“….how shall we know when to believe, being so often deceived by the White people?”1 Frederick Binder and David M. Reimers quoted Red Jacket in their publication titled, “An Indian’s View 1805.” This small portion of the speech given by Red Jacket, a Native American orator and chief, expresses his distrust of the white people. Here he is speaking to a missionary regarding his request to teach the Indian’s to worship The Great Spirit in a certain way. In his speech he references several reasons to mistrust the white man. Most notably is how the white man came to the Indians seeking freedom from their own country and the desire to enjoy their own religion. Binder and Reimers go on to say that the Indians “took pity on them, granted their request, …show more content…
A year later he met with President John Quincy Adams whose own investigation “uncovered fraud, bullying, and the duplicity of interpreters,”10 according to Haake. In spite of these findings by the President, the treaty was upheld and Red Jacket lost _________________________ 8. Seonghoon, "We Have Always Had These Many Voices," 272 9. Haake, "In the Same Predicament as Heretofore: Proremoval Arguments in Seneca Letters from the Buffalo Creek Reservation in the 1830s and 1840s," 59 10. Haake, "In the Same Predicament as Heretofore": Proremoval Arguments in Seneca Letters from the Buffalo Creek Reservation in the 1830s and 1840s." 59 the most precious parcel, his home. This was not the last suspicious treaty, however. There were several others documented and possibly many more left off the books. Haake goes on to state that, “As a result of bribery, forgery, and the use of alcohol, to name just a few methods, the Seneca came to surrender their remaining New York lands…”11 These injustices proved to be yet another reason for the Indians to mistrust the White …show more content…
From religious oppression to reservations and treaties, the White man continued to prove to be untrustworthy. Binder and Reimers quote the end of Red Jacket’s speech regarding the missionary’s current preaching to the Indian’s White neighbors. Red Jacket says,”…we will wait a little while and see what effect your preaching has upon them. If we find it does them good, makes them honest and less disposed to cheat the Indians, we will consider again what you have said.”12 Unfortunately the Indians, specifically Red Jacket and the Senecas, did not have to wait long to get their