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O'siyo Brothers and Sister!
It isn't just the justice (Just-Us)
system that's stacked against Indians. It's the whole nasty system, and
it really does not matter
where you live on Turtle Island. If your reserve is in Canada, your
reservation in the United States or your communal barrio in Mexico you
are targeted to be excluded from the spoils <period>. Furthermore,
leaving the Rez doesn't get you bigger, better pie. Urban Skins are also
on the dump.
There are a few nations that finally made some serious money, but most
Indian Nations are foundering in poverty, more poverty and abject
poverty. If you live there you do so flat-out broke, and it isn't just
because you're lazy and worthless. It's because you are systemically
left out. And, yes, it's deliberate.
When the invaders conquered our nations, often by pitting one against
the other, they discovered we were down but not out. It was then that
the "Indian Question" began to be answered "No Indians", and programs
were instituted to eliminate Native Peoples through starvation, deceit,
and programs designed to eliminate us as a distinct people.
New readers - please take note: I am a mixed-blood. If you saw me on the
street you would have to look very hard to know I was Indian. It does
matter that you know this, because you can't shuck what I say off as
"just ramblings from a bitter red man." I could pass for white in a
skinny minute. I don't want to.
There are several articles in this issue that detail the harsh
disparities between the dominant society and Indian Country. With the
exception of a few Uncle Tomahawks eating scraps at Big Dog's table most
Indians can count on programs intended to help them to be the first
budget whacked or eliminated - and dead last to be included during good
times.
This is in spite of the fact that many of these programs are guaranteed
by treaty. Treaties are legal, binding writs that all too often get
broken for the sake of convenience. Please note, treaties are not broken
by Indians.
The way to end this constant bottom lining is for us to unite with one
cohesive voice. Old enmities must be set aside, for good and forever for
the betterment of all. It may be the last chance our children
Dohiyi Ani Oginalii
Gary Smith (*,*)
wotanging@bellsouth.net
P. O. Box 672168 (`-') gars@nanews.org
Marietta, GA 30006, U.S.A. ===w=w===
http://www.nanews.org
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CONTENTS LIST OF ARTICLES IN
VOLUME 15, ISSUE 007
FOR ARTICLES GOT TO
WOTANGING IKCHE-Native American News
Editorial Section: . Indians Systematically Left
Out
- Mortality Rate Shows Disparity
- No Money For N-G Pipeline, Jails, Courts
- Bush's Proposed Budget Shortchanges NA Programs
- IHS Budget Eliminates Urban Indian Health Program
- Bush's Budget Proposal Failed 'Indian Country'
- GAO Finds Unresolved Indian Trust Mgmt. Problems
- Indian ED Backers Protest Montana Panel's Vote
- American Indians Oppose English-Only Legislation
- Opposition Mounts Over English Only Bill
- Prefessor: Poverty Pushes Indians Away
- Letters: First Americans Live In Unseen Poverty
- Legislation Introduced For Duwamish Recognition
- Commissioners To Hear Anti-Reservation Arguments
- Rep. Butcher And INDN's List Exchange Words
- PGE, Tribes Share $65 Million Tower
- Kansas Loses Gas Tax Dispute
- Don't Forget This Land Rights Case
- Kodiak Album Effort To Preserve Dying Language
- Harjo: Republican Policy-Makers Oppose Health Bill
- Garcia: Tribal Justice Is Not A 'Quirk'
- Yellow Bird: `Black Enough' And `Indian Enough'
- EZLN Communique On Growing Threats
- A Slap In The Face Of Every Canadian
- AFN To File Human Rights Complaint Against Ottawa
- Developers Flocking To 6 Nations Long House
- Natives To Hit Ottawa With Rights Complaint
- Wave Of Suicide Bids Hits Reserve
- Human Rights Body Reconsiders Inuit Petition
- Native Justice -- Tribe To Banish Drug Dealers
- Rustywire: Skinwalkers-Old Woman & Dark Road
- Verse: Hawaiian Book Of Days
- Del "Abe" Jones Poem: Navajo Code Talkers
- Upcoming Events
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Along the U.S.-Mexico border, the
body count continues to pile up daily. Meanwhile, the Minutemen patrol
the U.S.-Mexico border and shameless politicians find it easy to
denounce illegal immigration as the cause of all the nation's problems -
including linking it with "the war on terror."
Amidst all the clatter, the only views not being heard are the ones that
matter most. Thus here, we bring you a truly historic column,
featuring the views of those that have come before us to these lands:
American Indians:"The white
supremacists masquerading as patriots are building a fence at the
southern border to keep out the brown people. Notice that they aren't
building a fence at the northern border... Recall too that the 9-11
terrorists were here legally, complete with freakin' flyer numbers. I'm
for all the Native people to have cross-border privileges up and down
our hemisphere, and would close the borders against all the peoples from
other places who look down on us." ---Suzan Shown Harjo - Cheyenne &
Hodulgee Muscogee Director, Morning Star Institute |