I have been doing a lot of research on the plains Indians in conjunction with the book I am currently writing.
Unlike the five civilized tribes who were moved to Oklahoma Territory by the government, the plains Indians migrated here.  However, both groups eventually lost their land because of the government's so-called good intentions.
When the government told the Indians that they would be placed on reservations, the Indians initially rebelled, which led to several wars between the Indians and the United States government.  After a number of slaughters, the Indians finally gave in.
The government initially brought in missionaries to "teach the Indians religion."  Then, the government set up Indian schools to educate the savages.  Finally, it set out to make farmers of the Indians.  In the Indian culture, men did not work in the fields raising the corn and other crops.
That was women's work. So, to put the men in the fields was demeaning to them and completely out of tune with their culture.
Finally, they took away the Indians' rights to govern themselves by giving each head of household an allotment of 160 acres of  land so that they could become United States citizens.  That also conveniently left millions of acres of Indian land now free for farms and ranches.
The Indians did receive approximately 50 cents per acre for the land the government "bought back" from them.  Most of that money was placed in trust to be doled out to the Indians each year in set amounts depending on the number in a family.
This whole Indian issue reminds me so much of how we often treat other countries with whom we go to war
We decimate their homeland, we destroy their homes, their businesses, their schools, and their places of worship.
We outlaw many of their customs because we consider them "barbaric"'; we condemn their culture; we insist that they become Democracies like us; and we question their religion.
Then, we wonder why there are people who hate us and who want to destroy us. 
Who made us God?  
 
 


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