Organization wears shirts against Columbus Day
Published Oct. 14, 2003
"Columbus didn't discover America. He invaded it."
To commemorate Columbus Day, From the Four Directions sold T-shirts with that slogan on the front. The back says "Celebrate Indigenous Heritage" to include the people from North, Central and South America who were and are still affected by the concept of discovery of already inhabited lands.
This is the first year From the Four Directions has sold the shirts.
"We didn't sell out of shirts, but we were successful in raising awareness about Columbus Day because people were wearing them around campus today, and many people stopped by our table to ask about them," said Linda Russell, president of From the Four Directions.
The primary goal of From the Four Directions is to serve as a support system for American-Indian students, she said.
"Another main goal is to educate the greater MU campus about Native (American) issues," she said.
The group was trying to spread the message about broadly re-evaluating American history, she said.
"American history books are written by the majority perspective, and minority cultures are often slighted in the accounts," she said. "Recently, however, more people are starting to question the way history is taught and encourage people to look at all sides of the story.
"I think it is important for people to look realistically at the ramifications because Columbus landed in what is now the Americas and the effect it had on native peoples of this continent."
The organization also held a presentation Monday afternoon by visiting instructor of religious studies Dennis Kelley about Columbus, Native Americans and the concept of discovery, she said.