REPORT
National League of Cities Report:
title
National League of Cities - Race, Equity and Leadership (REAL) - Report dated 10/4/2022 re: Indigenous Peoples, Rebuild Trust & Repair Relationships
end
Meeting Action Detail:
Community Relations Committee Meeting 10/19/2022:
File #: 22226 Version: 1
Type: Agenda Item- Discussion
Title: National League of Cities - Race, Equity and Leadership (REAL) - Report dated 10/4/2022 re: Indigenous Peoples, Rebuild Trust & Repair Relationships.
Action: Discussed
Minute Note:
Councilor Saums stated he attended the on-line webinar noting the first part of the presentation was well-done, and that the second part of the presentation was interesting
explaining that Tribal Members from across the country discussed the things they have done in their local and state governments. He stated the presentation was attached to tonight’s agenda packet on the meeting portal.
Councilor Rodriguez noted page 26 “Allotment and Assimilation Era 1887-1934” talked about the Federal Government separating the Tribal Children from their families and sending them to Boarding Schools where they were prohibited from speaking their native language, tribal dress, and traditional practices. She stated those who survived the Boarding Schools reported mistreatment, abuse and even death of indigenous children at the hands of the school leaders and staff. She stated it was heartbreaking to read.
Councilor Saums provided an overview of the history noting pages 25 -26 “The Treaty-Making Era” (1778 - 1871) was when the Europeans signed the first treaties with Indian Tribes in the early 1600s. The Treaties between the U.S government and Indian Tribes established a pattern of legal and political interaction starting in 1778 with the Delaware Tribe. In 1871, when the treaty-making era formally ended, the U.S. had signed more than 350 treaties with Indian Tribes. Even after 1871, there were many written agreements between Tribes and the United States which functioned like treaties. He stated the treaties morphed from a friendship and reciprocity sort of relationship into one-sided type of arrangements.
Councilor Saums noted during the Removal Era (1830-1850) that President Andrew Jackson signed the Indian Removal Act in 1830. He noted the Indigenous Peoples, Rebuild Trust & Repair Relationships Report stated that the policies during the period removed many Tribes from their eastern homelands to lands west of the Mississippi River to Indian Territory, going into what is now known as Oklahoma. While some sections of Eastern Tribes agreed to move west to protect their interests, those who resisted were forced to go at gunpoint by the U.S. military
Councilor Saums stated the Reservation System (1850-1891) was between the Removal and Allotment Eras, and that Indigenous Peoples, Rebuild Trust & Repair Relationships Report noted that this era was when Federal Policy gave way to the Reservation system. He stated between 1850 and 1891, there were numerous treaties, statutes, and executive orders were made that required Tribes to relocate to distant territories or confined them to smaller areas that were “reserved” portions of the Tribes’ aboriginal territories. Reservations still exist today; however, Native Americans were not required to remain confined on them. He noted during this time, States also passed laws that discriminated against Native Peoples.
Councilor Saums stated as Councilor Rodriguez noted the ”Allotment and Assimilation Era 1887-1934 was when the US Government tried to bring the American Indians into their colonial civilization and erase Indian history and culture.
Councilor Saums stated the history provided in Indigenous Peoples, Rebuild Trust & Repair Relationships Report showed that things did not really begin to change until the Self-Determination Era (1968-present) explaining in the late 1960s and early 1970s, the Federal Indian Policy began to support the concept of Indian Self-Determination. He stated various laws and executive orders strengthened support for Tribal Governments and Reaffirmed Federal acknowledgment of Tribal sovereignty.
Councilor Saums stated during the Self-Determination Era the country recognized that the Indigenous People had their own people, their own culture, their own history and that they did exist. He stated it was amazing that the Indigenous People still exist noting that the US Government spent 400 years trying to eliminate them.
Councilor Rodriguez stated her family visited the National Museum of the American Indian. She stated they spent hours reading the history, noting that it was very sad. However, she stated in the end the American Indian said that they were still here; and she commented that she was grateful that they survived. She stated it would be great for others to read the “National League of Cities - Race, Equity and Leadership (REAL) - Report dated 10/4/2022 re: Indigenous Peoples, Rebuild Trust & Repair Relationships”.
Councilor Saums stated he seen poor behavior occur here in Ledyard during a time when there was a proposed development on a piece of town property. He stated a group of residents, including himself, were fighting the development of the property because they believed there were Indian structures on the property. He stated they had members of the Tribe testify about the existence of the stone structures, what they were used for, and how far back they went. He stated they could read a lot of information regarding the scientific testing of the structures which included the stone chambers, and ceremonial walls, noting that the Indians landscaped with stone, and that the stone structures exist all the way up into northern New England and that they also exist around the world. However, he stated the Developer had Archologies testify that the native stone structures did not exist, and that they were built by colonel white settlers. He went on to state whether people believed it or did not believe it, that there were native stone structures in Ledyard. He stated the fact was that there were two sides who would testify, noting that they would bring out all of their resources to prove their side of the argument. He stated the Gungywamp-Denison Pequotsepose Nature Center in Groton had all kinds of evidence of Native American Indian stone structures. He stated there was a serpentine wall, that had no purpose, except for ceremonial. He stated white colonels would not build a wall like that.
Councilor Paul stated he loved history and that he would encourage everyone to continue to learn more. He stated he planned to read the “National League of Cities - Race, Equity and Leadership (REAL) - Report dated 10/4/2022 re: Indigenous Peoples, Rebuild Trust & Repair Relationships”. He stated they were all part of the Ledyard Community and that they all had to respect one another.
Action: Discussed