Mount Rushmore and the Complex History of Native American Displacement
Mount Rushmore and the Complex History of Native American Displacement
Mount Rushmore, carved into the face of a mountain in the Black Hills of South Dakota, is often seen as a symbol of American history and national pride. However, the construction of this iconic monument is intricately tied to a broader history of displacement, dispossession, and conflict between Native Americans and the United States government. This article explores the complex and often contentious relationship between the Lakota Sioux and the United States, highlighting the ongoing struggles against colonization and the erasure of Indigenous cultures.
The Treaty of Fort Laramie and the Black Hills
The Black Hills hold great spiritual significance for the Lakota Sioux, a Native American tribe who have called this region home for generations. In 1868, the Treaty of Fort Laramie was signed, officially guaranteeing the Black Hills to the Lakota in perpetuity. This treaty was a critical agreement that recognized the sovereignty of the Lakota and their right to the land. However, like so many other treaties in U.S. history, the 1868 Treaty of Fort Laramie was eventually violated by the U.S. government.
The Discovery of Gold and Forced Removal
In the mid-1870s, the discovery of gold in the Black Hills sparked a wave of greed and conflict. The Panic of 1873, a major economic recession, further fueled the desire to find a way out of financial difficulty. The presence of gold in the Black Hills promised to provide a solution to the economic troubles, and thus, the U.S. government disregarded the Treaty of Fort Laramie and forcibly took control of the land. This violation of the treaty led to significant conflict, notably Custer's defeat and the subsequent displacement of the Lakota Sioux from their ancestral lands. The forced removal of the Lakota from the Black Hills is a painful chapter in their history and continues to be a source of controversy and distress.
The Creation of Mount Rushmore
The creation of Mount Rushmore began in 1927 and was completed in 1941. This ambitious project was undertaken during a period when the U.S. government was actively promoting national pride and identity. Gutzon Borglum, the sculptor behind the monumental work, envisioned the faces of four U.S. presidents – George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln – carved into the granite of Mount Rushmore. However, this project also serves as a symbol of the erasure of Indigenous cultures and the ongoing struggles against colonization. For many Native Americans, the monument stands as a stark reminder of the injustices and loss associated with the forced removal of Native peoples from their ancestral lands.
Controversies and Indigenous Perspectives
The Lakota Sioux have consistently opposed the construction and continued existence of Mount Rushmore. They maintain that the land is stolen and that the monument represents a painful chapter in their history. The treaty guaranteeing the Black Hills to the Lakota was violated, leading to the forcible removal of Native peoples and the desecration of a sacred site. The Lakota view the construction of Mount Rushmore as an affront to their sovereignty and a symbol of the ongoing cultural erasure that has characterized their relationship with the U.S. government.
Interceptor
The construction of a prominent monument like Mount Rushmore in the Black Hills is analogous to building a monument like Sherman's March in Georgia. Both monuments celebrate the historical figures responsible for the displacement and suffering of Indigenous peoples. Sherman's March, while celebrated as a victory for the Union, brought significant destruction and hardship to the Native American tribes in the South. Similarly, Mount Rushmore glorifies leaders whose presence and actions were directly tied to the violation of Native American rights and the displacement of entire communities.
It is important to recognize that the construction of such monuments masks the true history of colonization and displacement. While Mount Rushmore can be seen as a symbol of American pride and progress, it is also a monument that carries deep and painful historical wounds for many Native Americans. The ongoing struggle for indigenous rights and recognition is an essential part of the broader narrative of American history and identity.
The legacy of Mount Rushmore remains a contentious issue. Its construction and continued presence on Lakota land continue to be a point of tension between the U.S. government and Native American communities. As we seek to understand and acknowledge the complex history of this region, it is crucial to engage with the perspectives and experiences of the Indigenous peoples whose land it occupies.