Post by blackcrowheart on Oct 3, 2007 13:22:52 GMT -5
Meeting of tribes, Spanish and Dutch officials to address longstanding issues Indians to gain apology
American Indians expect apologies from Spanish and Dutch tomorrow at Arise Mighty Warrior conference in Newport News
By MICHAEL ZITZ
There will be plenty of fodder for apologies tomorrow when American Indians and representatives of Spain and the Netherlands meet in Newport News.
Indians from across the U.S., Canada and South America are scheduled to take part in the Arise Mighty Warrior conference at Christopher Newport University. The event is sponsored by Restoring Nations International, a Christian ministry headed by Chief Anne Richardson, leader of Virginia's Rappahannock tribe.
She said it will be a rare meeting of tribes in the West and East separated when many Indians were pushed out of their homelands and forcibly transplanted to the West.
And she said the Indians expect to hear two apologies:
One from Spain for the long-term impact colonization had on some tribes.
Another from a Dutch delegation to the Iroquois for supposedly starting a "cycle of addiction" by using alcohol to convince Indians to make bad land deals. She traced current problems with drug addiction back to that.
"They were using the drug of alcohol to secure land to take advantage of them and I believe that's the root of alcohol addiction among Native American people," Richardson said.
"Our people have been cursed with addiction," she said. Revisiting that is part of a healing process, she said.
Carla Bundy, a spokeswoman at the Dutch Embassy in Washington, had no comment yesterday on Richardson's assertion about alcohol.
Meanwhile, Jose Marco, a diplomat at the Spanish Embassy in Washington who will take part in tomorrow's ceremony, said he, too, is expecting an apology--this one from the Indians for the Powhatan tribe killings of four Jesuit priests when a Spanish mission near Williamsburg was wiped out in 1570.
"Four priests--I don't think they could wreak too much colonization," Marco said. But the Spanish had more of an impact on Indians elsewhere, and he said he planned to apologize "for the terrible impact colonization had on their society, and hope that we can feel better 400 years later."
An Indian apology for killing those who would spread Christianity will involve some irony. The Arise Mighty Warrior event, which continues through June 9, is hosted by the World Outreach Worship Center and will include appearances by Christian evangelists. Richardson herself is an ordained minister.
Many Virginia Indians are Baptists, according to tribal leaders.
"We don't just talk about our Christianity, we walk it, and this conference is a part of that walk," Richardson said.
The event takes place as six Virginia Indian tribes, including Richardson's, are awaiting a U.S. Senate vote on recognition and sovereignty, which she believes could help provide benefits that could be used to fight what she sees as an epidemic cycle of alcohol and drug addiction among her people.
The House passed a recognition bill by a unanimous voice vote last month.
Wayne Adkins, a Chickahominy tribe leader and head of the Virginia Indian Tribal Alliance for Life, said the tribes are talking to Virginia's senators--Democrat Jim Webb and Republican John Warner-trying to gain their support, but said no vote is imminent.
Some have expressed concern that sovereignty could lead to tribes opening casinos, but state Indian leaders say their Christian religious beliefs wouldn't permit that.
The conference coincides with the 400th anniversary of the founding of the Jamestown Colony.
Michael Zitz: 540/374-5408
Email: mikez@freelancestar.com
American Indians expect apologies from Spanish and Dutch tomorrow at Arise Mighty Warrior conference in Newport News
By MICHAEL ZITZ
There will be plenty of fodder for apologies tomorrow when American Indians and representatives of Spain and the Netherlands meet in Newport News.
Indians from across the U.S., Canada and South America are scheduled to take part in the Arise Mighty Warrior conference at Christopher Newport University. The event is sponsored by Restoring Nations International, a Christian ministry headed by Chief Anne Richardson, leader of Virginia's Rappahannock tribe.
She said it will be a rare meeting of tribes in the West and East separated when many Indians were pushed out of their homelands and forcibly transplanted to the West.
And she said the Indians expect to hear two apologies:
One from Spain for the long-term impact colonization had on some tribes.
Another from a Dutch delegation to the Iroquois for supposedly starting a "cycle of addiction" by using alcohol to convince Indians to make bad land deals. She traced current problems with drug addiction back to that.
"They were using the drug of alcohol to secure land to take advantage of them and I believe that's the root of alcohol addiction among Native American people," Richardson said.
"Our people have been cursed with addiction," she said. Revisiting that is part of a healing process, she said.
Carla Bundy, a spokeswoman at the Dutch Embassy in Washington, had no comment yesterday on Richardson's assertion about alcohol.
Meanwhile, Jose Marco, a diplomat at the Spanish Embassy in Washington who will take part in tomorrow's ceremony, said he, too, is expecting an apology--this one from the Indians for the Powhatan tribe killings of four Jesuit priests when a Spanish mission near Williamsburg was wiped out in 1570.
"Four priests--I don't think they could wreak too much colonization," Marco said. But the Spanish had more of an impact on Indians elsewhere, and he said he planned to apologize "for the terrible impact colonization had on their society, and hope that we can feel better 400 years later."
An Indian apology for killing those who would spread Christianity will involve some irony. The Arise Mighty Warrior event, which continues through June 9, is hosted by the World Outreach Worship Center and will include appearances by Christian evangelists. Richardson herself is an ordained minister.
Many Virginia Indians are Baptists, according to tribal leaders.
"We don't just talk about our Christianity, we walk it, and this conference is a part of that walk," Richardson said.
The event takes place as six Virginia Indian tribes, including Richardson's, are awaiting a U.S. Senate vote on recognition and sovereignty, which she believes could help provide benefits that could be used to fight what she sees as an epidemic cycle of alcohol and drug addiction among her people.
The House passed a recognition bill by a unanimous voice vote last month.
Wayne Adkins, a Chickahominy tribe leader and head of the Virginia Indian Tribal Alliance for Life, said the tribes are talking to Virginia's senators--Democrat Jim Webb and Republican John Warner-trying to gain their support, but said no vote is imminent.
Some have expressed concern that sovereignty could lead to tribes opening casinos, but state Indian leaders say their Christian religious beliefs wouldn't permit that.
The conference coincides with the 400th anniversary of the founding of the Jamestown Colony.
Michael Zitz: 540/374-5408
Email: mikez@freelancestar.com