Clinton Rickard

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Clinton Rickard
Born May 19, 1882
Niagara County, New York
Died Jun. 14, 1971
Buffalo, New York
Native name RO-WA-DA-GAH-RAH-DEH, ("Loud Voice")
Resting place Mount Hope Cemetery, Lewiston, New York
Spouse(s) Elizabeth Patterson, Beulah M Mt Pleasant
Children William C, Edwin Clarkson, Ralph M and Elizabeth Rickard; Beverly Rickard Hill
Parents George David and Lucy (Garlow) Richard
Relatives Granddaughter, Jolene Rickards

Clinton Rickard (1882-1971) was a Tuscarora chief known for founding the Indian Defense League, and for promoting Native American sovereignty. He worked for free passage of Native Americans across the US-Canada border, and to prevent the flooding of the Tuscarora Reservation.[1]

Biography

"Clinton was one of ten soldiers detailed to protect Vice President Theodore Roosevelt on a visit to Buffalo in 1901. He later served with distinction in the US Cavalry during the Philippine insurrection after the Spanish American War."[2]

He became a farmer, and was described as "plain-spoken."[3]

In 1926, Chief Clinton Rickards founded the Indian Defense League with Chief David Hill, Jr. and Sophie Martin.[3][4][5] The purpose of the League is "to promote unrestricted travel across the international border between the United States and Canada."[6] "Chief Rickard always preached the sovereignty of Indian nations as national entities apart from the United States or Canada. Focused on defending the border rights guaranteed by the Jay Treaty, Rickard always stood firm on the principle that all Six Nations Indians were citizens of their own nations."[3]

"Chief Rickard started the annual border-crossing ceremony to certify rights of Indians to cross the border free from fees or obstruction from either Canadian or American governments."[7]

Deskaheh was influential in Rickard's commitment to the cause of free passage across the border.

While staying at Chief Rickard's house on the Tuscarora Reservation (in New York state) Deskaheh fell ill and sent for his traditional medicine man from the Six Nations Reserve in Canada. But the medicine man was not allowed across the border. The U.S. had just passed the Immigration Law of 1924, which denied entry to anyone who did not speak English ...

Although the measure was directed against Asians, covertly it allowed for the barring of North American Indians & thus the traditionally raised medicine man, who did not pass the English test since he only spoke his own language. He didn't make it to Deskaheh, who eventually who died in Chief Rickard's house.

On his deathbed in June 1925, Deskaheh told Rickard to "Fight for the line". Later that summer during the Six Nations Chiefs Council National Picnic the chosen successors to Deskaheh's work were: Chauncey Garlow (Mohawk) Alexander J. General (Cayuga) Robert Henhawk (Onondaga) & Clinton Rickard (Tuscarora) & so he devoted his life to defending the right of free passage for Aboriginal people.[8]

In World War II, Rickard urged Native Americans volunteering to join the Armed Forces to do so as Native Americans, rather than as U.S. citizens:

"The Nationality Act, passed by Congress in 1940, not only conferred citizenship on American Indians (even though they had be granted citizenship in 1924), but required that Indian men register for the draft. Passage of the Act was opposed by the Indian Defense League of America. Tuscarora leader Clinton Rickard urged those who wished to volunteer for the armed services do so as alien non-residents."[9]

"In 1958 the Power Authority of New York announced plans to flood approximately one-fifth of [the Tuscarora Reservation] ... Chief Clinton Rickard was one of the leaders in the ensuing demonstrations and legal battles, which the Tuscarorans eventually lost."[10]

He always wore "a buckskin suit and a large feather headdress through the 1960s when he attended public events."[3]

Quote

“In 1930 a serious threat faced our Six Nations people in the form of the Snell Bill in Congress, which would give control of our Six Nations to New York State. We Indians have always feared being under the thumb of the state rather than continuing our relationship with the federal government because it is a well-known fact that those white people who live closest to Indians are always the most prejudiced against them and the most desirous of obtaining their lands. We have always had a better chance of obtaining justice from Washington than from the state or local government. Also in turning us over to the state, the federal government would be downgrading our significance as a people and ignoring the fact that our treaties are with the United States.[11]

Legacy

A statue of Chief Clinton Rickard is located "near the Great Lakes Gardens in Niagara Falls State Park."[4]

His daughter, Beverly Rickard Hill, and granddaughter, Jolene Rickard, have continued his work.[12][13]

An audio clip of Chief Rickard speaking in the Tuscarora language, "On the enlistment of a group of Tuscarora soldiers," is available on the American Philosophical Society website.[14]

References

  1. ↑ Rickard, Clinton (1973). Fighting Tuscarora: the autobiography of Chief Clinton Rickard. Syracuse, N.Y.: Syracuse University Press. ISBN 9780815601906. 
  2. ↑ "Clinton "Loud Voice" Rickard (1882 - 1971)". Find A Grave Memorial. Retrieved 2013-05-18. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Catapano, Andrea Lucille (2007). "The Rising of the Ongweh?nwe: Sovereignty, Identity, and Representation on the Six Nations Reserve: Dissertation". Stony Brook University. Retrieved 2013-05-18. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Niagara Falls Facts". Niagara Falls State Park Information. Retrieved 2013-05-18. 
  5. ↑ Kane, Mark. "NIAGARA FALLS: Native American march marks milestone". Tonawanda News (Tonawanda, New York). Retrieved 2013-05-18. 
  6. ↑ Waldman, Carl (2009). Atlas of the North American Indian (3rd ed ed.). New York: Facts on File. ISBN 9780816068586. 
  7. ↑ Kostoff, Bob (2008-07-22). "Local History: Bicentennial Book Details 200 years of Niagara's Past". Niagara Falls Reporter Local History. Retrieved 2013-05-18. 
  8. ↑ ""They love everything about Indigenous Peoples, except the people"". Vancouver Media Co-op. Retrieved 2013-05-18. 
  9. ↑ "World War II & American Indians: The Draft". Native American Netroots. Retrieved 2013-05-18. 
  10. ↑ "Jolene Rickard’s “Corn Blue Room” at Denver Art Museum". Not Artomatic. Retrieved 2013-05-18. 
  11. ↑ Leeka, Justin. "Quotes of the Iroquois, 1941-1974". Retrieved 2013-05-18. 
  12. ↑ "Native American News: NIAGARA FALLS: Native American march marks milestone". eCultural Resources. 2007-07-21. Retrieved 2013-05-18. 
  13. ↑ Wanamaker, Tom (2005-11-30). "Indian law scholars comment on proposed passport regulations". Retrieved 2013-05-18. 
  14. ↑ "Native American Audio Collections: Tuscarora". American Philosophical Society. Retrieved 2013-05-20. 

Further reading

  • Chief Rickard Dedicates Life to Cause of Indian, Niagara Falls Gazette, July 30, 1949

External links

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