Spring Break
The Daily OrangeStudents protest Columbus Day, share culture on Quad
By Shayna Meliker
Posted: 10/14/08, 3:44 AM EST Section: News
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"I forgot about it for years, and I blocked it from my mind," Jones said. "It was hurtful. And I can't believe she did that to me. Why would she do that to me?"
It's been 35 years since that bus ride.
Jones, a member of the Oneida nation, joined more than 50 Syracuse University students on the Quad Monday for a demonstration against Columbus Day.
Now an assistant director of SU's Office of Multicultural Affairs and leader of the school's Native Student Program, Jones helped coordinate Monday's event so SU's Native American students might not have to endure the prejudices she suffered when she was their age.
The demonstration, which included singing, dancing and handing out informational fliers, aimed to educate bystanders about Native American culture and the problems Christopher Columbus' founding of America caused for native nations, Jones said.
"People don't even understand that the history of colonialism has changed indigenous people forever," she said. "And these hurts perpetuate through all of our generations. Our people still deal with biases and prejudices, and I think people still believe we should just adopt the white way of life."
The event involved people from all cultures affected by colonialism, Jones said. Participants came from groups such as the Native American Students at Syracuse, the Indigenous Law Students Association and La L.U.C.H.A., a Latino student organization. They wore purple T-shirts for the color of the Hiawatha belt, a representation of Upstate New York's six native nations.
Jones said she's happy SU doesn't cancel classes in honor of Columbus Day, and that it shows respect for the history of Native American nations, specifically Syracuse's Onondaga Nation.
For students like Daniel Loran, a member of the Mohawk Nation and a senior retail management major, Monday's event served to connect students to their native cultures. Loran's mother is white and his father is Native American, and he said that makes for a complicated self-identity.
"It affected the way that I learned my culture," he said. "I'm not as deep-rooted in it as a lot of my friends, who have two parents who share the same culture. This is definitely about identity and preserving our culture. It's really important for everyone to know where they're from."
Viewing Comments 1 - 7 of 11
Kaylen Thorpe
posted 10/14/08 @ 8:01 AM EST
"This is India, and these are Indians."
And the inhabitants of America have been stupid ever since.
Reid
Reid Berdanier
posted 10/14/08 @ 9:52 AM EST
I thought this was an excellent article; I had no idea these events were occurring on campus.
I'm from South Dakota where instead of Columbus Day, the state's holiday is actually celebrated as "Native American Day" - I believe the only state to have such a title. (Continued…)
Anna
posted 10/14/08 @ 11:09 AM EST
There is a large Italian population where I live, and to them, Columbus is an icon. They use Columbus Day as an opportunity to celebrate their culture and honor him. (Continued…)
Bruce Skewes
posted 10/14/08 @ 12:50 PM EST
When Columbus arrived, he and other explorers were met by Indian cultures that, for the most part, had never ascended to the Neolithic, Bronze or Iron Ages. (Continued…)
Kaylen Thorpe
posted 10/14/08 @ 6:40 PM EST
The better question is, who was the European to think HE had a moral right to claim land that was not his?
Catherine Burke-Plumadore
posted 10/17/08 @ 5:05 PM EST
Re: "Christopher Columbus' founding of America,"
um... yes, he found the place (about 400 years after the Vikings did), but he did not found America. (Continued…)
Scott McNealus
posted 10/17/08 @ 7:28 PM EST
The history of human civilization has been one of continuous conquering and/or enslaving other cultures. It continues to this day with Muslims killing Christians because they are Christians. (Continued…)
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