When you study American history, there is a very important term which gave whites justification when it came to conquering the lands of the natives: manifest destiny. Basically it meant that the land between the Atlantic and the Pacific was a God-given right to take and own. However, during this unprecedented period of expansion and exploration, not everyone benefitted. In fact, the history of the Native Americans during this time period is one of tragedy.
This essay focuses on one particular tribe, the modern day Pequots, owners of Foxwoods Casino. It's rather odd reading about a tribe in Connecticut, because when I think about the various tribes that lived in America, I tend to focus on the Great Plains. But the truth is that all parts of the continent were inhabited, where a vast array of different languages, cultures, and ways of life were present.
As expected, the Pequots of today are totally different than those of 300 years ago. And like any cultural group, they are attempting to remember where they came from. Some people question the morality of using a casino as both a means to make money and attempt to teach culture. But what other choice do they have? It attracts a lot of money and attention. I hesitate to say this, but a lot fewer people would even know about them if they didn't have a casino. It's just sad that there aren't any better options.
Questions:
1. What are our stereotypes of modern Native Americans? What about Native Americans of the past?
2. Is a casino the best way to both survive and spread your culture? What are some other options?
3. Connecticut has another large casino, the Mohegan Sun, located less than 15 miles from Foxwoods. It is owned by the Mohegans, another tribe. Is this a coincidence, or is there something about Connecticut that leads to this?
No comments:
Post a Comment