There is no category for Indigenous Peoples Rights and Recognition. This is needed in the U.S. as countries like Canada have taken more steps to acknowledge and help Indigenous peoples there. It would be great for the U.S. to do the same especially regarding Southeastern Indigenous people as our collectives have been ignored and experiencing erasure in various forms for hundreds of years.
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This is a great suggestion. At minumum, it’d be good to have a “culture” category, which could include Indigenous issues.
I created a proposal yesterday urging the Trump Administration to reinstate Operation Lady Justice, a taskforce dedicated to finding missing Indigenous persons and solving their murders, a program which the Biden Administration has neglected. Would you consider commenting and voting on it?
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Yes, I would. I am still learning how to operate this site. Operation Lady Justice is great, but for the Indigenous who are not recognized by the State nor Federal government, we would fall between the cracks even more easily than indigenous people (esp. women) already do. This is what happened to a relative of mine who was unalived. What happened to her is what led me to reconnect and eventually find out about MMIW. I guess what I’m saying is there are a lot more indigenous than are registered and there’s reasons for that (which can be found by studying American history as it pertains to indigenous people). A culture category would be great for matters such as these but I also believe this is a government matter as the State and Federal government are those who recognize indigenous peoples formally and unfortunately, in the State of Tennessee, there is no department for Indigenous Peoples.
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I am trying to think through the positive and negative ramifications of abolishing reservations and using the $ to integrate and support Native Americans into the collective society. It seems to me that by keeping any segment of peoples segregated it does a great disservice. I may be off base, but it seems that segregation is causing way more damage than if we did more with monies allocated (which need to be expanded) to education and EFFECTIVE programs. The “living” (death) conditions on reservations are nothing short of a shameful deep hole that only the most gifted, independent and resourceful can escape. Travesty doesn’t even START to explain/describe the conditions.
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Yes, I understand your viewpoint. The conditions that I have seen are not good. However, regarding assimilation, that has been occurring. Not everyone is on a reservation and those who grew up on them tend to leave and live in the rest of society. Thing is, many of us in the Southeastern region are not on reservations. Those of us who descend from ancestors who chose not to walk The Trail of Tears were instead assimilated into the dominant culture and that has not been easy either as we also experienced (and continue to experience) erasure in various forms. This is why I am wanting recognition and an easier process for those of us whose ancestors have experienced these terrible things as we are still affected by them today.
I’m not trying to sound insensitive, but if everyone is going to start getting a day, then everyone needs a day. No months, on weeks, just one day for race. Bc we are the melting pot. We have Arabic, Israeli, Latino, black, white, Japanese, Chinese, The French, Mexican,
And we need to do a way with the months and celebrate one day Nobody else gets days or weeks so if we’re gonna start adding more than we need to add everybody
Well your comment was irrelevant to my post. Being indigenous to a landmass and being an immigrant on that same landmass are two different things. Recognition for Indigenous Peoples is not about having a day or month. It involves correcting historical injustices through working with settlers either through honoring treaties our people may have made with settlers, being able to maintain/establish sovereignty and our ability to be stewards of the land as our ancestors were before settler colonialism. Overall, it is about our livelihood.
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Background
Current Management of Indigenous Affairs
The Department of the Interior (DOI) and the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) are the primary federal entities responsible for managing relations with Native American tribes. Their responsibilities include overseeing tribal lands, administering federal funding, and implementing policies intended to support Indigenous communities.
However, there have been significant criticisms and failures regarding their effectiveness:
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Mismanagement of Funds: The BIA has faced allegations of mismanagement and lack of accountability concerning the distribution and oversight of federal funds meant for tribal welfare. They also had millions the Indians “received” they were responsible for managing and allocating to the tribes which have gone missing. Many tribes have reported difficulties in accessing funds and navigating bureaucratic processes, which can hinder their development and self-sufficiency.
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Inadequate Support: The DOI and BIA have been criticized for failing to provide adequate support for education, healthcare, and economic development initiatives. This has contributed to persistent poverty and social issues within many Indigenous communities.
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Cultural Preservation: While there are programs aimed at cultural preservation, there is often a disconnect between federal initiatives and the specific needs and desires of individual tribes. This can result in programs that do not align with the cultural values and practices of the tribes they are meant to support.
Protection of Indigenous Peoples and Cultures
The Role of Indian-Owned and Operated Casinos
Indian-owned and operated casinos have emerged as a significant source of financial independence for many tribes. Here’s how they contribute:
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Economic Development: Casinos provide a substantial revenue stream that can be reinvested into community development, education, healthcare, and cultural preservation initiatives. This financial independence allows tribes to fund programs that align with their specific needs and priorities.
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Job Creation: Casinos create employment opportunities for tribal members, reducing unemployment rates and stimulating local economies. This can lead to greater economic stability within the community.
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Self-Sufficiency: Revenue generated from casinos can reduce reliance on federal funding and enhance self-governance, allowing tribes to make decisions that directly benefit their members without waiting for federal approval.
Pros and Cons of Eliminating Reservations
Pros:
- Integration and Opportunity: Eliminating reservations may facilitate greater integration into broader society, potentially providing Indigenous individuals with more access to job markets, education, and healthcare.
- Self-Governance: Some argue dismantling reservations could empower tribes to establish their own governance structures independent of federal oversight, allowing for more tailored approaches to community needs.
Cons:
- Loss of Land and Identity: Reservations are often seen as crucial to the identity and culture of Indigenous peoples. Eliminating them could lead to further loss of cultural heritage and traditional practices.
- Economic Vulnerability: Many tribes rely on reservation lands for economic activities, including natural resource management and tourism. Removing reservations could jeopardize these sources of income.
- Historical Context: The historical context of land dispossession raises concerns about trust. Many Indigenous peoples may view the elimination of reservations as another step towards marginalization and loss of rights.
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- Self-Governance: if they were not a formal “Tribe” it would become very easy for their lands to be lost, the money spent, their culture lost and the attempts at genocidal and attempted whitewashing of the Indians culture effectively finishing off these sovereign people.
Case Study: Klamath Indian Tribes
The experience of the Klamath Indian tribes highlights the challenges associated with reservation management and federal policies:
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Background: The Klamath tribes, located in Southern Oregon, faced significant challenges when their reservation was terminated in 1954. This led to the loss of land and resources, which had devastating impacts on their culture and economy.
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Failures of Conversion: After the termination, many Klamath members struggled with poverty and lack of access to resources. The promised benefits of assimilation into mainstream society did not materialize, leading to a resurgence of calls for tribal sovereignty and reestablishment of rights. Also there were fairly large cash payments made to individuals who had no formal finance training and no good counseling who lost and spent it all with no long term plans. There was also a huge increase in alcoholism and loss of property to DUI events.
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Current Status: In 1986, the Klamath tribes were restored federally, but the effects of the previous policy continue to impact their cultural and economic viability. The ongoing struggles reflect the long-term consequences of federal policies that do not adequately consider Indigenous perspectives and needs.
Conclusion
To protect Indigenous peoples and their cultures, it is crucial to prioritize self-determination, cultural preservation, and careful management of resources. Indian-owned and operated casinos can play a vital role in promoting financial independence and self-sufficiency for tribes. While discussions about eliminating reservations may arise, the historical context and current challenges faced by tribes like the Klamath highlight the importance of respecting Indigenous rights and ensuring any policies support rather than undermine their cultural identities.
America owes a large debt to indigenous peoples and their support of America. During WWII the American Indians were able to use codetalkers to secure communications throughout the pacific theatre saving countless lives and intimately leading to America success at beating Japan!
Pft … They dont have one for mexicans even though they broke tht treaty as well.
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I apologize by my comment. I did not mean for it to sound rude yesterday.
Is this all in a private chat or all we on public maybe we could all on here chat privately and come up with ideas and put together one plan u can present
More than what u have
Yeah it leaves so many Indigenous people out. The goal was to assimilate all of us and disconnect us from our heritage and of course from the land.
This is a public forum that you’re on. Private chat may be available but I’m not sure. I am new to this platform.
Thank you for sharing. Some tribes have tried over 100 years to gain federal recognition. The process is highly problematic. Most of the tribes that are federally recognized are not in the Southeast. During Trump’s first presidency, he did help a few Virginia tribes who were misclassified by racist policies (just like what happened to my people) gain federal recognition which is great. It was H.R. 984 The Thomasina E. Jordan Indian Tribes of Virginia Federal Recognition Act of 2017.
[More can be read about that here
President Signs Virginia Tribes Recognition Bill Authored by Wittman into Law | U.S. Representative Rob Wittman ]
I DM u
I think a lot of people are sick and tired of this stuff. We are all Americans. Period. Don’t like it? You can leave.
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You are sick of Indigenous people and telling us to leave the land we are connected to? Is that what you are saying? Because let’s be clear: If you are not Indigenous, you are also an immigrant. I suggest you be more mindful before commenting.
Agree 100 %. They get zero recognition and look what they went thru.
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No- sick of identity politics. Like a great number of people. Like a landslide of people.
As for being mindful, you’re on a predominantly conservative website. Why don’t you be a little mindful of the audience here before trolling with identity based issues that everyone is tired of hearing about and funding.
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