages attributed to Indians were the work of the white outlaws disguised. The redskins fought and conducted war as their fathers had before them. And there is no casuist bold enough to defend the constant, persistent and greedy breaches of faith with the Indians by our Washington statesmanship. If history textbooks need revision let us use the occasion to do justice to the 100 percent Americans.
.... "There is Chief Joseph of the Nez Perces, who made one of the most notable marches in military history and outgeneraled Gen. O.O. Howard and his regular army forces many times, although Howard had many more men. There are many other heroic incidents in Indian history which are not in our textbooks. Now is the time for the Indian organizations to step forward and present our ideas to the mayor. The Indians should have some representation in every public school and university in the country." - Chicago Tribune. Nov 7, 1927
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| 1927, Nov 8 The Brooklyn Daily Eagle |
INDIANS AND HISTORY REVISION
When old Tecumseh was invited by General Harrison to be seated at a peace conference, he replied proudly: "The Sun is my father and the Earth is my mother. I will repose upon her bosom." There was the child of Nature speaking in Nature's poetry, but how many New York City of Chicago school children ever heard of Tecumseh?
When the Council Fire of American Indians meeting in Chicago, with representatives of a dozen of the Northwestern Indian tribes and with Chief Scott H. Peters of the Chippewas as spokesman, decides to demand from Mayor Thompson and his School Board a revision of history books that will do justice to the real "100-percent Americans" it is logical. And how "Big Bill" will be able to bluff off a delegation in war paint and eagle feathers which will meet him on his return from Washington it is difficult to guess.
Longfellow did full justice to "Hobomok, friend of the white man," and he idealized Hiawatha. Lo has always lent himself to the working of the poetic imagination. But in history, written by those who hated him and wanted his lands, he has unquestionably been ill treated. It is time to revise things. Particularly is this true after the World War. If Caucasian civilization hasn't yet taken to scalping women, it has no hesitation in dropping bombs from the air to blow up women and children. Perhaps in the view of even-handed justice one thing is as bad as the other.
Continued on the next page: Paleface propaganda against Indians
