Native Americans Upset With Columbus
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Ray Benge, also known as Spotted Horse, considers Christopher Columbus one of the worst people to ever live. Ray, a Native American, was given the name Spotted Horse back in 1949 after he rode a spotted horse in front of stampeding buffalo. He does not hide his hatred for Christopher Columbus. Spotted Horse said, “The Native American community would probably rank Columbus along with Hitler and some of the other people that caused great distress to our nation and the world.” Not all Indian tribes have bad things to say about Columbus, in fact some credit Columbus for having a positive impact on their society. Kiki Darrow is part French Iroquois. She said, “Columbus coming over was the start of a new immigration series and we were welcoming whoever followed him. So it was people, new customs, new interesting conversations.” Spotted Horse believes Columbus Day is the White Man’s Holiday. He would like to see a Red Cloud Day or Sitting Bull Day. Spotted Horse said, “When I think of Columbus, he opened the door to an invasion of Europeans that changed the Native American culture with diseases that they brought. It wiped out about one-fourth of us.” Spotted Horse does not care to hear about the Great Explorer Columbus and the Nina, Pinta and Santa Maria. Spotted Horse told us,”The White Man holding Columbus Day is kind of a slap in the face to Native Americans. We have learned to live with the white man’s way.” Spotted Horse will hold a Pow Wow at his house in Linden at 1690 Airport Ridge Road October 29 and 30. The 12th Annual Buffalo River Pow Wow Wow is open to the public.
