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By Rowan Wolf (about the author) Page 2 of 2 page(s)

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More innocent immigrants (colonizers) came and settled in, eventually expanding across the "unexplored" (by "whites") country: a land that was empty of all but space and natural resources (and a few hostile Indians). Word of the possibility of empty land ripe for the taking spread across the sea and people of Europe flocked to the opportunity. Wolf, 2008

So it seems entirely consistent that have many decades of covering up "Thanksgiving" and the genocide it came to symbolize, that the U.S. government would select this "Black Friday" as the one time only acknowledgment of Native American contributions to the United States. I am sure that both the Congress and the President saw no irony in the recognition.

However, even this backhanded recognition would not have occurred without seven years of effort by Frank Suniga (Mescalero Apache living in Salem, Oregon) and the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians (reznet). We can hope that this is a first step, and not the last, in recognizing the true history of the United States and the roles of Native Americans historically and contemporarily to this nation.

Thank you Mr. Suniga and the Affiliated Tribes for your ongoing efforts for recognition and equality.

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Rowan Wolf is an activist and sociologist living in Oregon. She is the founder and principle author of Uncommon Thought Journal, and a Senior Editor for more...)

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