As I consider the efforts to drive the political narrative, it has been increasingly clear that the current eadership here has embraced the denial of our foundations.

It is past time that we, collectively seek out and teach the absolute truth about the violence directed towards indigenous people and those who were stolen from their homes in Africa.

Many will acknowledge a partial history but the grisly, unfettered truth is not being taught. News media in recent years has reported on the cruelty, rape and murder of native children who were stolen from their parents and forced into boarding schools scattered across the country. The children endured being beaten for speaking their traditional language, having their clothing stripped away while their traditional spiritual practices were shunned.

The food was inadequate and many were raped, beaten and murdered outright. These are cold, brutal facts.

Countless times, predominantly white people have shrugged and implied that "it wasn't that bad. And besides, they (native people) are drunks."

But while many ignore the poverty and high rates of alcoholism and drug addiction on reservations, this is where truth may be critical for healing generational trauma.

I challenge the reader to give thought to the pain and suffering of children removed from their homes, sent to what was essentially a foreign country, far from family, tradional ritual and spiritual teachings. They had no parents and did not learn how to be a parent in later years. Deprived of love, they were made to feel ashamed of not just their origins but their hair and the very skin covering their bodies.

Beyond the trauma endured by these innocent children, think of the grief inflicted on their parents and extended families. Parents who were unable to protect them from grievous harm.

Our society has a moral obligation to learn about the violence directed towards indigenous people. The massacres when precious metals were discovered or when whole tribes were removed from their sacred homes and sent away to reservations. Millions died when our European ancestors arrived, countless men, women, children and elders were murdered in the name of "manifest destiny ".

Treaties were broken frequently and aid promised by the government (if it arrived at all) was frequently pocketed by corrupt agents.

Then let's also think about slavery where human beings were forced into servitude. Frequent beatings and murders were committed by overseers, women were "bred" like cattle. Father's sold. And people wonder why so many black children are being raised solely by mothers in current times. Generations of women were primary caregivers and it became ingrained in their psyche. Not because they are "bad" but because this was how they survived. Males were often sold away from their families and they too were forced to adapt.

These are examples of raw and ugly truth. Until society at large acknowledges and recognizes how generations of people were forced to live, healing is very difficult.

We cannot ignore history because if we do, we do so at our peril. Peace cannot be found if the full truth of our beginnings are ignored. All people would benefit from learning and accepting the bedrock of our nation. It is how we develop compassion, empathy and kindness.

Now, imagine a society strong enough to accept unadulterated truth and the beauty that could occur as a result.

The

indigenous history

Do Not Fear Truth