Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 24, Number 12, 1 December 2007 — Fight cultural annihilation [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Fight cultural annihilation

One recent moming, I watched a rerun of the movie "Bury Me at Wounded Knee." The opening scene shows an Indian chief, who led his tribe in battle, realizing that there was mueh blood shed among his people; and because they were outnumbered and outgunned by the United States Anny, he surrendered his tribe. Upon surrender, his only request was that his tribe be allowed to live according to their customs and the ways of their people; the ways of their ancestors. Not surprisingly, the Army's response was "assimilate or be annihilated." I don't need to tell you the rest of the story. The story of the slaughter of Native American tribes across the North American continent ean be told over and over again. This same story ean be told about indigenous people throughout the world. Settlers eame from foreign eountries, took what they wanted, and let it be known that the indigenous people were to assimilate or be annihilated. This same analogy belongs to the Hawaiian people - the indigenous people of this plaee known as Hawai'i. Although the Hawaiian people are not tribe members or Indians and did not suffer the slaughter and bloodshed by settlers or annies, the message our ancestors got was the same - "assimilate or be annihilated." I attended a Small Business Association meeting in October where many in attendance, when introducing themselves, expressed their stand against the Akaka Bill. Over and over again it was expressed that Hawaiians need to assimilate and move on. Over and over again the underlying feeling was that Hawaiians cannot be allowed to live according to their eulture and the ways of their ancestors. When I introduced myself, I commented that it appeared that the Hawaiians in the room were of a minority group again. We are a minority in our own land and are being told what is best for us. The keynote speaker, Elain Willman of Citizens for Equal Rights Allianee, claims to be of Indian descent and gave

reasons as to why recognition for her tribe was not a good thing. She claims that the tribe continued to live in poverty and ignorance and could not govern themselves. She concluded that recognition for Hawaiians would offer them the same fate. I did not hear compassion for her people nor did I hear any solutions on what she was going to do to help them survive this malaise. Also in attendance were a eouple of "token" Hawaiians who made certain that everyone heard their objection to the Akaka Bill. One young Hawaiian woman eomplained about the administration of the Hawaiian Homes Act; someone needs to tell her that this act was the creation of the United States Congress. Akin to Indian Reservations, the lands designated for Hawaiians were the most remote and poorest lands in all of Hawai'i. Congress allocated no funds (they still don't) to make these lands habitable. It was Congress who contrived the 50 percent blood quantum required so that in two generations, there would be no more Hawaiians that met the requirement. When that happens, these lands will be reverted back to the United States. Her quarrel about quantum and inheritance lies at the foot of the United States government - the very same government that will not recognize Hawaiians as indigenous to our islands. Another woman said, in effect, that annexation and statehood was good for Hawaiians because it let them own their own lands. The Great Mahele of 1848 (whieh was not "great" for Hawaiians), created by non-Hawaiian advisors to the Kingdom, literally allowed the stealing of lands from Hawaiians. Today, most Hawaiians do not own their lands. The Ali'i, ancestors of Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop, were astute enough to keep mueh of their lands and conveyed them to the princess. As we know, her legacy is the Kamehameha Schools. Today, there are those who want to take that away too. The message we are receiving from opponents of the Akaka Bill is to assimilate or be annihilated. History continues to repeat itself. Our future is uncertain as we continue to face challenges by those who do not want to see the indigenous people of this land get what is rightfully theirs. As a people we must eome together and fight for justice. Personally, I am not ready for my story to end the way the movie did. I will not surrender without a fight and be annihilated. □

ūz Stender TrustEE, At-largE