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Des Ombres à L'aube. Un Massacre D'Apaches Et La Violence De L'histoire (2013)

by Karl Jacoby(Favorite Author)

4 of 5 Votes: 2

languge

English

genre

History & Biography

publisher

Anacharsis

review 1: Shadows at Dawn brings one of American histories darkest moments into the light. It is an expose of yet another attempted genocide extermination of american indigenous peoples. The targeted tribe in this text is the Apache. The author shares the perspectives of four different cultures all centralized around the main event of the Camp Grant Massacre in Arizona on April 30, 1871. The perspectives are consisted of pre and post accounts of the main event as well. The represented cultures are those of the Tohono O'odham Nation, Apache Nation, Los Vecinos (Mexicans), Americans (United States). Historical accuracy discovered in this text frequently had me disgusted and sickened by the behaviors of both the Americans and Mexicans in particular. While not condoning barbaric exhib... moreitions of behavior of extreme inhuman atrocities of any of the four cultures high lighted in this examination, it is easy to see why the indigenous peoples responded in the manner they were forced into by the foreign invaders. The foreign invaders consisting of the mexicans and the americans in that order. Bottom line, the invaders wanted the homelands of the indigenous people and were more than willing to lie, cheat, steal and commit apparently any atrocity it would take to obtain it. All of these accusations are well documented throughout this text. To assimilate is to make like or alike. When a newcomer comes into a foreign land or culture it is customary for the newcomer to assimilate into the existing culture. Not so with the americans, they expected just the opposite, and when their expectations were not met their only alternatives were enslavement, imprisonment (reservations), or extermination of the indigenous peoples. Killing Apache's became like a sporting event in the old west, a totally acceptable practice. While any attempt of self preservation or protection of self or family on the Apache's part was considered barbaric. Settlers use to lace bags of sugar with strychnine and leave them where they were sure to be found by local indians. That was just one example of an atrocity committed by americans under the army's "extermination policy" toward the indians. There were over 140 unarmed Apache elders, women and children slaughtered at the Camp Grant Massacre. There were twenty-nine children seized during the massacre. Only eight were ever returned to their people. These victims believed they were under the protection of a peace treaty and were totally unsuspecting of their impending doom. The local press of that day attempted making saints of those who committed the murders of innocent people while at the same time trying to demonize the victims. Statements made to describe some of the leaders of the massacre by a correspondent to the Arizona Minor were "good citizens and humane, generous-hearted men.", "one of Tucson's best and most solid citizens.", "brave, generous and intellectual," someone who "never did a mean act" celebrated for his "big heart". All these culprits went on to be politicians and or society leaders. There was a trial with no real representation for the First Nations peoples and no convictions of any of the offenders. The Apache pleaded for the return of their captured children stating that "Our little boys will grow up slaves, and our girls, as soon as they are large enough, will be diseased prostitutes to get money for whoever owns them." Two children had previously escaped captivity and only six other captives were ever returned ! President Grant supposedly stated at some point "If you make Quakers out of the Indians it will take the fight out of them." There became an attempt to culturally exterminate the Indian. The "Indian Problem" was handed over to the ministry to convert the indigenous people to Christianity and capitalism. For those who chose not to convert, they were considered "bad indians" and physical extermination was considered appropriate by many of that day! I rate this book a 5 star for historical content. However, it is a slow difficult read at times and therefore I rate it at a total of Four stars on the whole.
review 2: Copied from a review I wrote for class:"Karl Jacoby’s Shadows at Dawn is an attempt to make clear the events surrounding the Camp Grant massacre in Arizona in 1871. Jacoby describes the circumstances that led to the clash from the points of view of the four parties involved: the O’odham (the Papago), los Vecinos (the Mexicans), the Americans, and the Nṉēē (the Apache). Jacoby attempts to show how differences in point of view can alter how an event is portrayed and remembered. By examining the story from multiple points of view, Jacoby allows for a better understanding of the full story of a not well documented event."Shadows at Dawn is broken into three segments, each describing a different part of the story. The first section describes each group’s involvement in the Arizona territory from the time first recorded, the second section is brief and describes the trial of the perpetrators, and the last section tells what happened to the involved parties afterwards. In breaking the events up this way Jacoby creates a coherent story of each group’s involvement in the area over time."In relating the story of the Native Americans involved, Jacoby discusses the problems faced due to mostly oral traditions. He addresses this well though, by using the passed down oral stories and through the O’odham’s calendar sticks, in addition to the written records of the outsiders to the groups. In relating the stories of the Mexicans and the Americans, the story is much easier to relate because of the prevalence of written records. Jacoby addresses the issues with written records that may not be truthfully recorded by comparing records of the same event from different sources within each group and by comparing them to those of other groups."Jacoby relates these events very well and his writing is very easy to follow. In each section Jacoby refers to things in that group’s language; therefore, the same group of people can be referred to in different ways throughout the book: depending on the Apache referred to they are called the ’O:b in the O’odham’s language, apaches mansos or apaches de paz in Spanish, Apache in English, and Nṉēē, Bāāchii in the Apache’s own language. This can lead to some confusion at first, but is easily caught on. The only issue with using the various languages is that there is no pronunciation key anywhere in the book and so the reader can only guess."With the story there is little confusion. There are a few times of slight confusion of who is being referred to, and possibly some mixed up names in a few places, but this does not detract from the story. Jacoby’s narrative is well told and easy to understand. He makes no real suppositions except where one might expect. There are a few instances where he may overestimate the importance of some events, but as the narrative expands, the importance makes sense. The importance of the Civil War and changing troops in Arizona seemed extreme at first, but by the end of the book, or even of the section, the importance becomes clear."In addition to depicting the events surrounding the Camp Grant massacre, Jacoby also manages to give insight into the issues surrounding Native American relations and the idea of reservations, as well as continuing issues of the strained relationship between Arizona and Mexico. Whether or not this was another goal of the book, it definitely sheds light on issues that still plague the United States."Overall Jacoby’s story is well researched and well told. It provides great light on an event that is not well known. In general histories of the Native American populations are not often told in the history of the United States and Jacoby’s book attempts to correct this in some small degree." less

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