The Red Man's Rebuke

"The Red Man's Rebuke" by Simon Pokagon is a strong statement from the late 1800s that tells the sad story of Native Americans and their struggles. It is a powerful message about the problems faced by the Pottawattamie tribe because of settlers taking their land and changing their lives forever. Pokagon uses strong words and pictures to criticize the way the white settlers thought and how they hurt the Native Americans and the environment. The story shows how sad it was for Native Americans after settlers came to their land by highlighting broken promises, lost homes, culture, and nature, all of which brought great sadness. By sharing his own suffering and the suffering of his people, the author shows how unfair settlers were to Native Americans, especially by breaking treaties and bringing harmful things like alcohol. Basically, the writing is both a look back at history and a plea for people to understand and be fair, as it aims to bring back respect and rights for Native Americans who have faced so much hardship.