Not only the Osage had denied their own life styles, but also did they murder their own culture to change who they were. The federal government exacerbated some policies that assimilated the Osage to Americanize, which made the Osage to two differentiated generations. The younger Osage generation who forced to attend Catholic school were not allowed speak Osage and wear the Indian blanket. The intention was regimented the younger Osage to assimilate into white society, and forced the Osage change their religion. Even though many tribes tried to hold their customs, the U.S. government threatened the Osage’s families. If they did not comply, they would be starving by withholding their annuity payments. By doing this, many younger Osage were apart from their own family. Grann, states that “Many students began to feel embarrassed by their parents, who did not understand English and still lived by the old ways” (53). Changing the education systems was the efficient way to transform the younger Osage to white; at the same time, they also threw their own culture away. Was that too evil to destroy the Osage’s culture? Was that too inhuman to murder the Osage from their cells over their bodies? The U.S. government denied the Osage’s humanity and controlled the way what they wanted to live; it violated their constitution right.
The white people used a cruel and inhuman way, the guardian system, to steal the Osage people’s oil wealth. While Osage were living with wealth life, they bought fancy houses and cars. Living with the servant, and some even were white, but the government thought the Osage “incompetent” to manage their own finances. In addition, the government compelled the Osage enter into the guardianships system, which prevented full-blooded Osage members from handling their own property, and their fortunes were completely control by the government. Since the guardianship was created by federal government, it had restricted the Osage how to spend their own property. “One guardian claimed that an Osage adult was ‘like a child six or eight years old, and when he sees a new toy, he wants to buy it’” (85). There is no doubt, this policy was racist and assault on the Osage who had no freedom to handle their own money because they had assigned with white guardians. On the other hand, this graft and exploitation system of the Osage was designed by accessing to their headrights. Thus, the white guardians not only could “help” the Osage spend their money, but also had the rights to access their oil inheritance. The increasing of mysterious and unnatural murders of Osage; as a result, their fortunes and property were passed on to their white guardians.
After more and more Osage members mystically started turning up dead; even though the government investigated the cases, the brutal murder of killing the rich Indian was still going on. If someone tried to provide some clues or involved the investigation, they ended up turning to death. In fact, there were many corruptions and intuitional racism during the investigation. Because the law enforcement and Bureau of Investigation could not protect the Osage’s basic rights, many Osage started feeling desperate about the U.S. government intuitional systems. “The desperation of the Osage was unmistakable, as was their skepticism toward the investigation. What had the U.S. government done for them?” (184). Under this situation, some Osage who saw no actively actions from the U.S. law enforcement sold their home and moved to Mexico or Canada because they did not want to live within dread and fear. The uncaring U.S. government could not provide a safe environment for the Native America; on the other hand, for Hoover, the investigation of murder Osage was “a showcase for the modern bureau” (240), so he utilized this case for strengthen his power. Furthermore, Hale had the power to pay off the law men and keep doing the cruel crime. They could manipulate the information and cheated the institutional system. The investigation involved with many corruptions and injustice, which make the crimes against the Osage. No one was arrested after the continuing of killing Osage, the government was mismanaged the institution system. If the government aggressively kept in track the investigation, it might can control of the tragedies occur.
However, some people might say that the Osage already had settled with $380 million from the U.S. government in 20011, and the Osage Nation produces great fortunes from Casinos. The U.S. government does not need to pay more reparation to them; on the other hand, it still has many people who really need help around the world. For example, according to the Refugee Resettlement Admissions in 2018, a total of 22,491 refugees were resettled in the U.S, and those people who are indeed need help. Improving life conditions, preventing disasters and death, and expanding access to food and water is urgently needed to deal with the refugees. Without any help, the refugees are live in the most dangerous environment and have suffered unimaginable violations in their life every day. If we have the power to make a change or improve someone’s life, why do not we help the refugees? It is a point; however, the Osage was treated inhumanity and racial discrimination. They took advantage of the Osage and stole their wealth life, which made the Osage fell into a dark history. The Osage was not supposed to live like this, and it caused by the uncaring U.S. government and the greedy white people. In contrast, the reason of creating the refugees is not caused by the U.S. government. In my opinion, it is a pointless to compare the reparation with Osage and improving the life of the refugees.
In short, the Native Indian still live in an unequal environment. No matter the past of the conspiracy to murder the Osage, or the murder of Native Indian is still going on nowadays. Moreover, the U.S. government can make the reparation to the Native Indian for making some policies to protect their safe like Savanna’s Act. Whatever your religion is, everyone deserves to be safe.
Cora Ma
ESSAY1.docx
0
