Synopsis
Several small Quaker groups began advocating for Native justice over two centuries ago, journeying through wilderness to meet with distant Native Nations. In 1798, Wyandot Chief Tarhe spoke of “a chain of friendship” with “Brethren, Quakers.” In the 1870s, President Ulysses S. Grant tapped Quakers to serve as Indian agents in the West, replacing military officers and corrupt Indian traders. Friends continually sought ways to leverage their limited influence, frequently bringing Native issues to the attention of Congress and the public. One of those volunteer groups was Baltimore Yearly Meeting’s Indian Affairs Committee. Its members’ ideas and undertakings included mistakes and failures. Yet, this close look at the record of their endeavors also reveals the enduring tenacity of Friends who cared about the circumstances, well-being, dignity, and rights of Indigenous peoples. The saga of Native and non-Native relationships has many twists and turns. What can be learned from one organization’s experience?
