This reservation is one of the poorest in our country. It doesn't necessarily represent all Native American reservation life however it does give us a good idea of some of the problems that occur with the reservation system. I think that one of the main problems is that the majority of our country has never been exposed to the conditions that our Native tribes are living in. Instead of "preserving their culture," giving them their own land, we have removed them essentially putting their people "out of sight, and out of mind."
Fellow Americans are almost completely unaware that their poverty, unemployment, and alcoholism rates are far worse than the general American population. I doubt it is a lack of care, compassion, or that it is racism. America is just unaware or ignoring the issue. At this point the Sioux and other Native American tribes have no hope, training, or way of getting out of this life cycle by themselves. They need publicity, service, and help from outside the reservation to come out of the circumstance that have been handed down to them without choice since the Indian Emancipation era.
Generations past have done little to nothing to help these people progress, however, if we go out and make a difference like the couple featured in this video, we can make a change. perhaps we can end the poverty and unemployment rates, teach them how to make their lives better, and decrease hunger and alcoholism. It all depends on us, and I think the first step is spreading the word.
I agree. Discussing the Native American Reservation situation has really opened my eyes to the injustice that Native Americans have faced. History has shown that the Government justified putting them on reservations to satisfy their own selfish motives. We gave them no tools to succeed, but sent them to the middle of now where to "preserve their culture." Their culture hasn't been preserved, but their progress has been limited by our abandonment and our neglect.
ReplyDeleteIt's a sad situation when a government is responsible for the situation we see here. Mass learned helplessness caused by the greed and intolerance of a nation founded on supposed equality. It sickens me really. I live near a reservation (grew up near one anyway) and saw similar situations. Rather than seeking a route of integration of these people, we feed them a monthly check and get attempt to get them to stay there in their poverty. I do agree that we owe them for our horrible mistreatment, but it should not be in the way it is. I feel like we need to help them feel welcomed in the NON-reservation areas (not necessarily forcing them to assimilate) and give them an opportunity to gain a solid education with job opportunities. I feel like if these people had an opportunity to work like their people use to have the opportunity to do, and reap the rewards of that labor, they would have the same sense of accomplishment that most of us feel when doing so. In the past, they didn't want the same types of jobs that are now available, but because we have almost FORCED their culture into extinction, I think they would be happy to have a job and do well at it! I actually knew a very industrial native american growing up, who was successful in his endeavors. He didn't have that same feeling of the necessity to stay at home and drink away his sorrows. But that kind of optimism takes more than enthusiasm for most of these people. It takes someone giving them an opportunity, and right now it seems as though our government reinforces NOT taking that opportunity. At worse, it seems like they want it to stay that way!. Something needs to change...
ReplyDeleteHere are my thoughts.
ReplyDeleteIntegration is NOT the solution. Most Natives live on reservations because they do not want to integrate. They want to protect their culture, and a major part in doing so is to keep their ties to land--whatever little they still claim.
Another situation is that many tribal governments want recompense for the situations which led them to be in the current situation. For many tribal government leaders, this means receiving recompense for unjust treaties, and so on. The problem which this brings is that current people were not involved in the vast majority of these injustices; so to tell a current populous that they need to pay for the sins of their fathers, especially when they are the majority group, is a very tricky situation.
Another situation is that the US Government tends to look at the Native situation as a pan-Indian situation. Of course, we know that the tribes are separate and distinct entities. Just look at the Navajo-Hopi relationship in Arizona. The Hopi do not want to be in the same voting district as the Navajo, because they want their own voice heard!
There is definitely a culture clash--Natives tend to want recompense for wrongs done in the past, and also want to keep their tribal lands separate from US government workings.
It is a very complex issue, especially given that not all Natives see eye-to-eye on their respective tribal politics.
As in the case of Pine Ridge, Oprah and many many other philanthropists have donated tons and tons of money to increase the situation. While this may sound very negative and cold, there are some who like to give the impression of poverty so they can continue to receive a handout.
The problem then arises, when outsiders see this going on, of "youre not one of us, dont interfere."
Believe me when I say, after having lived on and near reservations for a period of time, that there are many who feel that tribal governments are corrupt and mislead the US Government.
The Native people might be best served if they could have a Dr. Martin Luther King figurehead, to negotiate properly between the two cultures, then the situation might improve.
But, this is not something that is likely to happen, since the tribes vary in their feelings as to what is correct and what isn't in helping improve their situation. (See the differing views on casinos, etc)
In my opinion, the best thing for both sides would be to come to some kind of understanding that would involve give-and-take on both sides. And the US government would have to undertake such a venture in dealing with each tribe individually.
Anyway, these are just a few of the scratching-the-surface comments. The situation really is more complex than just asking the Indian to "assimilate," which is what integration essentially is.
Remember, as well, that there ARE many many Natives who try to work through and better the situation, but like in any situation, there are some who are just and try to improve the overall situation--as well as some who are corrupt and unjust. Let's not be naiive and assume that the ENTIRE situation is CONTINUALLY the fault of the US Government. There have been many, both Native and non-Native, who have tried to improve the poverty and third-world situations on the reservation. It is a very complex situation indeed.
I my mission covered a large portion of the Navajo Reservation and it is really sad what is going on out there. The poverty in some places is very bad and there is a cultural of learned helplessness that has been created from the government. It seems like the problem with alcohol is all over every single reservation and it's said because they don't have the genetics to drink alcohol so it is much worse then many people think. What our government is doing now is not helping at all it is just keeping them where they are. Getting free money is not helping them to get out of the situation because they don't feel responsible for the money they have because it was just given to them. They need something different to help them learn and grow and get out of this situation. This will be hard because there is so much racism towards white people on reservations. Horrible thing were done to their people by white men so they still have hard feelings and pass those on to their children. Getting a government program to help them will be very difficult be cause of the prejudice they have towards whites. Something needs to be done to help this people to have a better life. It is a third world country out on the rez and i feel like a lot of people don't know that. I'm not sure what the solution is but its different then what is happening right now.
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