Why are there never discussions of Native American issues ?

[DemocratSinceBirth]

Why are there never discussions of Native American issues when Reservation Indians have a 39% poverty rate and Non-Reservations Indians have a 26% poverty rate?


Native Americans also suffer from higher incidences of alcoholism, higher incidences of infant mortality, higher incidences of incarceration, and lower life expectancies.

[FSogol]

1. Some candidates do

http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2012-01-09/news/bs-md-omalley-tribes-20120109_1_piscataway-indian-nation-piscataway-conoy-confederacy-tribal-recognition

O'Malley also had a member of the Piscataway tribe up on stage for his announcement.

[bigtree]

2. +1

[DemocratSinceBirth]

3. That is good because they have been grievously injured by us.

eom

[Scootaloo]

4. Political cynicism

Indians make up less than 2% of the overall population in the US, including Alaskan Natives. This does not create a significant voting bloc. Within that population, voting participation is fairly irregular (likely due to the communities being ignored by politicians...) and so are not seen as political assets. And that poverty rate? Well, they're not going to be throwing millions at a campaign's war chest any time soon, are they?

The same goes for any number of "Unseen" minorities - though probably worse, as at least Native Americans are "on the radar."

[jwirr]

5. I suspect it has a lot to do with sovereignty. Natives do vote and have connections to the overall

system including paying taxes but they do not like interference in how they run their own Reservations. Regarding employment - most reservations are very isolated and because of other problems companies do not like to locate their factories on the reservations. For some reservations who were close to highly populated areas the move to allow casinos made a big difference. They owned their own company. But the government often does not look at that as a good idea.

One reservation wanted to start their own grocery store because the white owned store was stealing their food stamps. The government sent a team of investigators out to see if it would be feasible. It cost them $20,000 to investigate and that was more than they were asking for in the first place - the team refused to let them start their own store.

Alcoholism is connected to all the other problems you mentioned: higher infant mortality, higher rates of incarceration (employment also play into this one) and lower life expectancies. And alcoholism is not a political problem. It is a generational problem that is very hard to stop. When uncle bill gets his 5 year old nephew drunk because he wants someone to drink with (true story) it is not an easy thing to stop.

As to why there is no discussion - because they do not want the US government telling them what to do. They have had more than enough of that in the past. I once called my representative about an issue that I thought he could help with - he outright told me that the Native government did not want advice on that issue.

[Runningdawg]

6. I am NA and live in OK

I have always voted, but there are those who would call me a traitor for participating in the white mans government. There is also more poverty among NA for this very reason - many NA refuse any form of public assistance, even free tuition or medical care. I'm not saying I agree, but I certainly can understand that position.

[JI7]

8. maybe because they have to give up something for it

[DemocratSinceBirth]

11. I don't know as much about current Native American culture as I should but I would assume...

I don't know as much about current Native American culture as I should. I would be interested in what percentage assimilate into the larger culture.

[jwirr]

37. Native American's who live in cities are often still strongly connected to the reservation. Going

home for pow wows etc. The also vote in the elections of tribal leaders. There are of course many who have assimilated and I suspect there will be more in the future. On our reservation intermarriage has played a role in this. And with the casinos/work the idea of graduating from high school and going on to college is growing.

My son in law was the first to graduate from the band. His daughter is the one who works as the Native healthcare adviser to President Obama. She is still going to school to get her Phd in Health Care Management. Both of his sons have gone to further education because they know someone has to do the work of the tribe.

[LittleBlue]

17. I did a tax return for a NA woman once

She had several kids and was getting a nice Earned Income Credit. Meaning she was actually making money. She asked me if she had to file. I told her she did, but that she was making money, so filing was a good thing. She told me that if she didn't have to file, she wouldn't, even if it meant missing out on her credits. This was like $400 and we were doing her return for free! Even so, her pride was admirable.

On that day I learned to always act sad about anything regarding government around NAs. Which is understandable considering history. But still, a white person can't just say "the NA community has a problem, we need to help" like the OP does. Hell no.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

18. I didn't say the government has to help in my seminal post.

I only asked why there aren't discussions of this issue.

I am now learning what kind of help if any is necessary and where the help should come from and perhaps where it should not.

[jwirr]

33. In the case of the casinos the government gave the tribe a loan and there were laws regarding

oversight of casinos (all of them) but the tribe was given permission to run it their own way. In our case that meant Native American's running their own business. On some later reservations the casinos were owned by the tribe but run by others. That did not work out as well.

Things work better when the tribes ask for help and run it locally. They know their culture and care about their people. It is a simple as that.

[JI7]

7. Tom DAschle was a pretty good advocate for them

but many were happy when he lost

[Jesus Malverde]

9. There is not much interest

Take this OP three recs and no comments.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10026683092

[DemocratSinceBirth]

15. I recommended it...

If you recommend it then it will get to the Greatest Page and more people will lead it...

I always self recommend if I am close.

[stevenleser]

10. I support just about anything anyone proposes to help. I feel horrible about what has been done to

Native Americans historically and the condition for many now.

[RebelOne]

16. Considering what has been done to them in the past,

why should they trust us now? We have broken all treaties and betrayed them.

[chloes1]

12. Didn't a NA tribe

just have their burial ground sold out from underneath them?

Our treatment of indigenous peoples is appalling.

[LittleBlue]

13. They're sovereign nations

I recall when I did my internship that we lent to a tribe. Those reservations might as well be feudal domains for all the autonomy they enjoy.

Most Americans view them as sort of separate (many Native Americans do also), so whatever problems they have are up to them to fix. So long as they reside in reservations, I'm not sure it's possible for us to do much, and for all I know their tribal elders want it that way

[Mnpaul]

14. Bernie will be speaking to them tomorrow

He is scheduled to speak at the Minneapolis Native American Center tomorrow. The native American community has been a great partner in our fights against injustice. They were front and center speaking out after the FBI raided the homes of the Antiwar Committee members.

[jwirr]

36. Wish I could be there. MN Natives are very active in politics and have been for many years. I

think that may have to do with they idea of open reservations. Open reservations designate land owned by both Natives and others in the same area. A closed reservation is one area owned and occupied by Native Americans (Like Red Lake Reservation.) I suspect you know that - just explaining for others who may not know.

[Mnpaul]

38. I didn't know that

I do know that the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux are really a great bunch. They are using their casino profits to help both people in their reservation, reservations across the Midwest and local communities. They bought defib machines for all the state patrol cars, they are buying their land back, they do a lot of recycling and provide jobs for 4200 people.

http://www.shakopeedakota.org/

BTW there is a thread on the front page with full video of the event. I was surprised at the number of women attending. I would estimate that 70% of the crowd was female.

[ismnotwasm]

19. Because people don't care

Not in any way that matters. This thread will sink like a stone just as most NA threads do. Facebook is better for Native American information believe it or not.

[Omaha Steve]

20. I average about one First American post in GD a week they sink fast like last nights

First American Group: http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=forum&id=1191

My post from last night: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10026755455

Bonus video for it: http://studio.omaha.com/?ndn.trackingGroup=91341&ndn.siteSection=omahawh_hom_non_fro&ndn.videoId=29141394&freewheel=91341&sitesection=omahawh_hom_non_fro&vid=29141394


OS

[Katashi_itto]

21. Has HRC talked about these Issues?

[DemocratSinceBirth]

22. I found this:

Hillary Clinton’s Native American Agenda: Provide Vital Services and Support Tribal Sovereignty

11/6/2007 -- Today, Hillary Clinton reaffirmed her support for tribal sovereignty and her respect for the government-to-government relationship. Recognizing that tribes are sovereign nations, as President, Hillary will seek to partner with tribes to improve health care, education, and housing for Native Americans living throughout this country.
There are approximately 4.5 million American Indians and Alaskan Natives in the United States. The American Indian population is a young and growing one. The median age of the American Indian population is approximately 36 years old. Unfortunately, our government has not always honored its responsibilities to Native Americans. And while there are many success stories in Indian Country, many problems persist. For instance, while the Indian Health Service works to bring health care and treatment to all Native Americans, 30% still go without proper coverage. [ii] Hillary is committed to expanding opportunity and promoting fairness for Native Americans, as she is for all Americans.

http://academic.udayton.edu/race/2008ElectionandRacism/racialgroups/NativeAmericans03.htm


and this:

https://www.readyforhillary.com/webform/native-americans-ready-hillary


St.Hillary: an exemplar to the world.

[Katashi_itto]

23. So a single voicing of support eight years ago and a website form. I see.

[KittyWampus]

24. Well, those trashing Hillary took a statement she made as FLOTUS decades ago

about needing more police and tougher sentencing and attached GREAT MEANING to it.

Kind of selective in what one attaches importance to...

[DemocratSinceBirth]

27. I kind of wish we stayed on topic.

This was a thread about a people who were injured beyond belief by our government. It wasn't a thread to discuss Hilary Clinton.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

26. It seems she tried to educates herself about their challenges and address them as a senator.

I am positive St. Hillary will address them and find appropriate solutions when she becomes president. She is running to do things and not be things because she has done everything else there is.

[jwirr]

34. The Indian Health Care program is now incorporated into ACA. My granddaughter runs the health

clinic in our community and she goes throughout the US to all the tribes teaching them how to set the ACA plan up and running. They of course have their own clinics and in some cases their own hospitals but they are actively involved in ACA. She is also a member of President Obama's advisory committee on Native American health care.

[napkinz]

25. ...

[mstinamotorcity2]

28. Then they would have to

Address the Lies they have told over the last 400 years.

[Pooka Fey]

29. I have often asked myself this same question

Great OP. K&R

[DemocratSinceBirth]

30. I am learning just from this thread.

That a lot of Native Americans don't want "our" help. I can't say I blame them...But Native Americans have made major contributions to our nation, including our nation's military, so it has to be more nuanced.

[jwirr]

35. I am one of the people who post re: that idea. To clarify it is not so much that reservations do not

want the help. It is more that they need the money for their programs but they do not need the advice. And they are correct. They know their problems and they know what needs to be done to help their own people. Outsiders are very good at screwing it up by demanding that it be done their way.

[democrank]

31. Thank you so much for this.

It`s a very good question.

[Avalux]

32. Since Native Americans are not integrated into American society,

it's easy for 'real' Americans to ignore that they even exist. If we were to open up a national discussion about the unfortunate circumstances of Native Americans, then we'd be forced to acknowledge that there's a direct relationship to their treatment during the settling of this country by Europeans. It was flat out genocide and they've been broken ever since.

Much more palatable to just ignore their tragic history and current hardships unfortunately.