Many books written about Native Americans have focused in depth on a particular era or subject. Native American Resilience: A Story of Racism, Genocide and Survival has two parts. The first focuses on the Cherokee People – their struggles and survival. Cherokee culture is highlighted, including their oral traditions from earliest time to the confrontation between peoples when the New World was discovered. Trade and treaties played important roles from the early 1600s, with several significant Cherokee leaders guiding their interaction with the Europeans. Starting in the 1700s, laws stipulated that Indian children be educated in the white man’s ways. Native religions, languages and cultures were outlawed, with these basic rights only restored in 1990. Divergent views on removal of Native people from their ancestral lands focuses on the period from the early 1800s until Congress passed a law in 1872 declaring there would be no more treaties. The story of Cherokee removal to Indian territory, their involvement in the American Civil War and the period leading up to Oklahoma statehood in 1907 follows.
In Part II, Native American life through modern times is explored, including issues Natives have within American society and with the government. Although there are treaties still in full force, unless changed by the specific Indian tribe and the U.S. government, many have been abrogated at the government’s convenience, resulting in numerous lawsuits with some significant settlements in money and rights for the Indian people. Yet Native Americans, the First Americans, continue their fight to gain justice for what has been done to them – what has been taken away from them – equality and respect.
Author, Patricia Steeley, graduated from Carthage Senior High in 1960 and married Ronald Patterson. She has a number of family members still living in the Carthage area. In 1987, she married Roger Streng and presently resides in Kansas City, Missouri.
An awakened interest in and determination to understand Native American history beyond what was taught in the classroom prompted Patricia S. Streng to write this book. Understanding that history is primarily written by the victor, she spent uncountable hours researching, traveling and writing to thoroughly research centuries-old historical documents which prove the racism and genocide against Native Americans from the beginning. Her passion unfolds as she tells a story of their strength and resilience as they fight to regain what is rightfully theirs. Some tribes have ceased to exist, but those that remain work to strengthen their religions, cultures and governments. In the 21st Century, they continue to strive not only to have existing treaties recognized and fulfilled, but for equality, respect and recognition as the First Citizens of this nation – all of which are rightfully theirs.
