Manifest Destiny: A History of Excuses
Joe Fowler, staff writer
Not long ago, the curricula of various schools taught much about Manifest Destiny, the 19th century idea that Anglo-Saxons possessed a kind God-given right to own any land they laid claim to in the area now known as the United States. With the intent of spreading liberty from “sea to shining sea,” early Americans gradually settled from the east coast to the west. The only problem with Manifest Destiny was its failure to consider the people already occupying that land.
Karenne Wood, a member of the Monacan Indian Nation and director of Virginia Indian Programs at the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities, spoke in the school auditorium April 4. Wood gave a lecture on subjects like the history of America from the perspective of those who suffered it.
Though much of the lecture contained some of the saddest aspects of America, Wood also spent a great deal of time talking about more progressive attitudes towards American Indians. Much of the progress emerged from the change in social attitudes during the 1960s.
After the lecture portion of the event, members of the audience asked questions about the latest information in regards to native people. Wood fielded the questions with ease, answering many directly, and pointing out online resources that could be used to answer more complicated inquiries..
During the event, she mentioned that Virginia recognizes close to 6000 members of Indian nations. The tribal leaders of those nations meet annually with each other. Additionally, leaders also meet with the governor annually.
In regards to community involvement, Wood pointed out various events that native people hold throughout the year, which are open to the public, including a powwow during the third weekend of May.
One member of the audience asked Wood about Manifest Destiny and its effect on American Indians. Wood explained a concept whereby Christian Princes alone could own land, simply by stepping foot on it and planting a cross in the ground. This principle carried over to the new world thus entitling Anglo-Saxons to all the land. The Christian settlers viewed the native people as pagans not deserving of land.
Wood continued, stating that once settlers conquered the land, Congress passed the first Civilization Regulations in 1880. The regulations deprived native people of their land rights and religion while also mandating the forced assimilation of native children. Wood described the regulations as, “hilarious since native people had their own civilizations.”
Though the regulations ceased in the early portion of the 20th century, it was not until 1978 when the government passed the American Indian Religious Freedom Act, according to Wood. “Native people couldn’t practice their religions for over 100 years in a country founded on religious freedom,” she said.
The event wrapped up with a discussion on apologies and reparations. Reparations would bankrupt America and not reach all the people entitled to them. However, a resolution passed issuing an apology for the atrocities against native people that has yet to be read aloud by the president, according to Wood. “It’s a sad commentary on America that we would pass a resolution and the president won’t read it aloud,” she said.
