Recovering Justice For The American Indian, And Our Nation

I have a deep and abiding love for music and song, and one particular song I've loved, both the music and the subject matter. I heard a story in the song and it was intriguing.

The song spoke of some history that had taken place in the Florida everglades and spoke of the ghost of a man named "Osceola" who seemingly had been treated very unjustly, for he was weeping. I did some research and found that Osceola was a Seminole Indian chief who had fought for his people in the Seminole's wars with our government, and was later arrested and died in prison.

As I began to dig, a story began to unfold about the plight of the Native American Seminole tribe, and the wars which were waged by the military which resulted in their being removed from their homeland and placed on a reservation. It has turned out that my interest in this song has opened up some new and deep introspection on the injustice done to the earliest Americans, the Indian nations.

"OSCEOLA": (born c. 1804, Georgia, U.S. — died Jan. 30, 1838, Charleston, S.C.) Seminole Indian leader during the Second Seminole War. Osceola was arrested and removed to a military fort at Charleston, S.C., where he died.

Another story related to this subject is the one concerning the true historical account of "The Trail Of Tears" This story involved Cherokees, Comanches and a few other tribes of Indians who were forcibly removed from their homelands and removed to reservations in the south.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trail_of_Tears

This subject has been of interest to me for many years. I have often pondered on the tales from our history of the wars between our government and the Native Indian over land rights. It's a sad story, and a bloody one.

These were people who were essentially robbed of all the homelands which had been the only home and life they had known for centuries.

In my early years I loved to go to the movies on Saturdays, and as I remember, most cowboy and Indian movies portrayed the Native Indians as barbaric savages who hated and murdered white settlers. As I grew up I learned that there was much more to learn about the history of the American Indian than I had seen in the movies as a child. I began to do a lot of reading and studying on the subject. I developed a love for the culture and found they are mostly gentle peace loving people. A nation of people who love their families and want to do good for them. It's like in all cultures; there are some fruitful and honorable citizens, some brave heroes and some rotten apples with reputations which give the gentle ones a bad name. Many major movies and books have made this period of history famous. No doubt some of them have taken great liberty with the facts.

From historical research I learned that a lot of the great chiefs as Crazy Horse and Sitting Bull might have been brave heroes who were fighting for the love of their families and children. And if we look at the other side of the story in the americans we can see that same thing. They were all captives to the times they lived in. It's true that in some ways the natives were treated very unjustly by our military. Some of the tales are really sad to study on.

One sad part I've seen in reviewing some of these accounts is that a few good and just leaders made some good and fair decisions for the good of the Indians, but a few corrupt but powerful leaders who came after them failed to follow through. At any rate, the facts prove that there were heroes and villains on both sides.

In modern times, I've heard truthful reports that there have been very serious and honorable attempts by government to repent and right some of the wrongs. However, many modern day natives still feel deeply wounded by the memories of past history. I observed that much prayer has gone up to God for mercies and justice, and in some areas restoration and healing of these old wounds is in process. Justice is unfolding and changes are in process which will work to improve the life of our Native American pioneers. I've learned that this is a matter that's still very close to the heart of God.

It's such an amazing thing that history speaks from a song, and always, justice is called for through the scriptures.

Zechariah 7:10

And oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart.

In conclusion. In the present time there is a great move of revival and restoration in the first nations tribes through the ministry of the body of Jesus Christ in the earth. Father God loves the people who settled our lands.