ShipLibrary Blog

Fourth of July Reflection: Honoring Indigenous Resilience

Todays Post is written by Library Graduate Assistant Kimberly Braet.

A Fourth of July Reflection: Honoring Indigenous Resilience and Struggles

The Fourth of July marks the anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, a document that declared the thirteen American colonies independent from British rule. However, the land on which this independence was declared was already home to Indigenous peoples. For Indigenous people, the Fourth of July represents a reminder of colonization, displacement, and the ongoing struggle for sovereignty and self-determination. From forced removal from ancestral lands to the suppression of cultural practices and languages, Indigenous communities have faced centuries of oppression and injustice.

Despite the profound challenges they have faced, Indigenous peoples have also demonstrated remarkable resilience and strength. Throughout history, they have preserved their cultures, traditions, and languages, often in the face of tremendous adversity.

In commemoration of Indigenous people this Independence Day, the Lehman Library has provided educational resources on our local history’s involvement in the oppression of Indigenous peoples.

• This journal article on the Carlisle Indian School in Carlisle, PA, provides a look at our local history’s involvement in the oppression and harm to Indigenous peoples: “Carlisle Indian School” by Mullin, Molly H., Salem Press Encyclopedia, 2023
• This academic journal article provides an educational overview of the Susquehannock land on which Shippensburg University resides: “Glory, Death, and Transfiguration: The Susquehannock Indians in the Seventeenth Century” by Francis Jennings, 1968
• You can find additional resources by Indigenous authors in our guide: Indigenous Voices

This Fourth of July, we invite you to reflect on the meaning of America’s Independence and explore ways to amplify and celebrate the voices of the people native to the land we now call home.