FREEDOM

Photography by T.C. Worley’s #PortraitVan mobile studio

July 4, 2024 | Native Children’s Survival

With record-breaking heatwaves scorching Turtle Island and unprecedented category-five tropical hurricanes announcing the arrival of summer, this Fourth of July is a stark reminder of the immense power of nature and the consequences of disregarding natural law.

Long before the United States of America came into being, our Indigenous ancestors were familiar with immigrants arriving from distant lands. It is a bitter irony that when independence was declared by a group of 13 British colonies from the British Empire, they referred to Indigenous Peoples as 'Merciless Indian Savages' in their Declaration of Independence — a reference used to dehumanize Indigenous Peoples, justify unconscionable behavior and to appropriate Indigenous land and resources. This is the America celebrated on the 4th of July, a day of significance in Indigenous and American history and one that carries a painful contradiction.

The belief that all people are created equal was lost to the Founding Fathers of the United States, as was the actual implementation of democracy, which they refer to as an experiment. The idea that everyone, regardless of their background, is entitled to fundamental rights such as liberty, freedom of religion, speech, assembly, and due legal process was just that. Today, we see these beliefs and ideas collapsing with the deconstruction of democracy and the American administrative state.

Taking part in the oppression of others, knowingly or not, while celebrating the independence of the oppressor has never been admirable or patriotic. We can and must do better.

As Independence Day is celebrated on the 4th of July, it's crucial to be mindful and present. The land that America occupies is a testament to our resilience in the face of historical injustices, as it is soaked in the blood of our ancestors. It's about more than being aware; it's about being human on a deeper level with empathy and respect for where we are. This is a higher calling, a call to conscience.

Tonight, when fireworks fill the skies with all glory and hubris, ask yourself, do I believe in freedom? Do I believe I am free?