Syracuse Post-Standard
To The Editor:
We wish to thank the three writers who responded immediately to an opinion that ran June 11.
The writers, Suzanne Baiz, Sarah Campora and Kara Rittenhouse pointed out native American history we’ve known to be true all along in the June 13 Readers Page entitled “Red and Black.” We thank them for taking the time to write on behalf of native peoples. Their words were very uplifting to us.
The subject is not what minority group suffered more, for all have, and many still do today. Today we can recognize actions of harm and intrusions to other human beings, whether it be genocide, invasion, slavery, hate groups, assault or bullying and make a commitment to be honest, conscious, deliberate actions to dismantle them. Reparations and apologies are a positive step to make amends for suffering, but we should not be responsible for actions that perpetuate behavior in need of apology.
We are the Onondaga women, clan mothers and faithkeepers of the Onondaga nation. We are living in one of the last ancient communities still here amidst untold influences of a dominate Western society. There are many of our indigenous bothers and sisters who no longer walk on our earth. We are truly fortunate. We continue to walk. We continue to plant. We continue to greet the leader of the berries – the strawberry – this week. Our earth continues to give back to us.
In peace, Onondaga Nation clan mothers, faithkeepers.
Wendy Gonyea