[In Fact] Buffalo Hunting Was the Ruin of Native Americans (Part 1)

Andrew Jackson Leading Forced Removal of Native Americans
Federal Government Encouraged Farmers to Assimilate into White Society
Reasons for Increased Diabetes Rates Among Native Americans

Directed by Martin Scorsese, 'Killers of the Flower Moon' exposes the hypocritical and dirty history of white people who are different on the surface and inside. The scapegoats are the Osage tribe, who were driven out of their homeland. Just when they despaired that their lineage had ended, oil was discovered in the barren land. They made a fortune from oil drilling and amassed enormous wealth. It was not a blessing. Rather, it was a catalyst that hastened the tribe's destruction. Whites, attracted by the scent of money, gathered and eagerly sought opportunities.

The protagonist Ernest (Leonardo DiCaprio) is one of them. He deliberately approaches Molly (Lily Gladstone), an Osage woman. He was coerced by his uncle Hale (Robert De Niro). Hale urged him that if Molly, who had a mother and sisters, inherited well, they could become rich. This was the beginning of a collective crime. With a series of suspicious deaths, the direction of the vast wealth increasingly tilted to one side. In this process, Ernest is merely a henchman. Without a particular plan, he instructs others on the schemes devised by Hale.

Director Scorsese persistently highlights how a weak human being naturally becomes tainted with evil. Ernest clearly loves his wife dearly. However, he cannot erase from his mind the benefits he can gain through her. Even though he knows it is a crime... He has assimilated into a social atmosphere rife with sinister plots and conspiracies. It simultaneously shows the opportunistic indifference and aggressive ambitions of whites who mistakenly believe they are civilized.

In fact, it is a man-made disaster stemming from institutions and policies purportedly for the benefit of Native Americans. Especially, 'Killers of the Flower Moon' criticizes the guardianship appointment law passed in 1921. It was a system that judged the Osage tribe as lacking a proper concept of money and appointed white lawyers, businessmen, and others to manage their wealth on their behalf. The Osage had to use their money as if receiving an allowance. Guardians exploited loopholes by charging excessive fees and increased their wealth.

Land privatization also failed to help the economic and social life of Native Americans. Most sold the land they were allocated at low prices to whites to cover living expenses. Those who fell into extreme poverty had U.S. citizenship but could not find jobs. They were repeatedly blocked by the high walls of racial discrimination. Citizenship was nominal qualification only. The discrimination their ancestors experienced continued, and they became rare figures seen only in Western movies or novels.

'Did you know?' provides information in a disorganized way. It is a tip for enjoying the movie more interestingly.

*Native American residences are called Reservations. Their sizes vary from small communities with a few dozen people to large ones with thousands. There are about 200 in the United States today. Generally, they are defined as Native American lands managed by the federal government. The actual purposes of their establishment were mainly twofold: land seizure and neutralization of Native Americans. Most were created during the forced relocations in the 19th century. All are barren and desolate lands.

*The five tribes Cherokee, Creek, Choctaw, Chickasaw, and Seminole were considered civilized among Native Americans. Their lands were suitable for cotton cultivation. Conflicts arose as whites coveted these lands. At that time, Andrew Jackson, nicknamed the 'Indian Killer,' became president. He was the hero who led victories in wars against the British and Native Americans. His fame for victories was matched by his notoriety. Upon inauguration, he declared the forced removal of Southeastern Native Americans. The Cherokee and others strongly resisted, deciding on legal and armed struggles. The lawsuit ended with the Cherokee winning in the final review. President Jackson refused to accept the verdict. Simultaneously, Georgia enacted a law confiscating uncultivated Cherokee lands, contradicting the Supreme Court ruling. Mississippi and Alabama passed similar laws denying Native American land ownership. Jackson supported the state governments' positions. The Cherokee were confined to camps following a final ultimatum and forcibly relocated to Oklahoma. About 4,000 died during this process. U.S. soldier John Burnett, who was present at the scene of death, testified: "This land was seized by whites. You must know that these are lands from which people who lived for thousands of years were driven out by guns and swords. Murderers must be called murderers by someone. Someone must tell the story. The rivers of blood that flowed then... Someone must explain the meaning of the graves of over 4,000 souls who died in that river of tears...".

*President Jackson cited civilization as one reason for forced removal. However, at that time, the Cherokee had abandoned hunting lifestyles and were adapting to the American system created by European culture. They published newspapers in their own language and upheld freedom and justice, the foundations of the American Declaration of Independence.

*Gold discoveries were a recurring theme in the American Westward expansion and wars with Native Americans of the American plains. Conflicts intensified when gold was found in California and Colorado. Especially, the gold discovered in 1874 in the heart of the Northern Plains Native Americans' territory was like a spark that brought tragedy.

*White policies toward Native Americans changed over time. When settlements were first established on the Atlantic coast in Virginia, Massachusetts, and other states, the attitude was grateful due to multiple instances of assistance. As settlers increased, relations with Native Americans became hostile. During the colonial period and early U.S. independence, whites and Native Americans coexisted despite various conflicts. The so-called civilized five tribes adopted white lifestyles and lived without major problems. Many Eastern Native Americans converted to Christianity and received modern education in schools. The Indian College established within Harvard University is a representative example. Dartmouth College in New Hampshire was also originally founded as a Native American educational institution.

*In the 1830s, during President Jackson's era, the number of white immigrants surged. Naturally, land in the East became scarce. As more people refused to live alongside the red-skinned race, cohabitation policies gradually shifted to segregation policies. Consequently, many Eastern Native Americans, including the Cherokee, were driven to Oklahoma along the infamous Trail of Tears.

*From the mid-19th century, whites migrated westward. This increased conflicts with Plains settlers, Southwestern Native Americans, and those beyond the Rocky Mountains. Soon, bloody wars broke out between those trying to seize land and those defending it. The federal government forcibly imposed treaties on Native Americans to build railroads and roads crossing east to west and to provide farmland and ranches to new white immigrants. Plains Native Americans were not agricultural but hunting peoples. Their vast hunting grounds were their territory. Whites thought that by forcing them to abandon traditional lifestyles and convert to farming, they could acquire the vast prairies. Based on meticulous calculations, Native Americans were confined to Indian reservations, taught farming to adults, and sent children to schools to assimilate them into white society. In 1887, the Dawes Act was enacted to accelerate assimilation policies. It divided communal reservation lands into individual allotments, encouraging Native Americans to farm like white yeoman farmers and dismantling tribal communities.

*Assimilation policies ended with the enactment of the Indian Reorganization Act, known as the 'Indian New Deal,' in 1934. The era shifted to accepting Native American cultures.

*Native Americans held various religious ceremonies and festivals depending on region and tribe for many years. In 1883, the Indian Bureau issued an administrative order banning traditional religious practices entirely. Partial bans were lifted later, but full religious freedom was only achieved with the Indian Religious Freedom Act of 1978.

*From the late 19th century, Native Americans suffered from severe obesity and diabetes. The Dawes Act led to difficult farming conditions and poor-quality food rations. Changes in diet and lifestyle increased diabetes rates significantly. The Navajo tribe, spanning Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah, is a representative example. A 1990 survey revealed that 22% of their 170,000 population had diabetes. Diabetes is a disease where carbohydrate metabolism is impaired. Historically, it was almost nonexistent in Native societies. Traditional diets included corn, beans, squash, melon, peach, apricot, berries, celery, oats, acorns, and herbs. In the 21st century, processed foods rich in flour and sugar and carbonated drinks became staples. Fried meats and potatoes are also popular. Hamburgers and pizza go without saying. As traditional foods became harder to access, diets changed. Fresh vegetables, essential for traditional foods, are rarely sold in nearby stores or markets. About half of the tribe members obtain food ingredients outside the reservation. According to a 2014 report by a tribal government committee, generally, tribe members must travel over 155 miles (about 250 km) to reach a store selling vegetables. Stores do exist, such as gas stations and convenience stores, but they mainly sell long shelf-life items like bread, snacks, chocolate, peanut butter, canned preserved foods, and carbonated drinks.

*Originally, Native Americans did not understand the concept of private land ownership or the legal exclusivity of ownership. Treaty drafts were naturally written by Europeans during land transfer agreements. Native Americans only signed them. Whites used coercion, bribery, and intoxication to extract signatures and bought off tribal leaders. Most Native Americans refused to comply with treaties made through deception and sweet talk. Whites also refused to comply with clauses they found unfavorable. Thus, land acquisition by treaty always led to disputes. When conflicts arose, the government forcibly intervened. The invaders gradually expanded their lands. Native Americans had no choice but to cede land and leave when defeated.

*The United States originally declared it would not intervene in World War I. However, two years after the war began, the British military front became desperate. Money was running out. The U.S. grew concerned about loans to Britain. There was a crisis that if Britain fell, the U.S. might also collapse. In 1917, the U.S. Congress declared war. The U.S. declared war on Germany and decided to send troops. Soldiers were needed, whether Native American or African American. At that time, 17,313 Native Americans were subject to conscription. About 12,000 enlisted in the Army and Navy. They resolved to fight for America. Ironically, many enlistees had parents who had fought against the U.S. Army. Native Americans at the front distinguished themselves without concern. Parents encouraged their sons at the front not to become fools like whites but to fight bravely.

*Choctaw and Comanche soldiers used their languages as codes in World War I, confusing German forces and achieving great success.

*The U.S. won World War I. Brave Native Americans suffered 332 deaths and 262 serious injuries. Fifty-four received medals of honor. Veterans who served in World War I proved to the American public that they were not incompetent savages but warriors superior to civilized whites. This changed American perceptions of Native Americans completely. Congressional leaders began proposing constructive measures to improve Native American treatment. The U.S. government also reviewed Native American policies. In 1919, Congress passed a bill granting full citizenship to all Native Americans returning from military service. In 1924, the Indian Citizenship Act was approved. This law granted voting rights to Native Americans who had previously been denied them, officially guaranteeing U.S. citizenship.

*Indian boarding schools were mainly established and operated by religious organizations supported by the federal government. Abandoned old government or military facilities were converted for use. The primary educational goal was to instill white culture, making Native American children abandon their identity and become members of white mainstream society. Religious groups believed that daily commuting from home would reduce learning effectiveness. Therefore, almost all students were housed in dormitories, severing ties with tribal society.

*The U.S. government wanted as many Native American children as possible to enroll in Indian boarding schools. They expected that housing children at school could serve as a hostage effect to prevent rebellion.

*Upon arrival at Indian boarding schools, Native American students were stripped of their traditional blankets and clothing and dressed in Western attire. Their hair was cut, and their names changed to Christian ones. Only English was allowed. To accelerate learning, students from the same tribe were not allowed to share rooms. The study period was five years. Many graduates found opportunities to work for the government or industries. However, many students from the West had weak immunity to infectious diseases and died from tuberculosis and others.

*As whites advanced westward, Native Americans walked the path of ruin. Buffalo were driven to near extinction. Whites considered buffalo a hazard to railroads and roads. It was also intended to force Native Americans into designated residential areas. Buffalo hunting meant cutting off Native Americans' food sources, effectively disrupting their nomadic lifestyle. Among buffalo hunters, the phrase "Kill one buffalo, kill ten Native Americans" was popular.

*During the height of the buffalo eradication campaign, whites operated special trains for hunting. The train slowed only when passing through buffalo habitats. Passengers simultaneously fired guns to knock down buffalo. Indiscriminate hunting brought buffalo populations to near extinction. Later, they were designated as protected animals in national parks and barely preserved.

*Native Americans united around the Carlisle School and formed the Indian Association in 1911. Fifty Native American leaders from various fields such as doctors, nurses, lawyers, educators, pastors, civil servants, and anthropologists gathered at Ohio State University to launch it. The headquarters was in Washington, and annual general meetings were held. Quarterly association journals were published. This association later met President Coolidge, prompting the declaration of 'Indian Day' and leading to the passage of the Indian Citizenship Act in 1924. It also laid the groundwork for the establishment of the Indian Congress in 1944.

*Before the Indian Citizenship Act took effect, the U.S. government granted citizenship to Native Americans only in special cases. Mainly, those who received tribal land allotments under the Dawes Act or renounced tribal status were granted citizenship. Native Americans who served in World War I also obtained citizenship. Those without citizenship were treated as foreigners residing in the U.S. under tribal law as members of tribal nations. The relationship between the U.S. government and tribal nations, called 'Nations,' was established by treaties approved by Congress.

*The Indian Citizenship Act granted citizenship to all Native Americans regardless of tribal nation membership, effectively allowing dual citizenship. Initially, those born before the law's enactment were excluded from citizenship grants. However, the 1940 Nationality Act removed this restriction. Many Native Americans became citizens, but some states delayed granting voting rights. Arizona allowed it in 1948, New Mexico in 1962.

References: 'Indian Village Republic' (2012) by Yeo Chi-hyun, published by Humanist; 'Indian Autonomous Republic' (2017) by Yeo Chi-hyun, published by Ihaksa; 'The Indian Way' (2015) by Kim Cheol, published by Sechang Media; 'History of American Indian Struggles' (2003) by Yoon Sang-hwan, published by Medline, etc.