Native American Attitudes Toward “Columbus Day” (1992)

That's one thing that's occurred. I like the point out that everybody believes the history of America started in 1492 and that's a lie. You know, that's a lie. When do your people counted as having started? I was taught when I went to school that we'd only been here 10,000 years and today they pushed it back to 65,000 years. I believe the Creator put us here in the beginning and we are separate distinct people. I like the point out the majority of people see us as a relic. They discriminate very heavily against the Indian people. In this city, you've got a football team called a Washington Redskins. Nobody cares. They walk around hats, red skins. That's a very derogatory name. They see Indians as a relic, something in the past. Look at that while and then. You're on an Indian if you don't have a feather in your head or you don't live in a teepee. What do you think is going to be done? What do you think will ever be done to change that? The movement started in 1970 as an A movement. As they taught pride and race and I was one of those people that called a new Indians.

And we taught our people it's okay to be an Indian. Stand up for who you are. Don't let them push you around. Be proud of it.