Largest Native American Reservation

It is sad to say this, by the words of a Sioux that says the largest Indian reservation in the United States is actually prison.  Indian children are incarcerated 40% more than non Native American children.

Indian childrens new homes link

Native Americans receive the death penalty 38% more often than non Native Americans. Death penalty link

There is currently two million inmates in local, state and federal jails.   Of these, 1.6% are Native American.  I personally know many Native Americans incarcerated for being Indian.   The Incident at Pine Ridge started over stolen  boots by a  young Sioux, rather than just ask for help from tribal authorities two plain clothed FBI agents in unmarked cars entered the reservation and did not announce who they were and drew their guns resulting in needless loss of lives.  this is the beginning of the story of Leonard  Peltier.

Native American Reservation Link

Just recently Native Americans were fishing under the 1836 fishing treaty, the Department of Agriculture has been trying to get them prosecuted so that they can join the largest Indian reservation in the United States.  The U.S. attorney has refused to prosecute, largely because of the strong backing of celebrities and Hollywood.  the big media also is covering many Native American issues since the strong uprising of the Lakota Sioux.  It bothers me that so many tribes do not have programs for the incarcerated Native Americans to be reintroduced back in to society.  My tribe actually bans many of the incarcerated Potawatomi from living on their reservation.  To be thrown out from society by a legal system that has run amok is one thing  but to not embrace and rehabilitate the young, teach them a new way of living is the wrong solution to breaking the cycle of crime. 

FBI case report link 

Keith Oberman - Thank You

Many thanks to you Keith Oberman for standing up and speaking out on behalf of ALL Native American's, we are all very grateful for your kind words.  Many Megwetch's (thank you's) to you for having the strength and courage to hear the pleas and cries.  I post this to join the thousands of other bloggers expressing thanks. 

Help the Souix Link

Yesterday's show

 

Indian Affairs

 

  

MSNBC, February 8, 2010. 
Native American Issue

The winner of the "Worst Person" in the world yesterday was  the Indian Affairs Director.  The award was given by MSNBC's Keith Oberman.  Mr. Oberman stated, "Power lines are down, thousands of Lakota and other tribes, already faced with 75% to 85% unemployment , before a blizzard and ice storm that added six inches of ice almost two weeks ago .  They just managed to turn on the water for some of the Souix.  There is currently not a hearing scheduled to discuss the serious issues that are affecting many tribes with record snow and ice, leaving many without electricity, heat or water."

WSJ when the storm hit link
Senate Commitee Agend Link 
Lakota Times Link

Help The Souix Link 

  

CNN I Report by KLauaux

Indian Affairs Director Wins
February 8, 2010 13 days later

 

Crow Creek

As we enter the new year i rejoice in the things i have and do not dwell on the thing's that i don't have. I started blogging because i felt the need to express myself and my tribe in a positive way along with the need to express my concerns. Little did i know blogging would lead to a education in my culture far beyond what i first thought, and a education in other Native Americans. Blogging makes you research and think!

I am a member of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi but i am drawn to the suffering of the Souix, even today the Souix struggles to survive. This is their story, not mine!

7,000 acres of land was auctioned off in South Dakota, land that was once the Soiuxs, now it's not, you see they owed about $3 million dollars in back taxes, penalties and interest for unpaid employment taxes. 11.1 square miles of land, gone forever. The land was appraised at $4.63 million dollars but sold for $2.57 million dollars. Usually Federally recognized tribes are not subject to taxes, the Fort Laramie treaty is suppose to prevent the tribe from being taxed, but the law is vague and easily interpreted differently from person to person. Crow Creek ran into problems by not paying employment taxes.

The average yearly income from this tribe is around $5,000 a year, can you imagine? Most of them can not afford running water or electricity. This winter is cold and many of these American Icons are literally freezing to death because their power gets shut off in the dead of winter. It does not matter if they require medical equipment to live that operates off power or that it is below freezing, to be able to die in America for owing a couple hundred dollars seems uncivilized to me. You see the same laws that protect you and me from this happening does not apply on reservation land because the lack of federal laws.


(Click on the title of this story for the Souix version)

*Crow Creek Chairman Stops Eating!

Members of the Crow Creek Tribe are protesting an IRS auction of 7,100 acres of land, totaling $3.1 million dollars owed in back employment taxes.

Chairman Brandon Sauze says he will stay on the land and fast until he drops. Every year this very poor tribe loses land because they do not have the money to pay their taxes. Please watch the videos regarding the Crow Creek Indian Reservation.

Indian Today story link
Setting up tipis link