[Peace-discussion] National Day of Mourning
Elena Everett
greentararaider@yahoo.com
Wed, 22 Nov 2006 09:16:55 -0800 (PST)
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<FYI -->=0ALest we forget the real history of this country --- Solidarity, =
Elena>=0A-------------------------------------------=0A(taken from wikipedi=
a)=0AContents: =0AHistoryWamsutta's Speech=0A=0AThe National Day of Mournin=
g is an annual protest held on the fourth Thursday of November (known to ma=
ny as Thanksgiving) in the United States of America since 1970.=0A=0A=0AThe=
35th National Day of Mourning was held on Thursday, November 25, 2004, and=
was dedicated to Leonard Peltier, believed by some (including Amnesty Inte=
rnational)[1] to be a political prisoner. Many American Indians and their s=
upporters will gather at the top of Coles Hill, overlooking Plymouth Rock, =
just as Wamsutta James (1923 - February 20, 2001), an Aquinnah Wampanoag el=
der and Native American activist, did in at the first protest in 1970. Than=
ksgiving day, for them, is a reminder of the democide=0Aof the Native peopl=
e. Participants in National Day of Mourning honor=0ANative ancestors and th=
e struggles of Native peoples to survive today.=0AIt is a day of remembranc=
e and spiritual connection as well as a=0Aprotest of the racism and oppress=
ion which some Native Americans=0Acontinue to perceive. The protest is orga=
nized by the United American=0AIndians of New England (UAINE).=0A=0AHistory=
=0ASince 1921 (the 300th year after the first Thanksgiving) the Commonwealt=
h of Massachusetts stage a reenactment of Thanksgiving each year. They gath=
er at a church on the site of the Pilgrims' original meeting house, in 17th=
century costume. After prayers and a sermon, they march to Plymouth Rock. =
This annual event had even become something of a tourist attraction.=0A=0A=
=0AThe National Day of Mourning began on the 350th anniversary=0Acelebratio=
n of the Pilgrims' arrival on Wampanoag American Indian's=0Aland. The Commo=
nwealth of Massachusetts was planning to celebrate=0Afriendly relations bet=
ween their forefathers and the Wampanoag.=0AWamsutta was invited to make a =
speech at the celebration. However, when=0Athe anniversary planners reviewe=
d his speech beforehand, they decided=0Ait was not appropriate for their ce=
lebration. The reason given was,=0A"...the theme of the anniversary celebra=
tion is brotherhood and=0Aanything inflammatory would have been out of plac=
e." (Source: UAINE)=0AWamsutta used as a basis for his speech one of the Pi=
lgrim's books - a=0APilgrim's account of their first year on Indian land. T=
he book tells of=0Athe opening of his ancestor's graves, taking their wheat=
and bean=0Asupplies, and of the selling of his ancestors as slaves for 220=
=0Ashillings each. Upon being handed a revised speech, written by a public=
=0Arelations person, Wamsutta decided he would not be attending the=0Aceleb=
ration. Instead, to protest the continued silencing of the=0AAmerican India=
n people, he and his supporters went to neighbouring Coles Hill,=0Anear the=
statue of the Massasoit (leader of the Wampanoag when the=0APilgrims lande=
d). Overlooking the Plymouth Harbour and the Mayflower=0Areplica, he gave h=
is speech. This was the first National Day of=0AMourning.=0A=0A=0A=0AThe Na=
tional Day of Mourning protest in Plymouth continues to this=0Aday, now led=
by his son, and the group James helped found in 1970,=0AUAINE.=0A=0A=0A=0A=
In 1997 this protest erupted in violence and arrests were made. More recent=
protests have been held on Coles Hill, overlooking but not at Plymouth Roc=
k. The originators have been joined by black, Hispanic, and even gay rights=
activists in protest. Typically several hundred protesters appear.=0A=0A=
=0A=0A1997 Violence=0AIn 1996, Latinos for Social Change, in support of the=
UAINE, marched=0Ato Plymouth Commons at the same time as the Mayflower Soc=
iety had their=0APilgrim Progress parade. Police rerouted the Pilgrim parad=
e in order to=0Aavoid conflict. In 1997, the Pilgrim Progress parade occurr=
ed at 10am=0Aand went undisturbed.=0A=0A=0A=0AThe gathering of people to co=
mmemorate the 28th National Day of=0AMourning were greeted by police, state=
troopers, and other police=0Aagencies. There are accounts of pepper spray =
being used in the eyes of=0Aelders and children. Twenty-five persons were a=
rrested and faced=0Acharges ranging from assembly without a permit to assau=
lt and battery=0Aon a police officer. In October of 1998 a settlement favor=
able to United American Indians of=0ANew England (UAINE)-the organizers of =
the event-- was reached.=0A=0A=0A=0A=0AWill the Protest Ever End?=0AAccordi=
ng to a speech by Moonanum James, Co-Leader of United=0AAmerican Indians of=
New England at the 29th National Day of Mourning,=0ANovember 26, 1998:=0A=
=0A" Some ask us: Will you ever stop protesting? Some day we will stop=0Apr=
otesting: We will stop protesting when the merchants of Plymouth are=0Ano l=
onger making millions of dollars off the blood of our slaughtered=0Aancesto=
rs. We will stop protesting when we can act as sovereign nations=0Aon our o=
wn land without the interference of the Bureau of Indian=0AAffairs and what=
Sitting Bull called the "favorite ration chiefs." When=0Acorporations stop=
polluting our mother, the earth. When racism has been=0Aeradicated. When t=
he oppression of Two-Spirited=0Apeople is a thing of the past. We will stop=
protesting when homeless=0Apeople have homes and no child goes to bed hung=
ry. When police=0Abrutality no longer exists in communities of color. We wi=
ll stop=0Aprotesting when Leonard Peltier and Mumia Abu Jamal and the Puert=
o Rican independentistas and all the political prisoners are free.=0A=0AUnt=
il then, the struggle will continue."=0A=0A=0A=0A=0AWamsutta's Speech=0AI s=
peak to you as a man -- a Wampanoag Man. I am a proud man, proud=0Aof my an=
cestry, my accomplishments won by a strict parental direction=0A("You must =
succeed - your face is a different color in this small Cape=0ACod community=
!"). I am a product of poverty and discrimination from=0Athese two social a=
nd economic diseases. I, and my brothers and sisters,=0Ahave painfully over=
come, and to some extent we have earned the respect=0Aof our community. We =
are Indians first - but we are termed "good=0Acitizens." Sometimes we are a=
rrogant but only because society has=0Apressured us to be so.=0A=0AIt is wi=
th mixed emotion that I stand here to share my thoughts.=0AThis is a time o=
f celebration for you - celebrating an anniversary of a=0Abeginning for the=
white man in America. A time of looking back, of=0Areflection. It is with =
a heavy heart that I look back upon what=0Ahappened to my People.=0A=0A=0A=
=0AEven before the Pilgrims landed it was common practice for explorers=0At=
o capture Indians, take them to Europe and sell them as slaves for 220=0Ash=
illings apiece. The Pilgrims had hardly explored the shores of Cape=0ACod f=
or four days before they had robbed the graves of my ancestors and=0Astolen=
their corn and beans. Mourt's Relation=0Adescribes a searching party of si=
xteen men. Mourt goes on to say that=0Athis party took as much of the India=
ns' winter provisions as they were=0Aable to carry.=0A=0A=0A=0AMassasoit, t=
he great Sachem of the Wampanoag, knew these facts, yet=0Ahe and his People=
welcomed and befriended the settlers of the Plymouth=0APlantation. Perhaps=
he did this because his Tribe had been depleted by=0Aan epidemic. Or his k=
nowledge of the harsh oncoming winter was the=0Areason for his peaceful acc=
eptance of these acts. This action by=0AMassasoit was perhaps our biggest m=
istake. We, the Wampanoag, welcomed=0Ayou, the white man, with open arms, l=
ittle knowing that it was the=0Abeginning of the end; that before 50 years =
were to pass, the Wampanoag=0Awould no longer be a free people.=0A=0A=0A=0A=
What happened in those short 50 years? What has happened in the last=0A300 =
years? History gives us facts and there were atrocities; there were=0Abroke=
n promises - and most of these centered around land ownership.=0AAmong ours=
elves we understood that there were boundaries, but never=0Abefore had we h=
ad to deal with fences and stone walls. But the white=0Aman had a need to p=
rove his worth by the amount of land that he owned.=0AOnly ten years later,=
when the Puritans came, they treated the=0AWampanoag with even less kindne=
ss in converting the souls of the=0Aso-called "savages." Although the Purit=
ans were harsh to members of=0Atheir own society, the Indian was pressed be=
tween stone slabs and=0Ahanged as quickly as any other "witch."=0A=0A=0A=0A=
And so down through the years there is record after record of Indian=0Aland=
s taken and, in token, reservations set up for him upon which to=0Alive. Th=
e Indian, having been stripped of his power, could only stand=0Aby and watc=
h while the white man took his land and used it for his=0Apersonal gain. Th=
is the Indian could not understand; for to him, land=0Awas survival, to far=
m, to hunt, to be enjoyed. It was not to be abused.=0AWe see incident after=
incident, where the white man sought to tame the=0A"savage" and convert hi=
m to the Christian ways of life. The early=0APilgrim settlers led the India=
n to believe that if he did not behave,=0Athey would dig up the ground and =
unleash the great epidemic again.=0A=0A=0A=0AThe white man used the Indian'=
s nautical skills and abilities. They=0Alet him be only a seaman -- but nev=
er a captain. Time and time again,=0Ain the white man's society, we Indians=
have been termed "low man on the=0Atotem pole."=0A=0A=0A=0AHas the Wampano=
ag really disappeared? There is still an aura of=0Amystery. We know there w=
as an epidemic that took many Indian lives -=0Asome Wampanoags moved west a=
nd joined the Cherokee and Cheyenne. They=0Awere forced to move. Some even =
went north to Canada! Many Wampanoag put=0Aaside their Indian heritage and =
accepted the white man's way for their=0Aown survival. There are some Wampa=
noag who do not wish it known they=0Aare Indian for social or economic reas=
ons.=0A=0A=0A=0AWhat happened to those Wampanoags who chose to remain and l=
ive among=0Athe early settlers? What kind of existence did they live as "ci=
vilized"=0Apeople? True, living was not as complex as life today, but they =
dealt=0Awith the confusion and the change. Honesty, trust, concern, pride, =
and=0Apolitics wove themselves in and out of their [the Wampanoags'] daily=
=0Aliving. Hence, he was termed crafty, cunning, rapacious, and dirty.=0A=
=0A=0A=0AHistory wants us to believe that the Indian was a savage,=0Aillite=
rate, uncivilized animal. A history that was written by an=0Aorganized, dis=
ciplined people, to expose us as an unorganized and=0Aundisciplined entity.=
Two distinctly different cultures met. One=0Athought they must control lif=
e; the other believed life was to be=0Aenjoyed, because nature decreed it. =
Let us remember, the Indian is and=0Awas just as human as the white man. Th=
e Indian feels pain, gets hurt,=0Aand becomes defensive, has dreams, bears =
tragedy and failure, suffers=0Afrom loneliness, needs to cry as well as lau=
gh. He, too, is often=0Amisunderstood.=0A=0AThe white man in the presence o=
f the Indian is still mystified by=0Ahis uncanny ability to make him feel u=
ncomfortable. This may be the=0Aimage the white man has created of the Indi=
an; his "savageness" has=0Aboomeranged and isn't a mystery; it is fear; fea=
r of the Indian's=0Atemperament!=0A=0A=0A=0AHigh on a hill, overlooking the=
famed Plymouth Rock, stands the=0Astatue of our great Sachem, Massasoit. M=
assasoit has stood there many=0Ayears in silence. We the descendants of thi=
s great Sachem have been a=0Asilent people. The necessity of making a livin=
g in this materialistic=0Asociety of the white man caused us to be silent. =
Today, I and many of=0Amy people are choosing to face the truth. We ARE Ind=
ians!=0A=0A=0A=0AAlthough time has drained our culture, and our language is=
almost=0Aextinct, we the Wampanoags still walk the lands of Massachusetts.=
We=0Amay be fragmented, we may be confused. Many years have passed since w=
e=0Ahave been a people together. Our lands were invaded. We fought as hard=
=0Ato keep our land as you the whites did to take our land away from us.=0A=
We were conquered, we became the American prisoners of war in many=0Acases,=
and wards of the United States Government, until only recently.=0A=0A=0A=
=0AOur spirit refuses to die. Yesterday we walked the woodland paths=0Aand =
sandy trails. Today we must walk the macadam highways and roads. We=0Aare u=
niting We're standing not in our wigwams but in your concrete=0Atent. We st=
and tall and proud, and before too many moons pass we'll=0Aright the wrongs=
we have allowed to happen to us.=0A=0A=0A=0AWe forfeited our country. Our =
lands have fallen into the hands of=0Athe aggressor. We have allowed the wh=
ite man to keep us on our knees.=0AWhat has happened cannot be changed, but=
today we must work towards a=0Amore humane America, a more Indian America,=
where men and nature once=0Aagain are important; where the Indian values o=
f honor, truth, and=0Abrotherhood prevail.=0A=0A=0A=0AYou the white man are=
celebrating an anniversary. We the Wampanoags=0Awill help you celebrate in=
the concept of a beginning. It was the=0Abeginning of a new life for the P=
ilgrims. Now, 350 years later it is a=0Abeginning of a new determination fo=
r the original American: the=0AAmerican Indian.=0A=0A=0A=0AThere are some f=
actors concerning the Wampanoags and other Indians=0Aacross this vast natio=
n. We now have 350 years of experience living=0Aamongst the white man. We c=
an now speak his language. We can now think=0Aas a white man thinks. We can=
now compete with him for the top jobs.=0AWe're being heard; we are now bei=
ng listened to. The important point is=0Athat along with these necessities =
of everyday living, we still have the=0Aspirit, we still have the unique cu=
lture, we still have the will and,=0Amost important of all, the determinati=
on to remain as Indians. We are=0Adetermined, and our presence here this ev=
ening is living testimony that=0Athis is only the beginning of the American=
Indian, particularly the=0AWampanoag, to regain the position in this count=
ry that is rightfully=0Aours.=0A=0A=0A=0AWamsutta=0A=0ASeptember 10, 1970=
=0A=0A=0A=0AReferences=0A^ Amnesty International Calls for the Release of L=
eonard Peltier=0A=0A=0AExternal links=0AUnited American Indians of New Engl=
andAn account of attending a National Day of Mourning eventAgreement Betwee=
n the Town of Plymouth and the United American Indians of New England=0A=0A=
=0A=0A=0A=0A=0A=0ASponsored Link=0A=0AMortgage rates near 39yr lows. $510,0=
00 Mortgage for $1,698/mo - =0ACalculate new house payment=0A=0A=0A=0A=0A=
=0A =0A____________________________________________________________________=
________________=0ASponsored Link=0A=0A$200,000 mortgage for $660/ mo=0A30/=
15 yr fixed, reduce debt=0Ahttp://yahoo.ratemarketplace.com
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<html><head><style type=3D"text/css"><!-- DIV {margin:0px;} --></style></he=
ad><body><div style=3D"font-family:times new roman, new york, times, serif;=
font-size:12pt"><div style=3D"font-family: times new roman,new york,times,s=
erif; font-size: 12pt;"><div style=3D"font-family: times new roman,new york=
,times,serif; font-size: 12pt;"><FYI --><br><div style=3D"font-family=
: times new roman,new york,times,serif; font-size: 12pt;"><div style=3D"fon=
t-family: times new roman,new york,times,serif; font-size: 12pt;"><div styl=
e=3D"font-family: times new roman,new york,times,serif; font-size: 12pt;"><=
div style=3D"font-family: times new roman,new york,times,serif; font-size: =
12pt;"><div>Lest we forget the real history of this country --- Solidarity,=
Elena><br>-------------------------------------------<br>(taken from wi=
kipedia)<br><h2><span class=3D"mw-headline">Contents: <br></span></h2><h2><=
span class=3D"mw-headline">History</span><span class=3D"mw-headline">Wamsut=
ta's Speech</span>=0A<br></h2>The <b>National Day of Mourning</b> is an ann=
ual protest held on the fourth Thursday of November (known to many as <a re=
l=3D"nofollow" target=3D"_blank" href=3D"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thank=
sgiving" title=3D"Thanksgiving">Thanksgiving</a>) in the <a rel=3D"nofollow=
" target=3D"_blank" href=3D"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States" tit=
le=3D"United States">United States</a> of America since <a rel=3D"nofollow"=
target=3D"_blank" href=3D"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1970" title=3D"1970=
">1970</a>.=0A<p><br></p><p>The 35th National Day of Mourning was held on T=
hursday, November 25, 2004, and was dedicated to <a rel=3D"nofollow" target=
=3D"_blank" href=3D"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonard_Peltier" title=3D"=
Leonard Peltier">Leonard Peltier</a>, believed by some (including <a rel=3D=
"nofollow" target=3D"_blank" href=3D"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amnesty_I=
nternational" title=3D"Amnesty International">Amnesty International</a>)<su=
p id=3D"_ref-0" class=3D"reference"><a rel=3D"nofollow" target=3D"_blank" h=
ref=3D"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Day_of_Mourning_%28United_Stat=
es%29#_note-0" title=3D"">[1]</a></sup> to be a <a rel=3D"nofollow" target=
=3D"_blank" href=3D"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_prisoner" title=
=3D"Political prisoner">political prisoner</a>. Many <a rel=3D"nofollow" ta=
rget=3D"_blank" href=3D"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Native_Americans_in_th=
e_United_States" title=3D"Native Americans in the United States">American I=
ndians</a> and their supporters will gather at the top of <a
rel=3D"nofollow" target=3D"_blank" href=3D"http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index=
.php?title=3DColes_Hill&action=3Dedit" class=3D"new" title=3D"Coles Hil=
l">Coles Hill</a>, overlooking <a rel=3D"nofollow" target=3D"_blank" href=
=3D"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plymouth_Rock" title=3D"Plymouth Rock">Ply=
mouth Rock</a>, just as Wamsutta James (1923 - February 20, 2001), an <a re=
l=3D"nofollow" target=3D"_blank" href=3D"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aquin=
nah" title=3D"Aquinnah">Aquinnah</a> <a rel=3D"nofollow" target=3D"_blank" =
href=3D"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wampanoag" title=3D"Wampanoag">Wampano=
ag</a> elder and Native American activist, did in at the first protest in 1=
970. Thanksgiving day, for them, is a reminder of the <a rel=3D"nofollow" t=
arget=3D"_blank" href=3D"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democide" title=3D"De=
mocide">democide</a>=0Aof the Native people. Participants in National Day o=
f Mourning honor=0ANative ancestors and the struggles of Native peoples to =
survive today.=0AIt is a day of remembrance and spiritual connection as wel=
l as a=0Aprotest of the racism and oppression which some Native Americans=
=0Acontinue to perceive. The protest is organized by the United American=0A=
Indians of <a rel=3D"nofollow" target=3D"_blank" href=3D"http://en.wikipedi=
a.org/wiki/New_England" title=3D"New England">New England</a> (UAINE).</p><=
a rel=3D"nofollow" name=3D"History" id=3D"History"></a>=0A<h2><span class=
=3D"editsection"></span><span class=3D"mw-headline">History</span></h2>=0A<=
p>Since <a rel=3D"nofollow" target=3D"_blank" href=3D"http://en.wikipedia.o=
rg/wiki/1921" title=3D"1921">1921</a> (the 300th year after the first Thank=
sgiving) <a rel=3D"nofollow" target=3D"_blank" href=3D"http://en.wikipedia.=
org/wiki/The_Commonwealth_of_Massachusetts" title=3D"The Commonwealth of Ma=
ssachusetts">the Commonwealth of Massachusetts</a> stage a reenactment of T=
hanksgiving each year. They gather at a church on the site of the Pilgrims'=
original meeting house, in <a rel=3D"nofollow" target=3D"_blank" href=3D"h=
ttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/17th_century" title=3D"17th century">17th centu=
ry</a> costume. After <a rel=3D"nofollow" target=3D"_blank" href=3D"http://=
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prayer" title=3D"Prayer">prayers</a> and a <a rel=3D"=
nofollow" target=3D"_blank" href=3D"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sermon" ti=
tle=3D"Sermon">sermon</a>, they march to Plymouth Rock. This annual event h=
ad even become something of a tourist attraction.</p>=0A<p><br>The National=
Day of Mourning began on the 350th anniversary=0Acelebration of the Pilgri=
ms' arrival on Wampanoag American Indian's=0Aland. The Commonwealth of Mass=
achusetts was planning to celebrate=0Afriendly relations between their fore=
fathers and the Wampanoag.=0AWamsutta was invited to make a speech at the c=
elebration. However, when=0Athe anniversary planners reviewed his speech be=
forehand, they decided=0Ait was not appropriate for their celebration. The =
reason given was,=0A"...the theme of the anniversary celebration is brother=
hood and=0Aanything inflammatory would have been out of place." (Source: UA=
INE)=0AWamsutta used as a basis for his speech one of the Pilgrim's books -=
a=0APilgrim's account of their first year on Indian land. The book tells o=
f=0Athe opening of his ancestor's graves, taking their wheat and bean=0Asup=
plies, and of the selling of his ancestors as slaves for 220=0Ashillings ea=
ch. Upon being handed a revised speech, written by a public=0Arelations per=
son, Wamsutta decided he would not be attending the=0Acelebration. Instead,=
to protest the continued silencing of the=0AAmerican Indian people, he and=
his supporters went to neighbouring <a rel=3D"nofollow" target=3D"_blank" =
href=3D"http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=3DColes_Hill&action=
=3Dedit" class=3D"new" title=3D"Coles Hill">Coles Hill</a>,=0Anear the stat=
ue of the Massasoit (leader of the Wampanoag when the=0APilgrims landed). O=
verlooking the Plymouth Harbour and the Mayflower=0Areplica, he gave his sp=
eech. This was the first National Day of=0AMourning.</p><p><br></p>=0A<p>Th=
e National Day of Mourning protest in Plymouth continues to this=0Aday, now=
led by his son, and the group James helped found in 1970,=0AUAINE.</p><p><=
br></p>=0A<p>In <a rel=3D"nofollow" target=3D"_blank" href=3D"http://en.wik=
ipedia.org/wiki/1997" title=3D"1997">1997</a> this protest erupted in viole=
nce and arrests were made. More recent protests have been held on <a rel=3D=
"nofollow" target=3D"_blank" href=3D"http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?ti=
tle=3DColes_Hill&action=3Dedit" class=3D"new" title=3D"Coles Hill">Cole=
s Hill</a>, overlooking but not at Plymouth Rock. The originators have been=
joined by <a rel=3D"nofollow" target=3D"_blank" href=3D"http://en.wikipedi=
a.org/wiki/Black" title=3D"Black">black</a>, <a rel=3D"nofollow" target=3D"=
_blank" href=3D"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hispanic" title=3D"Hispanic">H=
ispanic</a>, and even <a rel=3D"nofollow" target=3D"_blank" href=3D"http://=
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gay_rights" title=3D"Gay rights">gay rights</a> activ=
ists in protest. Typically several hundred protesters appear.</p>=0A<p><a r=
el=3D"nofollow" name=3D"1997_Violence"></a></p>=0A<h2><span class=3D"editse=
ction"></span><span class=3D"mw-headline">1997 Violence</span></h2>=0A<p>In=
1996, Latinos for Social Change, in support of the UAINE, marched=0Ato Ply=
mouth Commons at the same time as the Mayflower Society had their=0APilgrim=
Progress parade. Police rerouted the Pilgrim parade in order to=0Aavoid co=
nflict. In 1997, the Pilgrim Progress parade occurred at 10am=0Aand went un=
disturbed.</p><p><br></p>=0A<p>The gathering of people to commemorate the 2=
8th National Day of=0AMourning were greeted by police, state troopers, and =
other police=0Aagencies. There are accounts of pepper spray being used in t=
he eyes of=0Aelders and children. Twenty-five persons were arrested and fac=
ed=0Acharges ranging from assembly without a permit to assault and battery=
=0Aon a police officer. In October of 1998 a settlement favorable to United=
American Indians of=0ANew England (UAINE)-the organizers of the event-- wa=
s reached.<br></p>=0A<p><a rel=3D"nofollow" name=3D"Will_the_Protest_Ever_E=
nd.3F" id=3D"Will_the_Protest_Ever_End.3F"></a></p>=0A<h2><span class=3D"ed=
itsection"></span><span class=3D"mw-headline">Will the Protest Ever End?</s=
pan></h2>=0A<p>According to a speech by Moonanum James, Co-Leader of United=
=0AAmerican Indians of New England at the 29th National Day of Mourning,=0A=
November 26, 1998:</p>=0A<p>" Some ask us: Will you ever stop protesting? S=
ome day we will stop=0Aprotesting: We will stop protesting when the merchan=
ts of Plymouth are=0Ano longer making millions of dollars off the blood of =
our slaughtered=0Aancestors. We will stop protesting when we can act as sov=
ereign nations=0Aon our own land without the interference of the Bureau of =
Indian=0AAffairs and what Sitting Bull called the "favorite ration chiefs."=
When=0Acorporations stop polluting our mother, the earth. When racism has =
been=0Aeradicated. When the oppression of <a rel=3D"nofollow" target=3D"_bl=
ank" href=3D"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Two-Spirited" title=3D"Two-Spirit=
ed">Two-Spirited</a>=0Apeople is a thing of the past. We will stop protesti=
ng when homeless=0Apeople have homes and no child goes to bed hungry. When =
police=0Abrutality no longer exists in communities of color. We will stop=
=0Aprotesting when <a rel=3D"nofollow" target=3D"_blank" href=3D"http://en.=
wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonard_Peltier" title=3D"Leonard Peltier">Leonard Pelti=
er</a> and <a rel=3D"nofollow" target=3D"_blank" href=3D"http://en.wikipedi=
a.org/wiki/Mumia_Abu_Jamal" title=3D"Mumia Abu Jamal">Mumia Abu Jamal</a> a=
nd the Puerto Rican independentistas and all the political prisoners are fr=
ee.</p>=0A<p>Until then, the struggle will continue."<br></p>=0A<p><a rel=
=3D"nofollow" name=3D"Wamsutta.27s_Speech" id=3D"Wamsutta.27s_Speech"></a><=
/p>=0A<h2><span class=3D"editsection"></span><span class=3D"mw-headline">Wa=
msutta's Speech</span></h2>=0A<p>I speak to you as a man -- a Wampanoag Man=
. I am a proud man, proud=0Aof my ancestry, my accomplishments won by a str=
ict parental direction=0A("You must succeed - your face is a different colo=
r in this small Cape=0ACod community!"). I am a product of poverty and disc=
rimination from=0Athese two social and economic diseases. I, and my brother=
s and sisters,=0Ahave painfully overcome, and to some extent we have earned=
the respect=0Aof our community. We are Indians first - but we are termed "=
good=0Acitizens." Sometimes we are arrogant but only because society has=0A=
pressured us to be so.</p>=0A<p>It is with mixed emotion that I stand here =
to share my thoughts.=0AThis is a time of celebration for you - celebrating=
an anniversary of a=0Abeginning for the white man in America. A time of lo=
oking back, of=0Areflection. It is with a heavy heart that I look back upon=
what=0Ahappened to my People.</p><p><br></p>=0A<p>Even before the Pilgrims=
landed it was common practice for explorers=0Ato capture Indians, take the=
m to Europe and sell them as slaves for 220=0Ashillings apiece. The Pilgrim=
s had hardly explored the shores of Cape=0ACod for four days before they ha=
d robbed the graves of my ancestors and=0Astolen their corn and beans. <i><=
a rel=3D"nofollow" target=3D"_blank" href=3D"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M=
ourt%27s_Relation" title=3D"Mourt's Relation">Mourt's Relation</a></i>=0Ade=
scribes a searching party of sixteen men. Mourt goes on to say that=0Athis =
party took as much of the Indians' winter provisions as they were=0Aable to=
carry.</p><p><br></p>=0A<p>Massasoit, the great Sachem of the Wampanoag, k=
new these facts, yet=0Ahe and his People welcomed and befriended the settle=
rs of the Plymouth=0APlantation. Perhaps he did this because his Tribe had =
been depleted by=0Aan epidemic. Or his knowledge of the harsh oncoming wint=
er was the=0Areason for his peaceful acceptance of these acts. This action =
by=0AMassasoit was perhaps our biggest mistake. We, the Wampanoag, welcomed=
=0Ayou, the white man, with open arms, little knowing that it was the=0Abeg=
inning of the end; that before 50 years were to pass, the Wampanoag=0Awould=
no longer be a free people.</p><p><br></p>=0A<p>What happened in those sho=
rt 50 years? What has happened in the last=0A300 years? History gives us fa=
cts and there were atrocities; there were=0Abroken promises - and most of t=
hese centered around land ownership.=0AAmong ourselves we understood that t=
here were boundaries, but never=0Abefore had we had to deal with fences and=
stone walls. But the white=0Aman had a need to prove his worth by the amou=
nt of land that he owned.=0AOnly ten years later, when the Puritans came, t=
hey treated the=0AWampanoag with even less kindness in converting the souls=
of the=0Aso-called "savages." Although the Puritans were harsh to members =
of=0Atheir own society, the Indian was pressed between stone slabs and=0Aha=
nged as quickly as any other "witch."</p><p><br></p>=0A<p>And so down throu=
gh the years there is record after record of Indian=0Alands taken and, in t=
oken, reservations set up for him upon which to=0Alive. The Indian, having =
been stripped of his power, could only stand=0Aby and watch while the white=
man took his land and used it for his=0Apersonal gain. This the Indian cou=
ld not understand; for to him, land=0Awas survival, to farm, to hunt, to be=
enjoyed. It was not to be abused.=0AWe see incident after incident, where =
the white man sought to tame the=0A"savage" and convert him to the Christia=
n ways of life. The early=0APilgrim settlers led the Indian to believe that=
if he did not behave,=0Athey would dig up the ground and unleash the great=
epidemic again.</p><p><br></p>=0A<p>The white man used the Indian's nautic=
al skills and abilities. They=0Alet him be only a seaman -- but never a cap=
tain. Time and time again,=0Ain the white man's society, we Indians have be=
en termed "low man on the=0Atotem pole."</p><p><br></p>=0A<p>Has the Wampan=
oag really disappeared? There is still an aura of=0Amystery. We know there =
was an epidemic that took many Indian lives -=0Asome Wampanoags moved west =
and joined the Cherokee and Cheyenne. They=0Awere forced to move. Some even=
went north to Canada! Many Wampanoag put=0Aaside their Indian heritage and=
accepted the white man's way for their=0Aown survival. There are some Wamp=
anoag who do not wish it known they=0Aare Indian for social or economic rea=
sons.</p><p><br></p>=0A<p>What happened to those Wampanoags who chose to re=
main and live among=0Athe early settlers? What kind of existence did they l=
ive as "civilized"=0Apeople? True, living was not as complex as life today,=
but they dealt=0Awith the confusion and the change. Honesty, trust, concer=
n, pride, and=0Apolitics wove themselves in and out of their [the Wampanoag=
s'] daily=0Aliving. Hence, he was termed crafty, cunning, rapacious, and di=
rty.</p><p><br></p>=0A<p>History wants us to believe that the Indian was a =
savage,=0Ailliterate, uncivilized animal. A history that was written by an=
=0Aorganized, disciplined people, to expose us as an unorganized and=0Aundi=
sciplined entity. Two distinctly different cultures met. One=0Athought they=
must control life; the other believed life was to be=0Aenjoyed, because na=
ture decreed it. Let us remember, the Indian is and=0Awas just as human as =
the white man. The Indian feels pain, gets hurt,=0Aand becomes defensive, h=
as dreams, bears tragedy and failure, suffers=0Afrom loneliness, needs to c=
ry as well as laugh. He, too, is often=0Amisunderstood.</p>=0A<p>The white =
man in the presence of the Indian is still mystified by=0Ahis uncanny abili=
ty to make him feel uncomfortable. This may be the=0Aimage the white man ha=
s created of the Indian; his "savageness" has=0Aboomeranged and isn't a mys=
tery; it is fear; fear of the Indian's=0Atemperament!</p><p><br></p>=0A<p>H=
igh on a hill, overlooking the famed Plymouth Rock, stands the=0Astatue of =
our great Sachem, Massasoit. Massasoit has stood there many=0Ayears in sile=
nce. We the descendants of this great Sachem have been a=0Asilent people. T=
he necessity of making a living in this materialistic=0Asociety of the whit=
e man caused us to be silent. Today, I and many of=0Amy people are choosing=
to face the truth. We ARE Indians!</p><p><br></p>=0A<p>Although time has d=
rained our culture, and our language is almost=0Aextinct, we the Wampanoags=
still walk the lands of Massachusetts. We=0Amay be fragmented, we may be c=
onfused. Many years have passed since we=0Ahave been a people together. Our=
lands were invaded. We fought as hard=0Ato keep our land as you the whites=
did to take our land away from us.=0AWe were conquered, we became the Amer=
ican prisoners of war in many=0Acases, and wards of the United States Gover=
nment, until only recently.</p><p><br></p>=0A<p>Our spirit refuses to die. =
Yesterday we walked the woodland paths=0Aand sandy trails. Today we must wa=
lk the macadam highways and roads. We=0Aare uniting We're standing not in o=
ur wigwams but in your concrete=0Atent. We stand tall and proud, and before=
too many moons pass we'll=0Aright the wrongs we have allowed to happen to =
us.</p><p><br></p>=0A<p>We forfeited our country. Our lands have fallen int=
o the hands of=0Athe aggressor. We have allowed the white man to keep us on=
our knees.=0AWhat has happened cannot be changed, but today we must work t=
owards a=0Amore humane America, a more Indian America, where men and nature=
once=0Aagain are important; where the Indian values of honor, truth, and=
=0Abrotherhood prevail.</p><p><br></p>=0A<p>You the white man are celebrati=
ng an anniversary. We the Wampanoags=0Awill help you celebrate in the conce=
pt of a beginning. It was the=0Abeginning of a new life for the Pilgrims. N=
ow, 350 years later it is a=0Abeginning of a new determination for the orig=
inal American: the=0AAmerican Indian.</p><p><br></p>=0A<p>There are some fa=
ctors concerning the Wampanoags and other Indians=0Aacross this vast nation=
. We now have 350 years of experience living=0Aamongst the white man. We ca=
n now speak his language. We can now think=0Aas a white man thinks. We can =
now compete with him for the top jobs.=0AWe're being heard; we are now bein=
g listened to. The important point is=0Athat along with these necessities o=
f everyday living, we still have the=0Aspirit, we still have the unique cul=
ture, we still have the will and,=0Amost important of all, the determinatio=
n to remain as Indians. We are=0Adetermined, and our presence here this eve=
ning is living testimony that=0Athis is only the beginning of the American =
Indian, particularly the=0AWampanoag, to regain the position in this countr=
y that is rightfully=0Aours.</p><p><br></p>=0A<p>Wamsutta</p>=0A<p>Septembe=
r 10, 1970</p>=0A<p><a rel=3D"nofollow" name=3D"References" id=3D"Reference=
s"></a></p>=0A<h2><span class=3D"editsection"></span><span class=3D"mw-head=
line">References</span></h2>=0A<ol class=3D"references"><li id=3D"_note-0">=
<b><a rel=3D"nofollow" target=3D"_blank" href=3D"http://en.wikipedia.org/wi=
ki/National_Day_of_Mourning_%28United_States%29#_ref-0" title=3D"">^</a></b=
> <a rel=3D"nofollow" target=3D"_blank" href=3D"http://web.archive.org/web/=
20040618184203/http://www.amnestyusa.org/news/1999/usa04161999.htm" class=
=3D"external text" title=3D"http://web.archive.org/web/20040618184203/http:=
//www.amnestyusa.org/news/1999/usa04161999.htm">Amnesty International Calls=
for the Release of Leonard Peltier</a></li></ol>=0A<p><a rel=3D"nofollow" =
name=3D"External_links" id=3D"External_links"></a></p>=0A<h2><span class=3D=
"editsection"></span><span class=3D"mw-headline">External links</span></h2>=
=0A<ul><li><a rel=3D"nofollow" target=3D"_blank" href=3D"http://home.earthl=
ink.net/%7Euainendom/" class=3D"external text" title=3D"http://home.earthli=
nk.net/~uainendom/">United American Indians of New England</a></li><li><a r=
el=3D"nofollow" target=3D"_blank" href=3D"http://www.abilitymaine.org/rosc/=
thank.html" class=3D"external text" title=3D"http://www.abilitymaine.org/ro=
sc/thank.html">An account of attending a National Day of Mourning event</a>=
</li><li><a rel=3D"nofollow" target=3D"_blank" href=3D"http://home.earthlin=
k.net/%7Euainendom/settext.htm" class=3D"external text" title=3D"http://hom=
e.earthlink.net/~uainendom/settext.htm">Agreement Between the Town of Plymo=
uth and the United American Indians of New England</a></li></ul></div></div=
></div></div></div><br>=0A=0A<font color=3D"#666666"><font size=3D"2"><hr s=
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