Tribal sovereignty and civil rights focus of free 250th anniversary discussion on March 19 * Oregon ArtsWatch

"The issue is really relevant now because the issue is being argued again in terms of things like states being able to pass rules to suppress votes that have been used before. For example, if a physical address is required to vote, many Indian lands have only recently gotten streets with addresses."

"Because so many people have never read the Declaration of Independence, they probably do not know it even refers to Native Americans as 'merciless Indian Savages.'"

"He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions."

Native Americans' struggle for full U.S. citizenship and voting rights remains relevant as similar suppression methods resurface in contemporary politics. Physical address requirements for voting disproportionately affect Native Americans on tribal lands that lack formal street addressing systems. The Declaration of Independence itself contains dehumanizing language, referring to Native Americans as "merciless Indian Savages" in its final grievance against King George III. Thomas Jefferson's phrase blamed Native Americans for attacks on colonial settlements, though historians note this reflected British strategy rather than Native American actions. Understanding this historical context is essential during the nation's 250th anniversary, particularly as voting rights debates continue.

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