NO to Assimilation

The Sioux had their own identity and a group and as individuals. By choosing assimilation, the Sioux lost all their pride, self-respect and individual identity by conforming to the ways of the whites. The whites used violence in order to try and control the identity of the Sioux by using violence towards them. With this, assimilation was definitely not the best option for the Sioux.


The Native Americans had a distinct belief and identity that the whites wanted to change or end. One of these beliefs was "The Ghost Dance". "The Ghost Dance" was a traditional ritual which involved Native Americans doing a "circle dance" as a religious manifestation. When the whites found out about this, they wanted to get rid of it immediately. This led to the "Wounded Knee Massacre".


The whites used violence and physical contact in a very disrespectful and immoral manner against the Sioux in order to have control over them. An unnecessary act of violence was the Wounded Knee Massacre due to the practice of "The Ghost Dance". The Massacre took place on the Lakota Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. The whites forced the Sioux to give up their weapons. The whites then attacked the unarmed Sioux. By the time it was over, 15 women, children and men of the Sioux had been killed, and 51 wounded, some of whom later died. 


The Sioux should have enough pride and dignity to be able to keep their own identity. By changing their Sioux name to a "Christian name", the Sioux would be losing their identity, and just becoming like the whites. An example of this was a Sioux tribe member by the name of "Ohiyesa" in the movie, "Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee". This Sioux boy by the name of Ohiyesa was forced by the whites to change his name to a Christian name, he later became Charles, and lost his Sioux identity. 


The Sioux should be able to keep their identity, pride and beliefs as the Sioux, and not have to conform to the white ways. This is especially true considering the fact that the whites are using violence to try and control their identity and beliefs. The Sioux have so much pride and belief in their race and as themselves as Native Americans that they should be able to keep that pride, dignity and identity.

Bibliography: "Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee" Movie