The history of empires

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Oct 30, 2023

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The history of empires, including the United States, have plenty of examples that are widespread within its existence to show it has fostered a culture that subjugates and displaces Native Peoples by creating detrimental modes of thinking and knowing. It’s important to remember because they involve persistent patterns of power, dominance, and control that have a long history of influencing civilizations, economies, and cultures- imperialism and colonialism can be seen as structures or systems which has had a profound effect and has permanently impacted ways of life for Indigenous cultures. Empires often promoted the idea of cultural superiority with the dominant culture being presented as the epitome of civilization. There are several ways where this has been achieved. One is religion. Dominant religions may be presented as more legitimate or authoritative, with other belief systems seen as inferior or primitive. Missionary work and religious conversion efforts can be used to spread the dominant religion and supplant indigenous belief systems. Another way, which is more current, is media. Dominant cultures often have a significant influence on global media and entertainment industries. Films, television shows, and music produced by the dominant culture may be widely distributed and celebrated as the pinnacle of artistic and cultural achievement. These factors have helped lead to the marginalization of other cultures and their artistic expressions while devaluing indigenous knowledge systems and worldviews. Indigenous ways of knowing, which are often deeply tied to the land and nature, have been dismissed as "primitive" or "superstitious." Depending on the goals, actions, and situation- charities toward indigenous peoples can have both beneficial and harmful outcomes. Many outsiders believe they know what’s best for everyone and often impose on Indigenous livelihood and practices. “ But the real demand is that, when I speak from that position, I should be listened to seriously; not with that kind of

benevolent imperialism .... " (Smith, L.T., 2021). A quote in reference to who will really listen to what’s important for these natives. Dominant groups will try to establish Well-intentioned aid programs that may unintentionally create dependency among indigenous communities, making them reliant on external assistance rather than empowering them to become self-sufficient. In some cases, benevolence may involve symbolic gestures that do not address the underlying issues faced by indigenous communities. This can give the appearance of concern without producing meaningful change. It is crucial to acknowledge that interactions between indigenous groups and outsiders have historically and currently been complicated and varied, frequently influenced by factors including colonization, power dynamics, and cultural differences. Empires frequently justified their expansion by claiming the right to acquire and control indigenous lands. This process often involved the forced removal of Native Peoples from their ancestral territories. One of the most severe and direct ways to drive out indigenous populations from their homeland has been by military force. Indigenous communities have been subdued and displaced by empires using armies and armed expeditions. Examples include European colonial conquests in Africa and Asia as well as the American Indian Wars. Warfare has also been known to create groups who have welcomed using violence and intimidation to suppress indigenous resistance to land dispossession. Many empires, including the United States established boarding schools and other educational institutions aimed at assimilating indigenous children into Western culture. Boarding schools often sought to eradicate indigenous languages, traditions, and practices. Indigenous children were prohibited from speaking their native languages or practicing their cultural traditions. Instead, they were forced to adopt Euro-American or Euro-Canadian customs. Also, boarding schools were run by religious organizations, and children were often subjected to

intense Christianization. Indigenous spiritual practices were actively discouraged, and children were compelled to adopt Christianity further eroding their cultural and spiritual connections. “ This practice ripped apart Native families, separating children from their culture and language and subjecting them to physical, sexual, cultural and spiritual abuse and neglect. The reasoning behind the attempted cultural genocide was simple, according to an architect of the program: “Kill the Indian in him, and save the man” (Villanueva, E., 2021). The overall goal for these boarding schools was to create a uniform, Eurocentric society. Land development, particularly in the context of colonial expansion and the growth of settler societies has played a significant role in the displacement and disruption of indigenous cultures. Empire-building often involved the exploitation of indigenous lands and resources. Natural resource extraction, such as mining, logging, and agriculture, disrupted indigenous ways of life and harmed the environment upon which indigenous communities depended for their livelihoods. Economic dependence forced indigenous communities into wage labor or economic dependency on the dominant culture. This shift from self-sufficiency to dependence eroded traditional practices and self-governance. Indigenous knowledge about the environment, plants, and animals has often been co- opted and exploited for the benefit of empires. This knowledge, which had been developed over generations, was sometimes appropriated without proper acknowledgment or compensation, leading to the commodification of indigenous resources. Empires established legal systems that marginalized indigenous rights and sovereignty. Political decisions and policies related to land ownership, distribution, and allocation have often favored the interests of settler populations and corporations over those of indigenous communities. Rules made up to favor an empire to give them leverage were and are still rampant in many facets.

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Land has frequently been taken from indigenous people through legal and political means, such as land seizures, land sales, and land enclosures. Treaties and agreements made with indigenous peoples were often violated or ignored, further disempowering Native communities and reinforcing the dominance of the imperial power. Even up until recently companies that monetize off loss and despair are rampant. For example, insurance companies going into areas that have been devastated by wild fires in Maui, with their key goal to take the land, worth thousands and thousands of dollars, in an effort to capitalize off the original owner’s loss. The governor of Maui issued a statement that one of i’s “ top concerns right now is that Maui residents "are being approached about selling fire-damaged home sites, by people posing as real estate agents who may have ill intent” (Goodwin, G.E., 2023). Hawaii has been prime real estate and a destination location for so many years. Dominant groups have also inserted themselves and created a set of criteria for identifying and categorizing indigenous people. "O’Brien found that in order to convince themselves that the Indians had vanished despite their continued presence, local historians and their readers embraced notions of racial purity rooted in the century’s scientic racism and saw living Indians as “mixed” and therefore no longer “truly Indian". (Kauanui, K.T., 2016). What gives them the right to do this? Indigenous peoples in the conquered territories were subjected to the definitions and classifications of dominant groups during the age of European colonization. Colonial authorities frequently classified and discriminated against indigenous communities based on factors including race, language, and culture. These explanations were frequently used to defend the eviction of people from their land, forced assimilation, and other types of oppression. Through legal and political systems they established, have defined indigenous status in many countries. These definitions can vary widely from one nation to another. In some cases,

legal criteria may include factors such as ancestry, cultural practices, and community recognition. In other cases, indigenous status may be determined by government agencies, and criteria may be narrowly defined to limit the benefits and rights afforded to indigenous communities. Over time, imperialism toward indigenous peoples has changed and taken on new forms, yet it still has a significant negative influence on indigenous populations. Although overt colonialism may have decreased in the past, imperialism now often presents itself in more subtle and nuanced ways toward indigenous people. Indigenous communities may face economic exploitation in various forms, including low-wage labor, lack of access to education and healthcare, and limited economic opportunities compared to non-indigenous populations. Indigenous communities may be politically marginalized, with limited representation in government and decision-making processes. This can hinder their ability to advocate for their rights and interests. One of the enduring forms of imperialism towards indigenous peoples is resource extraction. Powerful entities, often multinational corporations, exploit the natural resources located on or near indigenous lands. This can lead to environmental degradation, displacement, and social and economic disruption for indigenous communities. L.T. Smith conitunes to remind us that, " Imperialism still hurts, still destroys and is reforming itself constantly (Smith, L.T., 2021) It's important to note that while these practices have had devastating consequences, indigenous communities have shown resilience and resistance in the face of empire-building. Efforts to revitalize indigenous cultures, languages, and knowledge systems, as well as movements for land rights and self-determination, continue to challenge the harmful legacies of colonialism and imperialism.

In contemporary times, there is a growing recognition of the need to decolonize institutions, education, and knowledge systems, and to acknowledge the rights and sovereignty of indigenous peoples. This process involves reevaluating and rectifying the historical injustices perpetrated by empires and working toward a more equitable and inclusive future.

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References Smith, P. L. T. (2021, April 8). Decolonizing methodologies: Research and indigenous peoples . Google Books. https://books.google.com/books/about/Decolonizing_Methodologies.html? id=87ssEAAAQBAJ Villanueva, E. (2021, November 30). Religious boarding schools harmed generations of indigenous people. churches must take responsibility. Faith and Leadership. https Goodwin, G. E. (2023, August 15). Hawaii’s governor accuses investors of trying to “steal land” from people who had their homes destroyed by Maui wildfires . Insider. https://www.insider.com/hawaii-governor-accuses-developers-investors-steal-land-maui- wildfire-2023-8 Kauanui, J. K. (2022, June 2). J. Kēhaulani Kauanui , “‘a structure, not an event’: Settler colonialism and enduring indigeneity.” Lateral. https://csalateral.org/issue/5-1/forum-alt- humanities-settler-colonialism-enduring-indigeneity-kauanui/