Historians have long studied the complex relationship between the United States and its indigenous peoples. From the forced removal of Native Americans from their ancestral lands to the ongoing fight for sovereignty and recognition, the history of Native Americans in the US is one of struggle and resilience. And now, as the country grapples with the presidency of Donald Trump, historians are shedding light on a disturbing pattern that underpins his rhetoric on national security – a pattern of American entitlement to Native land.
Trump’s talk of national security has been a central theme of his presidency, from his campaign promises to build a wall along the US-Mexico border to his recent decision to declare a national emergency in order to secure funding for the wall. But what many fail to recognize is that this rhetoric is not new. In fact, it is rooted in a long history of American exceptionalism and entitlement to Native land.
Since the arrival of European colonizers, Native Americans have been systematically displaced and dispossessed of their land. The Doctrine of Discovery, a legal principle that originated in the 15th century, gave European explorers the right to claim any land they “discovered” and deemed it uninhabited. This doctrine was used to justify the seizure of Native American land and the forced removal of indigenous peoples from their homes.
This sense of entitlement to Native land continued throughout US history, with the government enacting policies such as the Indian Removal Act of 1830, which forcibly relocated thousands of Native Americans from their ancestral lands to reservations in the West. And even after the reservations were established, the US government continued to encroach upon Native land, often through broken treaties and forced assimilation policies.
Fast forward to the present day, and we see this same sense of entitlement to Native land reflected in Trump’s rhetoric on national security. By framing immigration as a threat to national security, Trump is perpetuating the idea that the US has the right to control who enters its borders and who does not. This rhetoric not only ignores the fact that many immigrants are seeking refuge from violence and instability in their home countries, but it also ignores the fact that the US itself is a nation of immigrants, built on the land of indigenous peoples.
Furthermore, Trump’s insistence on building a wall along the US-Mexico border is a direct attack on the sovereignty of Native nations. The proposed wall would cut through sacred sites and ancestral lands of indigenous peoples, disregarding their rights and sovereignty. This is a continuation of the long history of the US government disregarding the sovereignty of Native nations and their right to self-determination.
But it’s not just Trump’s policies that reflect this sense of entitlement to Native land. It’s also his language and rhetoric. Throughout his presidency, Trump has repeatedly used derogatory and offensive terms to refer to Native Americans, such as “Pocahontas” and “Redskins.” This language not only perpetuates harmful stereotypes, but it also reinforces the idea that Native Americans are somehow less deserving of respect and recognition.
So what can be done to address this longstanding pattern of American entitlement to Native land? First and foremost, it’s important for all Americans to educate themselves on the history of indigenous peoples in the US and the ongoing struggles they face. This includes acknowledging the harmful effects of colonialism and actively working towards decolonization.
Additionally, it’s crucial for the US government to honor its treaties and respect the sovereignty of Native nations. This means consulting with and obtaining consent from indigenous communities before enacting policies that directly affect them. It also means providing adequate resources and support for Native communities to address issues such as poverty, healthcare, and education.
As we continue to grapple with the presidency of Donald Trump and the divisive rhetoric surrounding national security, it’s important to remember the underlying pattern of American entitlement to Native land. By acknowledging and addressing this pattern, we can work towards a more just and equitable future for all Americans.
