Here
is a dialogue that needs to happen...... Will it??
Indian Country
So, what is the deal with Native Sovereignty?
Social and political deals come and go throughout history - some are just
and equitable and some are not. The questions arise when
the honestly derived rights of one group effect the honestly derived rights
of other groups. Is this happening? ....how and to who? What
are the resolutions, solutions and impacts? 6/9/98 Indian country for Alaska
natives? 1. They agreed not to ask for
it when they accepted 160 acres of land, plus $75,000 per person in the
Anilca treaty. 2. "Indian" is a race which
originated in North America. (We did NOT come across some land bridge 10-12,000
years ago. Otherwise there's no way they'd have found mastadon skulls with
arrowheads in them. They've been extinct for over 60,000 years). DUH !
Alaska Natives did cross the Bering bridge about the time scientists say
we all did. 3. Alaska natives get Bureau
of Indian Affairs money they are not racially entitled to, by not being
Indian. 4. Try the Central Cheyenne,
(my tribe); too few for a reservation, and without a reservation = no benefits.
Promised a 100,000 acre reservation in 1858; slaughtered at Sand Creek,
engaged by three companies of the Army:: all while at peace and under the
U.S. flag. 5. Add to this the (illegal
= discriminatory) preferences for: jobs, education, training for jobs,
benefits and services and I don't see an abused or mistreated minority.
I see a minority group taking advantage of the government's stupidity at
not knowing one race from another. Good for them; but
no sympathy.
Tom Thompson We
STOLE it from them in the first place. They took very good care of
it before we came. All we have done is tarnish it. The US government
has always had a controlling thing with natives. For the rest of
the WORLD for that matter. If we keep taking from the natives, we
will end up in a state without a true culture. For some reason, I
don't think cowboy boots and oil wells are very Alaskan. Maybe I've
been here too long. I arrived before the pipe. I've known a lot of natives
here for a long time. There isn't a one who wouldn't share anything
I needed if I needed it. I think the government is treating them
like dirt. I think of poor Georgiana Lincoln, as the others in Juneau
cheered the recent supreme court decision. That must have hurt her
a lot. It's a sad thing.
Thanks, Dan Hoadley (2/26/98)
I essentially agree, Dan. I've been around the world more than once
and see that every culture has its range of people and values but taken
one at a time, most of us "average" folks are more alike than different
- the key is getting beyond the social/cultural barriers by just being
honest, sensitive and real. From my
point of experience, Georgiana Lincoln is among the best of the legislators
that I've seen in many years. She is what I usually want as a representative
and so seldom get. We're pretty lucky out here to have her
---Editor
Here
is a dialogue that needs to happen......
