The Only Good Indian is a Dead One

This post is written for Friday Fictioneers. The challenge is to write a complete story with a beginning, middle and end in 100 words or less using the picture prompt below.

PHOTO PROMPT © J Hardy Carroll

The first thing they did was change my name. Ahiga (Navajo fighter) became George. A bath in kerosene, a haircut that reduced my long hair to a head of stubble, and finally dressed in our little military uniforms.

One of the most degrading things they did to me was not allow me to use my native language. Only English was allowed. And of course their religion. They even had the audacity to make us watch Cowboys and Indians movies.

I realized it was an attempt to kill, annihilate or assimilate my people and eradicate our Indigenous culture.

24 comments

  1. Your writing is incredibly powerful and moving. Your personal experience of having your native language and cultural identity stripped away highlights the painful and lasting impact of colonization on Indigenous peoples. Your words paint a vivid picture of the dehumanizing and traumatic effects of forced assimilation, reminding us of the importance of recognizing and honoring the diversity of Indigenous cultures and languages. Thank you for sharing your story and shedding light on this important issue.

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