Columbus Day
Years ago, while working with a Native American support group under the direction of Onondaga Chief Paul Waterman, we were focused on an issue that involved the Six Nations Iroquois Confederacy and the US federal government. Thus, we were not surprised when we had some new people join in the group meetings in Binghamton, NY. Over the decades, we had seen many come and go, including good people, confused people, and some “others.”
Early on, we noticed the four new people were familiar with one another, although each one had pretended they had decided on their own that, at this point in their busy individual lives, they wanted to “help Indians.” More, we saw that one lady was taping our meetings, without having mentioning that she was recording our conversations. Hence, I did a bit of a “background search” on the four. For example, I learned the taping lady was employed by a law firm representing our opposition.
The two men insisted that our group had to take a more militant approach. For example, they insisted that we must disrupt the upcoming Columbus Day parade. They proposed that we throw 40-ounce bottles of Crazy Horse Malt Liquor at the marchers in the parade. I said that was not our way, and explained how we had succeeded in convincing area distributors not to carry that product. They countered with a “compromise proposal” that we break the bottles in front of the marchers. I said that was not our way.
Paul had given me instructions before our next meeting. But I was not fully prepared for the four to come to the meeting wearing authentic K-Mart southwestern Native American patterned shirts. Their leader also brought a smudge stick. Gracious. I started the meeting by saying that Paul wanted them to understand that we would not take part in anything that would offend Italian-American people. He said we should instead respect their heritage. More, we had ample opportunity throughout the year to have an honest discussion about both history, and current events.
The leader of the four, clutching his smudge stick tightly, began to speak in a loud, angry voice. He said that I had no right to be the leader of the group. After all, I had not corrected all the historic wrongs done to the Indians he wanted to help. He could not accept Paul or my decisions. He believed he was better qualified to be our leader.
I remembered what Paul had instructed me to do at this point. So I said I wanted to speak alone to him outside of the room we were meeting in. Once in the hallway, I told him that we knew who he was, and what he was trying to do. He was far from the first agent of disruption we had encountered, nor among the most talented. He angrily denied this, and indicated he was ready to fight me. So I provided him with the detailed background report I had on him and his employment.
Once back in the room, before the meeting started up again, our four new friends left. We never saw them again.
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I greatly admire your intelligence and your restraint.
