Disturbing but unsurprising to hear members of the SCOTUS in the #ICWA case arguing that Indigenous peoples were violent and therefore couldn't care for our children. Let's unpack this idea - a thread 🧵
The myth that Indigenous people were *more* violent that other people has been around for a long time. It was used as a justification for imperialism and colonialism by Europeans.
There was violence and conflict between Indigenous nations in the past, but there were also peace treaties, confederacies, and other systems in place to maintain peace.
Compared to the scope and scale of European warfare at the same time as colonization, life in Indigenous communities was less violent and significantly healthier than in Europe, based on oral knowledge, history, and archaeology.
In addition, domestic violence was much much less common. Processes were in place in most communities to shame, exile, or otherwise punish people who were violent to others within their community.
So even if there was conflict between Indigenous nations, Indigenous children were much less likely to be abused or neglected than children in European nations at the same time.
Indigenous children should be with their families and communities. As someone whose father was raised in the child welfare system, I have seen the toll that takes first hand and have spent years of my life coming home to my Indigenous family. #ProtectICWA
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