Quote:
Originally posted by AggieSigmaNu361
i feel the US government would be doing more to help the Lakota if they ceased the 'hand-outs' and made them get a job and earn their pay.
Kitso
KS 361
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I agree Kitso. I am of the opinion that reservations tend to perpetuate the problems that many American Indians face such as unemployment, suicide, high school dropouts and alcoholism/substance abuse. If a casino provides a way for American Indians to have employment, greater economic independence from the US, and a facility that assists/promotes the greater good of the tribal community, and provides a way for the tribe members to have pride in an accomplishment then I'm all for it. I do think they should put the revenues back into the tribal community itself though. I don't think casino's are the ONLY way to accomplish this though. The AI's need something (motivation) to help them gain more self worth and esteem within tribes, between tribes and within the dominant culture of the US.
Rudey - There are huge funds managed (mismanaged) by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Governmental agencies have mishandled American Indian trust funds in the past, and many of these people continue to experience extreme poverty. The US has tried to governement involvement and money to pay off their wrongs for a long time, and it has only succeeded in turning once proud nations into groups living on the dole with no sense of purpose. Funds are dispursed to Federally RECOGNIZED tribes only - there are about 550 tribes recognized, many more tribes are not recognized. There is numerous fighting between various tribes too, and the red tape for a tribe to become recognized is about 10 years long.
AI's are becoming much more political. Some do contribute significantly to politicians, if they feel it will further their causes (such as casinos, land, etc).
These nations (tribes) are established as a separate entity from the United States and have sovereign immunity status and the ability to govern themselves. They work on a government to government basis with the United States. They don't have to follow our rules and can do whatever the heck they want to do on their land. The US Government has broken treaty after treaty with the AI's, and has treated them deplorably as have many American citizens. I 'm not sure more government involvement is the answer. More AI's are getting educations in the areas of teaching, medical services, etc, and are returning and putting efforts back into the tribes.
The US was their land first, and as far as being detrimental to rural areas, why shouldn't American Indians give back to the people of the USA exactly what the people of the USA gave to them over the past 200 years? American Indians had land, status, and resources. The USA has taken a large portion of this from the AI's. We've destroyed the land, and built those super highways and shopping centers and houses. If they want to build luxury homes, parking garages and everything else on their land in rural areas, who are we to judge?
I'll get off my soap box now! Forgive me for the long rant.