This land of theirs . . .

[alaneer]

we stole.

As I drive to places and learning the neighborhoods of central Florida, I constantly come across Native American names of counties like Osceola, Seminole, Alachua, and cities Kissimmee, Ocoee, Ocala, Chuluota, Oviedo, and water bodies like Lake Apopka, Econlockhatchee river and other landmarks. This, of course, is not new to me; I've seen

Comments

[mckitterick]

I felt like this a lot when living in Seattle, too. All the names in that area are native names, though both peoples tended to live together more in harmony in that part of the country.

[alaneer]

I'm glad not all of it has been strife.

Cool icon!

[mgsmurf]

Currently editing a dark fantasy book based on the idea of what would those Native American souls and their gods risk to change things. Meant I got to learn a little more about different tribes, although being from Oklahoma where the history is remembered in school more, I knew about a few already.

[alaneer]

Sounds like a very interesting project. Good luck with it!

[j_cheney]

True. But undoing history is reportedly really hard...

It's very evident here, where we have Native American names that are clearly displaced. We have Seminoles here, Mohawks, Delaware, Nez Perce, Apache. They're from all over the country. It's hard to escape the Trail of Tears here....

[alaneer]

Yes, I believe many states are the same way.

[j_cheney]

(I'm in Oklahoma....should have mentioned that.)

[alaneer]

I know you're in Oklahoma :)

Actually, maybe just a few states have so many tribes names. Now I'm wondering why so many in Oklahoma.

[bogwitch64]

On a purely sociological bend, do you know how "new" this way of thinking is? Back in the beforetimes, the conquerer never gave a second thought to the conquered; and it wasn't even a given that the conquered would expect them to. It's not a NICE thing to think about, but then again, it is, because it proves humanity's sociological evolution actually IS progressing, despite some really nasty evidence that it hasn't.

[alaneer]

You're right, it is new, although for me it isn't, not with the Native Americans. For one thing, they're my favorite people, and for another, I've lived in Florida for decades and I'm constantly being reminded of it.

And yes, we are making progress, because now at least we recognize the mistakes of the past and try not to repeat them.

[fledgist]

Oviedo sounds Native American, but it isn't. It's the capital of the Spanish region of Asturias, so any place in the Americas with that name is a European transplant as much as Santa Fe, Albuquerque, New York, Paris (KY or TX), Versailles (KY or VA),and so on.

[alaneer]

Oh boy, there I go making blunders. Thank you for pointing it out. :)