Hi Everyone,

I hope this doesn't start a debate. We do a geography unit study in my home, going from state to state alphabetically. Sometimes I teach the kids about American Indians. It's fun, it's fascinating, their artwork is amazing. My dh is a teeny bit part Cherokee and that only sparks my kids' interests even more.

But I have a question about them. Sometimes it gets upsetting how the American Indians were treated by the "white men." The stories are hard at times and I do teach my girls that because I think they do need to know. But many times it seems their treatment was unfair.

Were the "whites" right in how they treated the Indians? Was it ever justified? It just seems so wrong and I battle with my feelings as I teach this to my kids. Yet there are so many great things about them and it's wonderful that many did convert to Christianity too. Could it be said that their worship and prayer to spirits was a result in judgment upone them?

I'm not pointing the finger. I love learning about the Indians, I love learning about their artwork, etc. I'd never call them savage at all. I'm really just curious.

Thanks so much.

I too am part American Indian. I think the Indians were treated very unfairly. For the most part they were not savages. They were moved off there land so white men could settle. A good part of the indians were nomadic. You might check out Great Smokie Mountains, I know several of the visitor centers have tons of info on American Indians and the Trail of Tears. I wish I could remember the name of the park we went to as a teenager, it was the park where Colonel Muster had his last stand. They had amazing information there! The indians he attacked were mostly women and children gathering together. It was a tragic story. If I can think of the name I will let you know. I will take my children there when they are a little older.

I really hope I didn't offend you by this question. In no way would I judge the Indians or hate them for being Indians, etc. If anything, I'm fascinated with them and love their art, love the different types of homes they live(d) in, etc. It's hard teaching this to the kids and how the Indians were treated. But homeschool doesn't mean saying America is all wonderful without its faults. There are plenty here!

I will do a search on the Great Smokies. If you do know of any links, etc. I'd appreciate it.

Thanks so much!

I happened to stumble upon your inquiry and had to respond. My Husband is fun blood Indian and we have 3 children we homeschool.( 10,12,14 yrs) I like that you question how to teach your children about the Natives because you see that there are indeed two sides to the story. In public school they are taught only one side, the White side. I am White myself, so I struggled to find the truth to teach my own kids.
We have shown them both sides of history. Yes the Whites view the Indian as savages and this is why... But the Whites broke treaties and the Natives fought back. You can't apologize for History, it is what it is and it's your job to find out the facts and teach it to your kids.
There is plenty of information out there on all the bad things the Indians did to the Whites but the source I like the best to balance that info is "Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee" It is a movie that came out within the last two years. Please veiw it before letting your young'ns see it as there are parts that may need to be screened. We are going on a mission trip to a Reservation this summer and had all the kids watch it so they could understand why the Indian acts the way they do and why so many on the Reservation live in poverty. So much of how they are today has followed them through the generations.

Keep seeking to find out both sides of their history and make up your mind for yourself.

God's Blessings to you

KMT, I really appreciate your response! And God bless you for going on that missions trip! I hope that you have a great time and many Native Americans will respond to the Gospel!

I have no problem with things like Indian decorations (my dh loves them and the kids have made things for him) as long as my kids understand what's wrong with say, praying to the spirit of parsley..

It's hard to decide on this. One side is the unfairness towards them.. the other side is, is God judging them for worshiping the created, rather than the Creator? But I do know that they need Jesus just like everybody else.