Indian Season in American Schools

February 17, 2008

“Analytical Overview of”

Indian Season in American Schools

By Andrea Schoemaker

            Jack Weatherford’s article, Indian Season in American Schools, explains how well meaning teachers across America attempt to teach lessons in the fall of each school year about Indian culture.  He feels these well meaning teachers do not accurately portray the American Indians as they lived when European settlers came to their shores.  Weatherford states that the Indians had a profound effect upon the settlers and not the other way around.  By demonstrating a varied diet and traditional Indian government, the Indians drastically changed the culture of the European settlers.  The author notes that the previous diets of these settlers were very bland vegetables until the Indians introduced them to wonderful new ways to prepare meat and vegetables.  In addition, the Indians were adept at fashioning weapons to protect their homeland.  They did not care to venture into the ocean and were quite happy to remain on their lands as farmers.  As stated in the article, “60% of all the food crops grown in the world today” came from the Indians of the Americas.  Little has been told to American school children about the variety of ways that Indians prepared tomatoes into dishes resembling chili or pizza.  Seasonings were cultivated and preserved.  The Thanksgiving story is a bit untrue as corn was not a staple in the diet of the European settlers.  They did however feed it to their animals and improved their own food supply.  A form of potato was also introduced and was widely utilized.  Even today the products of the American Indians derived from corn, cotton, tobacco, peanuts, and potatoes are marketed throughout the world.  Indian cultures in the remotes areas today are cultivating crops which may feed the world tomorrow. 

            Furthermore, Weatherford feels we owe a debt of gratitude to the Indians for our entire system of government.  A chief from the Iroquois league of Indians suggested as early as 1744 that the colonies unite.  It was Benjamin Franklin who repeated his words at the first meeting of colonies.  John Hancock wrote a speech which was taken back to the Iroquois chief asking for their help during the coming war with Britain.  Those Indians were instrumental in helping the colonies become free.  When independence came in 1776, representatives of that tribe attended the Philadelphia meeting.  Franklin had observed Iroquois laws which even supported female suffrage and the founding principals of our constitution.  The word “caucus” is an Algonquin term which means decision making.  That word describes the American nomination system for political candidates in some states.  Thus, Weatherford makes his case that Indians have had a tremendous effect on the history of the United States.  The entire idea of liberty and the rejection of slavery come from the Indians.  Visitors to Washington D.C. today can still see the influence of Indian carvings in marble buildings. 

            In addition to giving new foods and political systems, many medicines were given to settlers by the Indians.  Much of our modern language, math, and scientific concepts come from Indian influences.  Thus, the American Indians were much more influential on the European culture than were the Europeans upon the Indians. 

            Mr. Weatherford makes a great case for changing the approach many teachers take in the teaching of American Indian culture.  The lists of accomplishments in food preparation and cultivation are seldom taught in any American schools.  Previously most students were taught how to make a pilgrim hat or a turkey feather and assume that they had studied Indian culture.  However the author’s informative article vividly describes how inventive the Indians were with food. They took their staples of corn and tomatoes and built them into wonderful dishes.  The variety of spices that they were familiar with and used in cooking goes back many years.  The Indians inventively used potatoes and learned how to grow crops in even the harshest climates.  They were a people who could feed themselves unlike the European settlers who came to their shores.  It does seem obvious then that the same products that they raised such as corn and cotton are so plentiful even today and exported by American farmers today.  It is fascinating that there are still Indians in South America that are growing crops under very difficult conditions.  These grains grown once the Incans maybe become the staple of millions tomorrow. 

            The tremendous influence of the Indian system of government upon the colonists was amazing.  Weatherford’s knowledge of specific chiefs and tribes who contributed suggestions and attended meetings cannot be ignored.  It is sad that more American students are not learning what a huge impact these Indian leaders had upon our system of government.  Without the help of some tribes, we would probably have been defeated by the British during the revolutionary war.  Had the colonists listened more attentively when the Indians described liberty we would never had fallen into the trap of becoming slave holders.  In addition, the huge influence of Indians upon the medicine, scientific, and mathematical fields also cannot be ignored.  The author wishes readers to educate themselves and others in the understanding that the Indians were huge contributors to the current American culture. 

            Overall, I think Weatherford’s article should become a must read for any elementary school teacher.  Personally, I would be embarrassed to have my students make pilgrim hats and colorful turkeys and call it a lesson on Indian culture.  The inventiveness of the American Indians and their ability to survive and flourish agriculturally was so informative.  I cannot help but wonder what would have happened to those Europeans had the Indians simply ignored them rather than coming to their aide.  The sense of reason that the Indians had in government is so logical.  The Indians believed in the concept of voting and democracy.  Chief Canassatego of the Iroquois was able to bring peace among squabbling colonists over state’s rights.  The Indians were so adaptable in producing medicines when needed.  First attempts at astronomy and an accurate calendar also came from the Indian culture.  I think that it is so important that teachers alter lessons to reflect more than the traditional Thanksgiving turkey project.  Weatherford’s guidelines for choosing new textbooks which include American Indian history should be a mandate for all schools.  The list is complete and accurate listing of concepts that should be considered when choosing a text.  I found this article so interesting because most of these facts were never included in my own textbooks growing up.