George Orwell

In his famous book, 1984 author George Orwell said that "Those who control the present control the past and those who control the past control the future." Christopher Columbus is often celebrated as a hero. However, many Native American view his arrival in the New World as the end of their civilizations. Is this an example of what Orwell meant? Has history been rewritten by the conquerors or those who control the present? Does it matters and if so, is it a good thing?