Native American Negotiations

This painting shows a group of Native Americans from various tribes, gathered in perhaps the white house in Washington D.C, addressing the President of the United States (Andrew Johnson?). The Native Americans are dressed in traditional outfits which although the image is black and white we can see still contrasts sharply with the society dress of the whites in attendance. What I find interesting is that for what many described the Natives to be ‘primitive’ and ‘uneducated’ this painting shows a very cultured and diplomatic consultation in which the natives seem to be trying to negotiate with those that have simply taken over their native land, without any consideration or permission. Thus this painting almost seems ironic and very ignorant of Americans. Its subject is thought to be the Indians of North America negotiating land possession in the 1860-70’s. As we know many tribes were forced to make agreements/treaties with Government, in order to protect the future of their tribes, and protect their homes etc. The very fact that in the picture the natives are heavily outnumbered by the whites, echo’s the future of their existence and the arrogance in the way the president and other whites in attendance are gathered/ standing emphasizes their ignorance to the damage they caused to the Natives. The picture was originally featured in Harper’s weekly Magazine ‘the journal of Civilisation’, on March 17, 1867. And I felt was a true reflection of the mass annihilation of the Native Americans during the settlement period.