Charles E. Taylor is an enrolled member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee and an associate professor at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee. He lives in Candler.
Immigration and amnesty are two topics of debate in today\’s society that are rarely discussed amongst Native peoples in general conversation, without clarification as to “who was impacted the most by the effects of immigration.”
Historically speaking it is unclear as to when the indigenous peoples of North America actually arrived in the territory that we as Americans call home. Speculation indicates the “migration” began some 10,000-20,000 years ago via a land bridge that connected Asia to the northern sections of present North America. Other scholars theorize that these early people arrived by boat across the massive oceans that were created by early continental separation. Despite this scholarly disagreement at explaining the origin of these first immigrants, it is clear that these indigenous people were “The First Americans.”Dual facets of history that create a unique chronology of the “first immigration to North America” by the Native Americans could be regarded as one of “triumph and tragedy.”
Photo by Cathryn Shaffer
Triumph in the respect that this early immigration/migration brought these peoples into a new territory, thousands of miles from their original homelands in Asia, and allowed them to assimilate together into larger groups — or diversify into smaller ones with distinct cultural characteristics — collectively referred to today as “tribes.”
Subsequent immigration of peoples from Europe to America would soon prove to be the catalyst of tragedy necessary to destroy these vast and diverse tribes of native peoples. This devastating tragedy was evidenced by warfare, the generation of numerous treaties, refusal to honor these treaties by the Government, and, most devastating of all, forced assimilation.
Today, the immigration issue does not rest heavily on the minds of most native people, including the Cherokee people. Most native people see their current homeland (i.e. reservations) as a protected place, and never fear that the land will ever cease to be theirs. Concern is generated only if an “outsider” (anyone who is not part of the tribe) participates in suspicious activities that would be regarded as intrusive or invasive within the confines of this protected space, which include but are not limited to, employment opportunities, intermarrying with native women, and being in the United States for free.
Photo by Cathryn Shaffer
The fairness of amnesty can be a controversial topic in conversation, considering that amnesty itself is regarded as a “governmental pardon” for a particular political action or offense. Many native people, Cherokee included, reflect back on the atrocities that were imposed upon them in the forced assimilation into American society. The atrocities mentioned include wrongful land acquisition by outsiders, null treaties by the government, religion and proselytizing, culture & language forfeiture, and the loss of integral dignity, pride, and cultural identity that was theirs for generations.
Many Native Americans will agree that amnesty was never a consideration in the abrupt assimilation process imparted by the U.S. government upon them, and feel that they were never given a choice as to whether they would be or not be a part of this integration into “this great nation of ours.” To create an exception to the rule by pardoning one group of people, and demand another to submit, suffer great losses, and assimilate into a culture that was never an option to consider, is to defame and degrade the very descendents of the first immigrants who called this great nation home. This is a common idea and thought that is shared by many native peoples throughout the United States. When asked their opinions regarding Immigration and Amnesty, they have no other recourse but to recollect, reflect, and remember what sacrifices their ancestors made so that they now may live in the land of their birth, only to call this ancient homeland the United States of America.
The perils that many native people had to endure during the forced assimilation into present society will never compensate for allowing another immigrant people to integrate without confronting some implications of racial, social, economic, or social acceptance.
The paradigm of integration and assimilation may have shifted to a more desirable acceptable standard today, but many native peoples have still not achieved a standard of living, education, and accomplishment that American society considers “socially acclimated.” Any newcomer to this “great nation of ours” should be vigilant of these implications and be willing to submit to the long-established order of the assimilation process in order to gain a so-called “free life.”
