Journal Entry - from a young Native's perspective
March 24th, 1849
Many more white miners came past our village today. I went with the other children to watch them walk by with their strange boxes on wheels blowing up dust. I think they look funny with their light skin and layers of clothing. I don't understand why they don't just ride horses, but father said that's just the way they live. Nothing else very exciting has been going on in the village, but we are planning on having a bonfire tomorrow.
August 12th, 1849
There are so many miners out here on the plains now, and father is worried. He said he's heard of violence and the white men taking over camps and such in other tribes' villages, and he hopes they don't find any gold near here. The white men are also hunting the buffalo, and there's not as much to go around for us. I hope they leave soon, because they are making life harder for all of us.
February 2nd, 1850
Father, mother and I are having to move tomorrow, because the president of the place called America is ordering us to. I've hard the word reservation, but I'm not sure what that means. All I know is that the white men get to settle the land we have to give up, and we won't have as much land to hunt on, or plant crops on. At least our tribe is staying together so I can still be with my friends. The white men are still finding gold, and some of the older men in the tribe are starting to fight for our land. They won't willingly give it up.
Many more white miners came past our village today. I went with the other children to watch them walk by with their strange boxes on wheels blowing up dust. I think they look funny with their light skin and layers of clothing. I don't understand why they don't just ride horses, but father said that's just the way they live. Nothing else very exciting has been going on in the village, but we are planning on having a bonfire tomorrow.
August 12th, 1849
There are so many miners out here on the plains now, and father is worried. He said he's heard of violence and the white men taking over camps and such in other tribes' villages, and he hopes they don't find any gold near here. The white men are also hunting the buffalo, and there's not as much to go around for us. I hope they leave soon, because they are making life harder for all of us.
February 2nd, 1850
Father, mother and I are having to move tomorrow, because the president of the place called America is ordering us to. I've hard the word reservation, but I'm not sure what that means. All I know is that the white men get to settle the land we have to give up, and we won't have as much land to hunt on, or plant crops on. At least our tribe is staying together so I can still be with my friends. The white men are still finding gold, and some of the older men in the tribe are starting to fight for our land. They won't willingly give it up.