This week, I attended the discussion led by Eric Cheyfitz on all things American Indian.

Professor Cheyfitz started the lecture with a brief history in the stealing of land from the Indians, then asked the crowd how many of us learned about that in primary school. Along with the majority of the room, I hadn’t had much education in American Indian brutality. Cheyfitz argued that historians who call slavery America’s “primal sin” are overlooking the mass movement and theft from the Indians, and I would have to agree. During the Indian takeover, school children were forced to wear Western clothing and speak english or have their tongue put in between a clothespin. Cheyfitz used this point to argue the definition of genocide. This got me thinking, we know genocide to be the mass killings of one group of people, but trying to completely wipe a groups history, isn’t that genocide too? These facts brought Cheyfitz visible annoyance, but you wonder, what are we to do hundreds of years after the fact. His solution? Recognization. I’m not so sure thats the best idea

Cheyfitz went on to ask the audience how many of us knew that Cornell was on “Cayuga land”, which was originally owned by the Cayuga Indians. After hearing what he already knew (most of us had no idea) he argued that Cornell should recognize the original owners of the land. In order to do this, Cornell should start commencement and other events by sharing that we are on Cayuga land. This was one thing I didn’t necesarily agree with. After hearing about the struggles the Indians have faced, you look back at history, seeing it a little darker. However, I don’t think its imperative that at every event Cornell hosts, they bring the topic back up again.

Its up to you how you think past grievances should be handled, is giving a little money and allowing Indians to run casinos enough, or should their land be recognized across the country? I don’t know if there ever will be a way to “fix” what happened back then, but I do know people like Professor Cheyfitz are doing what they can to educate people so they can make their own informed decision.