Are other Montana newspapers doing this?
This is probably too radioactive to handle, but I’m part Indian (only a small part, unfortunately), so I’ll tackle it.
The Missoulian’s Native reporter, Jodi Rave, had a column yesterday headed, “Native news coverage triggers racist feedback.” (I don’t know who wrote the headline; it wasn’t necessarily Ms. Rave. ) In it, she complained of an anonymous letter she received. The letter complained of excessive Missoulian front page coverage of Indian affairs, and suggested that everything on the reservation is “free.”
The entire letter, which Ms. Rave posted on her blog, shows the writer to be vulgar and ill-mannered.
But racist?
You can make up your own mind when you read the letter. But it’s not necessarily “racist” to complain of a perceived excess of coverage on a particular topic or group, or to criticize – or even satirize – the flawed reservation system.
And it is indisputably true that the Missoulian coverage of Indian affairs has been extremely heavy recently — far heavier than the attention given to other Montana ethnic, economic, and social groups.
You can also argue that much of this coverage has lacked the balance and critical stance expected of good journalism. My impression is that it has tended to be excessively uncritical of tribal politicians and governments – which, like other politicians and governments, don’t always do the right thing.
But you don’t have to rely on my subjective impressions of bias. Consider today’s report on the death of a tribal chairman. (Page B-1; I couldn’t find it on the Web.) It reads like the sort of extended eulogy the Missoulian makes other people pay for. It ends this way: “Old Horn was right: Venne worked for the people. And may future generations prosper as a result of his leadership.”
That’s news reporting?
Letter-writers, like bloggers, should never be vulgar or racist. But they DO have a right to complain about this sort of “coverage” without being charged with racism.
Rob, so long as our nation embraces the fiction of a quasi-nation within a nation, we will have absurd results. http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-indians-appellate-court11-2009feb11,0,3726333.story
What’s new? Jodi’s been publishing this Indian-as-victim nonsense for years. And now it’s being taught in our public schools at our expense and to the detriment of our children.
If you check the State of Montana licensing standards for becoming a CPI (Certified Professional Indian), you’ll discover there’s an essay requirement entitled, “Why White People Are Evil.”
Here in Billings the Gazette goes out of its way to include Native American stories almost on a daily basis. In fact, the joke around the office was, have you read the Crow Agency Gazette?
In fact, this subject just came up this weekend with a friend. We were envisioning arguments in those Monday morning Gazette staff meetings. Heated discussions like, “I went down there last week, do I have to go again?
Point the first:
I believe I would call that letter racist; to whit:
Point the second:
As ugly as the letter is, the response to it, in my opinion, is just as ugly; to whit:
Many throughout….a very common practice…uh, no. There are some, not many, and if it were a very common practice in Rapid City, I might have seen at least one instance of it in the four years I lived there. On the other hand, I have seen it in Browning, but again, it ain’t the whole town, it’s an obnoxious minority; funny how all races suffer those.
In the words of the Captain, what we got here is a failure to communicate. Natives are the majority minority in Montana, so one might just suspect that a news organization may cover Native issues. At the same time, covering Native issues should also entail the use of a critical eye, else some may conclude that covering the ‘Native’ is more important than covering the ‘issues’.
Missoula, Montana, is “ground zero” for prejudice against Native Americans?
What malarkey, Doug. All we’re dealing with here is another example of the liberal media’s longstanding policy of making excuses for minorities. Nothing is ever their fault. They’re always the victims of something. And when the liberal media can’t come up with a new excuse, there’s always the R-word to fall back on.
The letter writer makes his/her point in a ridiculous way, but still has a point. One recent example: Rave has done profiles on all the Indian legislators, but hardly any of the other Montana legislators have been profiled. Why are they more deserving of coverage? The only reason I can see that they have been singled out is their race. Isn’t it racist to make your editorial decisions based strictly on race?
I’ve always thought of Rave as more of a booster than as a journalist. I really can’t recall a time that I’ve ever read a story in which she asked critical questions of tribal leaders. Which is a shame, because that’s a service that could help Indian people deal with some of their problems instead of letting them fester.
I don’t know, but I wonder if what other Lee journalists think of the spending on that position, especially in these lean times. It would be one thing if they were getting a lot of good stories, but as it is, they are just getting a lot of fluff.
When the Gaz prints another reservation human interest story I usually pass. But when they talked about Windy Boy, D-Box Elder, and his urging of his fellow law makers to unclasp the primary seat belt bill, my ears perk up. Here’s what Windy Boy said.
“Indians do get stopped for a lot of reasons, and I’m going to oppose this bill because I’m not going to give them another reason.”
So if you’re keeping score, racial profiling trumps forced seatbelting.
I’ll take freedom anyway I can get it.
so it’s ok to be racists because little robby told us we can?….i cannot imagine the number of schoolyard beatings little robby must have endured to turn into such an ill mannered, mean-spirited and ignorant adult. someone should really do him a favor and cat scan for brain injuries.
i apologize for the above post. i meant to say …willfully ignorant.
problembear you comment is self-defining of what being “ill mannered and mean-spirited” are all about. Why not speak to the issues rather than display petulent and obnoxious behavior?
Hehe. What issue? What issue? Racism. Obvious, except to Bob. MSM bias? Prove the claim:
He claims it’s ‘indisputable’. I dispute the claim. It is incumbent on Perfesser Bob to prove his claim. Let him. He won’t, but still …
Oh, sorry. Was disagreeing with perfesser Bob “ill mannered”?
ok craig. i’ll bite. rob invited me to make up my own mind whether the letter is racist. most assuredly so. it is racist. there is no other accurate description, in my humble opinion. is that better?
problem there is a difference between a food fight and an intelligent discussion that explores differences in opinion.
Wulfgar, when I first read your comments here I thought they were insightful and added texture and facets. That’s why I mused about you writing a guest column. Anymore, they are just a boring diversion as you work out your personal issues. I like the other Wulfgar much better. Just my opinion.
Interesting. Both Wulfgar and Problemboy were beaten up by the payday lenders. Was it becuase they’re Indians?Stay on point.
night-night – the payday lenders will be seeing a lot of me in may 2010, when we shove a citizens initiative down their greedy little throats. plan on taking some republican legislators down with them too for turning their backs on montana’s working poor. i call that ill-mannered and vulgar. what do you say rob? wanna rip off some poor people for 650% interest? easy money, no?sounds like a good republican platform you can add to racism for the next goround.Stay on point.
Don’t fantasize about me, kitten. I’m probably not your type.
I am a member of the Crow tribe, and have been involved
.
in regional Indian issues all of my adult life. During the
late 1970’s I was one of only a few authorized by Montana
to certify teachers for procuring their Indian studies requirement.
The law mandated that all public school teachers on or near
a Montana Indian reservation had to take 6-quarter hours
of Native American studies to teach. The original legislation gave
teachers 4-years to do this, or they would be prohibited from
teaching in a public school on or near a rez. I was empowered
to instruct willing teachers and to certify them. Because my
lectures and requirements for certification were free, I was in
high demand. Just before the dateline for certification came,
the legislature backed-off (instead of a mandate, it was now
only a request
I faced many very angry non-Indian teachers (including in
Missoula). I was against the mandate; but, I also felt
that educators in mainly Indian schools should know a
little about the culture, language, history, and religion
of the children they were educating.
During my travels around Montana I observed that
some Indian educators did the whole white-guilt trip
on the non-Indian teachers. I objected to that, as I found
that it generated more hate than goodwill. Thus, after
a year, I went solo doing my own certifications.
It amazed me that most non-Indian teachers were
unaware that the entire concept of “Indian” is a
non-Indian invention. In Montana the relationships
of Indian languages is about like that of English to
Zulu (no relationship). Each tribe has distinct religions,
customs, world views, etc. The only common link
between the tribes is race. Even there, the variation
between tribes (just in Montana) is as great at the
racial variations of Norwegians, Greeks, Hindi,
Farsi, etc. (all Caucasoid). If an Indian that I
don’t know walks up I often can tell what tribe he
or she is from just by physical features (if 3/4+ of
one tribe).
The comments about Jodi Rave I can empathize with.
Jodi is a Pan-Indian member of the Hidatsa tribe. She
identifies being Indian more than being Hidatsa. She
does not speak her own language. Jodi is also on the
far left politically and fails to see that the left (Dems)
forever view Indians as domestic dependent children.
The BIA (a federal creation) hates the very thought
of tribal self-determination, or individual Indians
being able to live free of the federal government.
In defense of Jodi, she is the “Indian Reporter” for
all the Lee Enterprises newspaper chain (she is based
in Missoula). It is her job to report only about things
relating to Indians or Indian tribes. Her articles appear
throughout Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, and South
Dakota newspapers. She has often been critical of
tribally owned newspapers, that are under the total
control of elected tribal officials. She is concerned
that most tribal newspapers are nothing but tribal
government propaganda rags. However, over-all
her approach tends to antagonize most of her non-
Indian readers (even many Indian readers). Her
writings are often not the best way to win friends
and influence others.
I should note that Jodi’s tribe, the Hidatsa, is
the ancestral tribe of the Crow. Linguistically
we split away from them about 930-years ago.
Thus, today Crow is to Hidatsa about like English
is to Dutch (they live mainly in far northwestern
North Dakota). It is easier to use English around
them than Crow. However, Crow often when referring
to “our people” count them as one of us. It is
considered poor-form to speak too harshly about
female members of “our people.” Thus, I think that
Jodi will eventually grow into her job, become a better
reporter, know Indian cultures better, and reject both
the “New Deal” dogma and constantly harping on Indians
as victims.
~ Awé
“Linguistically we split away from them about 930-years ago.”
Ha ha ha. What history book did you get that from?
Knight 1:
That was uncalled for. Anthropologists and linguists are pretty good at identifying the time languages split. You don’t need a history book.
Awe’ is also dead right about the notion of “Indian” being a ridiculous ethnic generalization. For most purposes, though, it’s the one we’re stuck with.
“Anthropologists and linguists are pretty good at identifying the time languages split. ”
Cite your authorities, professor.
Knight 1, I know a little about linguistics. Though I know the good professor is more than capable of doing it for himself, I will do it for him:
Historical Linguistics By Lyle Campbell p 123
If you want a review of some methods used to do so, you should read:
The Significance of Word Lists: Statistical Tests for Investigating Historical Connections Between Languages by Brett Kessler.
Pay special attention to chapter 6. You see, even thought linguistics is not a hard science in the same sense as physics and math, you might be surprised to find that it is based on some solid principals and methodology ( IMHO too often pulled directly from discreet math, probabilities and linear algebra, but whatever)
[...] of Montana law professor Rob Natelson recently posted a blog about the anonymous “Indian news” hater column I wrote for Sunday’s Missoulian. [...]
I’ve been away from Montana for several years and I had hoped that things would have changed but Montana is still very racist! I know there are alot of good hearted people out there so I don’t want to generalize. However, just reading through the blogs only sickens me…unless you have experienced blatant racism I don’t think you can be emphatic to the impact it has upon a person (emotionally, physically, mentally or spiritually). I fear for the children who are being taught this way by their parents and don’t know any different. I’ve been a target of blatant racism and I’ve had to watch my child navigate through a world that has been harsh. In spite of his experience…how do you teach him to not hate and take pity on these people who are doing this? I’m just shaking my head reading some of the post..it’s scary…really scary.
“I’m just trying to be a human being in a world that is quickly losing the understanding of being human.” Trudell
To: Doug
First of all, here is my original (excerpted) comment as posted on Ms. Rave’s blog:
Said Melvin Martin: “These types of people, of which there are many throughout the Northern Plains area, are the same types of miscreants who shout out racist slurs (from the protection of a moving vehicle) while driving through the streets (a very common practice in Rapid City, S.D., where I lived for 12 years until leaving for good two years ago).”
Go to the blog and check it out for yourself if you do not believe me. Having never been to Browning, I would not know about this kind of problem there. But, I certainly do know about Rapid City.
As you can plainly see, I stated that this was a “very common practice in Rapid City, S.D.,…”) – so the location in that quote has been changed. By who and why? This I do not know, but it does greatly alter the essence of my message here.
Secondly, I take serious exception to your dubious claim as to the frequency of racially tinged slurs that Indian people who live in Rapid City, South Dakota, endure on almost a daily basis. Yes – on almost a daily basis from what I have observed having lived there for the 12 years I mentioned (from 1995 to 2007), plus the 18 years that I lived there until I left home in 1971. And I also know that this behavior takes place nearly day-to-day from what most Indian people I knew there have told me over the years.
I was born in Rapid City in the ’50s (I am an enrolled member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe; close to “full-blooded”) and left there when I was 18 to enlist in the U.S. Army in 1971. One morning in December of 1971, after having completed basic training at Fort Polk, Louisiana and three weeks of additional training at Fort Sam Houston, Texas (at which time I was granted Christmas leave) I was waiting for a cab at the old Continental Trailways bus station in downtown Rapid City (in my winter green uniform) when a carload of cowboys and a few girls drove by, called me a “redskinned n***er,” and threw a brown paper bag at me that exploded against the wall behind my head (the bag contained a large amount of feces).
They then drove off at a fairly high rate of speed, with three of the vehicle’s occupants wagging their tongues at me and flipping me off through the rear window.
From the time that I last lived in Rapid City to when I left, I lived and worked downtown where I walked to work, and not a day went by that I was not glared at and/or rudely stared at by passing non-Indian motorists. And perhaps two to three times a week a carload of punks would either yell out some kind of racial epithet as they passed me on the street. Several times I was referred to as a “wetback” and once I was even called a “f***king gook!” I voluntarily joined the army during the Vietnam conflict, so being called a “gook,” had a special resonance with me.
My physical appearance during this period can best be decribed as “business professional” as I worked in sales and marketing. I have always worn my hair short and I am clean-shaven – I make this observation to point out that I was never a dirty street wino or some kind of a scruffy, homeless denizen of the alleyways that the majority of whites in Rapid City believe most Indian males there to be.
I lost track of the number of Indian people who complained to me over the years of the verbal harassment they received just walking down the street in that town, but a conservative estimate goes into at least several hundred. You claim that you lived in Rapid City for four years, whereas I lived in Rapid City for a total of thirty years, so what or who gives you the right to challenge my assertion as to the frequency of the loud, public ridicule of Indian people who simply walk the streets as is their right to do so?
Lastly, I fail to see how the excerpted portion of my blog comment on Ms. Rave’s blog is “ugly” – when I was merely stating a fact: There are a LOT of non-Indian people residing in the area under discussion who simply hate Indians, and a LOT of these people express that hatred regularly from the safety of a moving vehicle.
Due only to their race, Indians are treated differently by many non-Indian people in Montana. It ranges from groups like chambers of commerce who don’t know how to start a conversation with a local tribal government, to the unfriendly stares from non-Indians, to flagrant rudeness, snubbing, even hostility. This is a given state of existence that is well known to all in the Indian Community.
Yet, we in the Indian community are often told, racism doesn’t exist. We should just get over it. We should stop playing victim.
It seems many voices in journalism believe that “if we can document just how much guff Indians really receive, then the Indian experience can be understood better and society may change.” It’s one of many ways Indian people work hard to improve their lot in life.
But that often brings the standard backlash: a dismantling or dismissal of documented attacks on the Indian point of view. This law professor, for whatever reason, is splitting hairs on what constitutes racism, which deflects from the real issue. That issue from Jodi I believe is a sharing of her daily life as a journalist, a personal attack from a cowardly reader who is crude and arguably over-passionate about a racial group getting too much attention for his taste. He’s not complaining about too much Britany Spears coverage, or too much environmental blather. He’s targeting a person for coverage of a specific racial group of people. I suspect Jodi tossed out the note to show that her level of coverage is starting to pay off, that even the ignorant malcontent who tries to ignore is all is learning something.
Is it racism? Who cares.
It’s a snapshot of the daily life of a the only journalist appointed to cover Indian issues for a newpaper chain. And there’s humor here. This guy is complaining about too much Indian coverage when I’m sure a content survey would show that Indian coverage accounts for less than 10 percent of content. This guy was so upset that he bothered to pen his ideas and mail them in. He must really be scared to take such an action.
Mr. Natelson: I posted a comment on Jodi’s Blog. It was neither raciest or negative . I personally enjoy Jodi’s stories. Sir ,I submit you know nothing about being Indian. It is refreshing to many , when someone writes stories that display accomplishments of a people that are put down and chastised for holding on to their heritage. After viewing your many academic achievement shame on you for attacking Ms. Rave , as an educator you should know better.. Is a breath of fresh air in journalism to much for you to tolerate?//
Robert, you write a very important point: “Due only to their race, Indians are treated differently by many non-Indian people in Montana. It ranges from groups like chambers of commerce who don’t know how to start a conversation with a local tribal government, to the unfriendly stares from non-Indians, to flagrant rudeness, snubbing, even hostility. This is a given state of existence that is well known to all in the Indian Community.”
Now consider this point: “Due only to their race, non-Indians are treated differently by many Indian peoples in Montana. It ranges from Indian groups who don’t know how to start a conversation with a local tribal government, to the unfriendly stares from Indians, to flagrant rudeness, snubbing, even hostility. This is a given state of existence that is well known to all in the non-Indian Community.”
Aren’t both true? Are both equally reported? If both were reported by objective journalists wouldn’t the truth lead to a more effective healing?
s/b ‘local governments’ not “local tribal governments” in my alternate point. Sorry!
Craig.. I see that you finally agree that racism is a part of everday life in this area. It does not indicate victimhood as others have mentioned, but it does indicate a hatred for a perceived “other.” Now as to explain prejudice verses racism, well, that is something that Jodi should have considered along with her respondent(s). Racism is occurring (systemic discrimination by people in positions of power based on the color of a group of peoples skin); however, we should be glad that it is not preventing Jodi from publishing stories that have Indigenous content. Please, do not be like her detractors and inist that all Indigenous journalism be in the form of muckracking and or non-existent, because this response too is inherently racist (i.e. white people demanding that Indigenous stories go away or only be about “such and such”).
Nate, a “flawed reservation system?” Indeed. To be critical of this system is to be critical of the US and the history that produced it. I have read many newspapers and these stories are not printed either. To be sure, this “flawed reservation system” was a production of racism and ethnic cleansing practices that historically go beyond what we should consider the humane treatment of a perceive “other.”
Again, as I wrote to Craig, if you want muckraking journalism then y0u write it….telling Jodi what she should or should not consider “good” journalism is your right, but informing her that only Indigenous stories that fit within your concept of what is “good” diminishes her right to develop her stories.
I find it interesting that you (claiming to be “part” Indian “unfortunately”) do not see that when a person says that all Indian stories should go away, that this is not an appeal to oppress Indigenous stories. I read it as such and I am not an Indian, so how did you as “the unfortunate ‘part’ Indian” read it?
Yes, it is everyone’s right to say whatever they want (and in this case to write racist things), but why do you deny everyone’s right to say things that point out that it is racist to demand that all Indigenous stories go away? Is it ok to act racist, but not ok to point out where someone is being racist? When did Jodi (or possibly the Missoulian?) lose that right?
But you goal is not to address Indigenous stories in Newspaper per se, it is to attack Jodi’s and other news story writer’s choice of content. Ok, you made your point, you like to read muckraking stories about Indians and who doesn’t like a good muckrake. Personally, I would like to read only muckraking stories about professors named Rob Natelson, and I am making my request known that you research and write them for me.
“I find it interesting that you (claiming to be “part” Indian “unfortunately”) do not see that when a person says that all Indian stories should go away, that this is not an appeal to oppress Indigenous stories. I read it as such and I am not an Indian, so how did you as “the unfortunate ‘part’ Indian” read it?”
Where have I ever made such a claim? How about you shed your nom de guerre and stand behind your comments? I have no idea who you are.
Not to be rude, but I don’t have any idea what you’re trying to say there Craig.
Re “But it’s not necessarily ‘racist’ to complain of a perceived excess of coverage on a particular topic or group, or to criticize – or even satirize – the flawed reservation system”: You’re focusing on the wrong part of the anonymous letter. The crux of the writer’s racist attitude was this:
“Wait a minute … if I were on a reservation then I would get everything for FREE …”
See http://www.bluecorncomics.com/2009/02/rave-receives-anonymous-racism.html for more on the subject.
That second part was to Natelson and referred to his original comment.. I see where I put in the second paragraph:
“Nate, a ‘flawed reservation system?’….”
This should have read: “NATELSON, a ‘flawed reservation system?’…”
Thus, I was not referring to you in the following paragraphs, unless you took it that way, in which case, I may have been referring to you only I did not know it.
In any case, I apologize for any confusion made by my typo.
Referring to your “you shed your nom de guerre” request: my name is Julie. And why are you insisting that I provide a name to stand behind the comments made, yet you make no such claim for the anonymous named letter writer to Jodi Rave and instead choose to defend that anonymous letter writers POV? Cognative desonance?
Robert, my point: there are bad actors both Indian and non-Indian that display the attitude and behavior you rightfully found reprehensible. I have my story too. Many of us may have personally experienced such situations that scar our vision of the totality of the situation. The key to healing is not to project those experiences to claim a superior right to victimhood without recognizing the victims on the other side. We are where we are. Each day presents an opportunity to fashion tomorrows history. The history of the Balkans shows the opportunities lost. We all want respect.
Julie, I made no such defense. Before judging me get your facts straight.
I find Rob Natelson’s response to Jodi Rave’s description of the “anonymous letter writer” as very interesting in several ways.
1. to question using the term “racist” as a description of an individual who to all of us who identify ourselves as Indian – appeared by their comments to be “racist.” I ask Professor Natelson, an educated university professor – why he would dispute the term. By the fact that he claims to be “a small part Indian” – I can surmise that he looks like a Euro-American. This then gives him “white privilege” and having white privilege one seldom if ever experiences the type of racism people, who are obvious to the eye American Indians, face on a daily basis. Indian people, from earliest childhood, learn through experience that racism is a reality. It’s something one has to deal with. You can feel it (it’s an actual sensation) when there is a person who hates your people near you. If you have never been around a person who emits these feelings directly toward you then you will never understand what it is we, as Indian people understand and experience. Unless those types of people are “named or their behavior is named” we will never confront the problems we face in this part of the country.
By a university professor questioning our right to name raciest remarks, he dismisses the rights of Indian people to point out when it’s obvious to them that racism has raised its ugly head. Don’t attack the messenger – join the discussion – on how racism should be dealt with on the non-Indian side of the dialogue. (Please remember Racism is not an Indian problem it’s a white problem). By leading the discussion Professor Natelson could provide an important service to his community. By denying the idea of racism he inadvertently supports its continued existence.
2. Regarding his statement in regards to how “extremely heavy” the Missoulian coverage of Indian affairs has been (“far heavier than the attention given to other Montana ethnic, economic, and social groups”). I would think that a person of his influence would be proud to acknowledge the fact that Lee Enterprises, who own the Missoulian, is far ahead of the field of journalism by dedicating a full time reporter of Jodi’s status to covering American Indian issues.
Jodi’s articles are read by people throughout the United States and other countries. I don’t think the other reporters who work for the paper have the type of readership Jodi has. I think one would actually feel a since of pride in your home town paper that it has such a distinguished reporter. I ask how many others were invited to join the President elect on his historic train ride before this inauguration. Or how many others received a coveted fellowship award from Harvard for the first Peter Jennings Fellowship group.
3. His question regarding Jodi’s coverage “lack(ing) the balance and critical stance expected of good journalism” – and his “impression that it has tended to be excessively uncritical of tribal politicians and governments.” One has to read the many articles she has written over her career that has been very critical of tribal leaders. Jodi’s style of journalism is one that is lacking in the world of journalism that only deals with the negative rather then the positive. As Indian people we face a world that is wrought with problems and issues – she reports these but in a more sensitive manner – one has to understand how to read her stories. She reports the negative but also points out the successes. The professor may not see the subtle difference by only searching for the negative. Too many other papers cover only the problems – if you read only these you would think we were only a group of alcoholics, criminals, etc. etc. What is wrong with reports about the great things tribes are doing do you want to know only what we are doing wrong.
4. As far as the professor not finding the report of the death of a nationally recognized tribal chairman on the Web. he may not have known were to search. I found many reports about it including the letter President Obama sent to the Crow Tribe. If the governor of Montana died it would be a story why not the Chairman of the Crow Nation. This man was respected by all of your top leaders in the state, he is being honored by those same individuals who will be attending his memorial service.
I can honestly say, all of the statements in the professor’s blog were acceptable arguments regarding Jodi’s skills in journalism but this one shocked me. I found this statement unusual in its lack of sensitivity to the cultural differences between our people. The passing of a great leader is a very sacred and spiritual thing to all Native Americans and to use it as part of an argument is so beyond my understanding of the thinking process of an educated person. It just goes to show how much dialogue is need to began to understand each other.
But on the other hand I think we needed to read this so we can see how far we need to travel to reach a point where we can began. As Sitting Bull, another great Indian leader once said “let us put our minds together and see what life we can make for our children” – maybe someday all of the children of Montana may live to see the day when there is no feeling of racism towards each other.
Mary Lee Johns, Lakota
i can see you boys have your hands full here without me chiming in any more on this topic. enjoy!
Now to answer Awé, a member of the Crow Tribe.
It is obvious you don’t know the history of Jodi Rave. I am taking my time out of a busy day to take this opportunity to provide you with some of her background so you will no longer refer to her as a “Pan-Indian member of the Hidatsa tribe”.
1. Jodi is an enrolled member of the Three Affiliated Tribe of North Dakota. Her Mother, Gertrude Spotted Bear was a Mandan from Mandaree. Her Father, Carlin Rave is a Lakota (Minicoju and Itazicho) from the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe in South Dakota.
2. Her Aunt Alice Spotted Bird served as the Three Affiliated Tribe’s first Chairwoman and has a doctorate degree from a prestigious college in the east. Her mother’s brother presently serves on the Three Affiliated Tribal Council.
Because I am more aware of who her father’s people are I will take my time to provide you a short version of the family history. If those who know of her Mandan history I’m sure if asked they can provide this to Awé.
2. Jodi comes from the Fights the Thunder, Poor Buffalo, Dupris, and Traversie Tiyospae’s (family group). She has relatives on the Ft. Peck Reservation as well as the Northern Cheyenne. A member of her family is married into the Crow tribe.
3. Jodi’s great, great grandfather Fights the Thunder, his three son’s and other relatives fought in both the Battle of the Rosebud and at Little Big Horn were one of those sons, Bear With Horns was killed. His brother, Spotted Eagle was one of the important leaders that sat with Sitting Bull when he negotiated with the U.S. when they were trying to force the Lakota to return to the U.S. from Canada.
4. Her great, g.g. grandfather Frederick Dupris and his son’s which includes her great, g. grandfather Edward is one of the four families that is given the credit for saving the buffalo from extinction. Edward served many years on the first tribal council on the Cheyenne River Reservation.
5. Her great, g.g. Grandmother Mary Bruguier Traversie’s brother was Johnny Bruguier also known as Big Leggings one of Sitting Bull’s interpreters. Her great, g. Grandmother Mary Traversie Dupris was one of the first school teachers on the Cheyenne River Reservation.
6. Her grandmother Aurelia Dupris Reddest was a teacher for the BIA and was asked to teach in the most remote schools on the reservations in South Dakota because she could teach in fluent Lakota and in English. She was assigned to Bridger (were the descendents of the massacre of Wounded Knee are located) Little Eagle (were the descendents of Sitting Bulls people are located) and Wamblee (one of the most traditional communities of the Oglala are located). You can still find her students in various places in tribal governments from these areas.
7. Eunice Larabee, her grandmother Aurelia’s younger sister served on the Cheyenne River Tribal council for 12 years. She was instrumental in forming the Lakota TB Health Association the fore-runner of the CHR program. The national Indian Health Service acknowledged the important role she played in eradicating TB from the Aberdeen Area and acknowledges her in the creation of the CHR program.
There are many more things I can say about this family but I only wanted Awé to understand Jodi’ is so far from being a so-called Pan Indian then she herself is. Jodi on both sides of her family comes from people who have worked tirelessly in defending the rights of Indian people. She was raised in both families to understand tradition and her culture and not once in her life has she ever been anything other then a Mandan/Lakota.
As far has Awé’s statement regarding her as an “Indian Reporter” she is. The only National Indian Reporter whose job is to write about Indian issues. She has readers from all over the U.S. as well as an international following and has received many prestigious awards in her career. If people are angry because of what she reports they should look to themselves and ask why. They may find that they need to spend time working on their issues.
Craig Moore, you do support the Anonymous Letter writer, per the first post of this comment board. I quote; “Rob, so long as our nation embraces the fiction of a quasi-nation within a nation, we will have absurd results.”
You can claim that this is support of Rob Natelson inference that “reservations are flawed,” but Natelson never provides this backbone to his statement, you added it. You are claiming that Native Nations are a “fiction” and we need to resist the temptation to embrace this “fiction.” So, my facts are straight when I read your initial comment.
You are agreeing with the Anonymous Letter writer to Jodi Rave who wants “Indians to go away” in the press. Only you are taking it one step further and you desire “Native Nations to go away”….. well, period. And even Natelson never says that being critical of a Native Nation in the press is not the same as saying that they are a “fiction.”
So, by inference you agree with Anonymous Letter writers opinion, because you want Native Nations to go away. Or do you have some nuanced non-fiction POV (like the “Balkanization” reference indicates)… so, it may be time to backtrack on your part, but keep in mind that you have requested others to “Why not speak to the issues rather than display petulent and obnoxious behavior?”
“Don’t attack the messenger – join the discussion – on how racism should be dealt with on the non-Indian side of the dialogue. (Please remember Racism is not an Indian problem it’s a white problem).”
Racism is a two way street. Indians including every ethnic group on this planet has a racist individual or groups. To say “it’s not an indian problem” is absurd. And yes i’m Dine’ and we have our prejudice and racisist folks here in the Southwest too. Racism shows it’s ugly face in around the border-towns, including Farmington, NM. The daily Times has native articles almost everyday about Native issues, and you should see the comments people write in the disscussion forums – Over 500 entry and growing thus far. Check it out:
“Farmington Behind the Times in Race Relations” -
http://www.topix.net/forum/source/farmington-daily-times/T089DEHPF2MOITH4A
“American Indians Could get Billions from the Stimulus Package” -
http://www.topix.net/forum/source/farmington-daily-times/TTNPQN77T1FFGRI5G
Julie, wrong!!!! Those are my own thoughts born from my years of experience seeing the waste and conflicts fester. They are disconnected from any reference to support of professor Natelson or the letter writer. I have done neither. We can either rise about self-righteous anger and attitude or lament when our times is up that we have wasted the opportunities in our lives to change tomorrows history. In my opinion, the duality of a quasi-nation within a nation is the crucible for producing much of the hatred and hard feelings…and it hasn’t worked after all these years.
Just noticed a boat load of more typos. Sorry.
I think the term “racist” has become so trendy that its sometimes taken out of context. Most people believed that when someone is called a “racist”, the kind of person that comes to mind is a white person. In a lot of instance, that appears to be the case. white people have become to epitome of a “racist” because they always seemed to “complain” about non-Whites. Such as in the case of this “anonymous” letter written to Jodi Rave.
Eric Holder said it best when he stated that this “Nation has become a Nation of cowards”. Whoever, wrote that puny letter exemplified that perfect candidate in which Eric Holder was referring to. If we need to deal with racism in this country. white people need to step up to the plate and partake in the issue that is a growing problen in this Nation. In fact, whites are the only race that is in extremely denial about the whole racial issue. They need to pull their heads out of their asses and realize that racism is alive and well. Every non-White is affected by racism.
I live in Maricopa County and here the Hispanics are the subject and targets of rampant racism. Because we have a Sheriff that practices racial profiling. His thuggery tactics divides the communities and we live in an atmosphere of racial of tensions because of this Sheriff’s unconstitutional approaches.
We gotta fight racism and white power people!
of course racism is a two way street – the comments I made were pointed at “white racism” which is not an Indian problem – it’s a white problem. Now if you want to discuss a different type of racism that is another discussion. As we all know there is tribal-racism, inter-tribal racism, etc. but this was not the subject. Bigotry, prejudice, intolerance, bias, chauvinism, narrow-mindedness, stereo-type or any other word or description one can uses to describe behavior – its wrong and should not be tolerated. When people find it happening we need to name it and speak out against it.
Craig says: “Julie, wrong!!!! Those are my own thoughts born from my years of experience seeing the waste and conflicts fester. They are disconnected from any reference to support of professor Natelson or the letter writer. I have done neither. We can either rise about self-righteous anger and attitude or lament when our time is up that we have wasted the opportunities in our lives to change tomorrows history. In my opinion, the duality of a quasi-nation within a nation is the crucible for producing much of the hatred and hard feelings…and it hasn’t worked after all these years.”
I type:
“Your” thoughts coincide with the thoughts expressed by Anonymous Letter writer; who cares if “you thought of this stuff on your own.” But maybe, just maybe, you should do some more thinking about “your” grandiose ideas, because they are clearly informed by a notion of repeating history, not “creating a future history.”
What repeated history am I typing about? Well, I am glad you asked, Craig. Yes, the history where the Indians were seen as a perpetual problem to the progress of the US (socially, politically, economically and spiritually). Oh yes, a history where people who were non-Indian made decisions that were completely detrimental to Indians. You know forced assimilation; today we would call this “genocide” or “ethnic cleansing” and of course, reservations would be called “concentration areas.” But that was not by choice of the Indians, because a majority of the time, they wanted to be left alone, to govern themselves and their actions accordingly and for the most part that is what we are dealing with today. Indians are governing themselves, not perfectly, but neither are we governing ourselves perfectly.
But you are now saying, “Racism is occurring here, so let us get rid of these Native Nations.” But racism is not occurring FROM Native Nations, it is occurring from within the US. So, by your rationale, should we get rid of the US? Seriously, because that is what you are proposing–the end of festering “waste and conflicts” in the US. But you are not proposing this, you are saying that the problem lies with the Indians for racism… how conventional of you to note that the “other” is the problem, because this is how people who hate “others” feel about this topic as well.
Why are you not proposing that the answer to racism is obtaining a working knowledge of the “other” and yours and mine relationship to a perceived “other?” Why are you refusing to propose that this answer never includes; “let us use our power to get rid of these people” so they can either be more like “us” or be away from something called “us.” Why do you refuse to admit that this latter answer has been proven historically WRONG, and has been proven to be in and of itself, simply, racism at its finest.
Which is the crux of your comments and “your” ideas. You admit that the US should have the power to force their will on a group that the US people have determined as a “discrete and insular” minority group. This is power, and to use such power to divest things from or discriminate against a “discrete and insular” minority group is the defination of racism as an action. So you can fancy your words up or dumb them down, it does not matter. It is “your” idea that Native Nations should be wiped from the US map that is racist and to promote US power to ensure its enactment is pure racism.
So, are you a racist? Are you for repeating a history that was and is formed by a polity of de facto and de jure racist? Or are you going to take some of your precious time to learn more about the people who you are so desparte to make decision for? The decision is yours, combat your racist tendencies by realizing that your experiences have clouded a rush to judgement on this issue OR continue to own your racism proudly on your sleeve.
Julie, if you want to see a racist close at hand, find a mirror. Your diatribe reveals much about you and nothing about me.
When it comes down to the dark history of racsim in this counttry. white people have been committing various atrocities on every minority group in this Nation than any other ethnic group. The history of racism dates back to the post civil war era after the Conferates lost to the Union States. Former Dixie Gen. formed the KKK which was designed to terrorize Blacks. They have lynched well over 3,000 Black folks and over 1,000 white peeple according to the Tuskagee Institute.
Fast forward into today’s society, whites are still the epitome of racial instigators. To prove this is true, one can go to the Dept. Of Justice website and look up the Hatecrimes statistics…whites commit more hatecrimes than any other racial group combined. Which is why we are seeing a surge of white on non-White crimes nationwide. The cycle is that whenever we have a Democratic President, white neo-KKKonservatives are satuarated and trembling with fear that causes them to commit crimes at a higher rate. They are infected with this outdated notion that non-Whites are taking over. History has shown us that when Bill Clinton was Prez, domestic terrorism was imenent and they did occured. The perputrators in those terrorism attacks were obviously white extremists. The same cycle is being repeated as of now. We have already witnessed numerous arrests of various elements of white extremists–white supremacists across the Nation. Which is why I applaud the FBI, the ATF(E), Law Enforcement efforts on cracking down on the dangerous WN.
Then again, if you were to look into the D.O.J’s statistics, Native Americans are least offenders on hatecrimes, way at the bottom of the list. This tells you that your arguments are fallacious and contradicts your claims. Sure there are “individual” racists in every group but that’s nothing compared to what we see in society. The logic that all Nativez are racists is in itself is as irrational as it is retarded. If this was *supposedly* to be true, the DOJ and the FBI’s stats would say that otherwise.
whites are in extreme denial that they are afraid to admit that they are the most racist ethnic group known to man. Which is why they have the WN movement, neo-Nazi, Natavist/anti-immigration movements etc.
I know the truth can be painful for you. But sorry, that’s just the way it is…..
julie is not the one who posted a racist diatribe here craig. that honor belongs to professor natelson. . julie has the courage to confront it. she is doing a fine job of it too. reading the comments here makes me proud of montana to watch people rise up and talk straight against such arrogance and such ignorance.
Craig, you have nothing to contribute, nothing to argue? Instead, resorting to the equivalent of a school yard “rubber and glue” comment. I bet you were sticking your tongue out at me while you were typing this. Oh, you silly Craig.
Yet, as an adult in the US who has taken time to acknowledge racist tendencies in the US, I unwaveringly refuse your request to perpetuate racism. Did you know that I gave you time to amend your comments, but you did not, so by ommission, you made three critical errors–
1.)you did not ask Indians to assist you in dismantling Native Nations,
2.)you insisted it was an idea birthed from your brain, &
3.)you insist that “white people” all agree that Indians are the problems so they will do this dirty work for you.
As to your real intention of your last comment, is my dissent allowed in Craigland?
It better be, because if I do not like specific past practices in the US and wish to find ways that do not project them into the future, then you would claim that I am being racist against “white people?” So, am I being racist against MYSELF? Is this even close to being defined as “racism”????
I do not hate the color of my skin, nor any skin because of it’s color. I am not colorblind though, and I realize that white skin is a privilege in this country. People no doubt judge me based on my skin, but that is prejudice and I can deal with it like an adult (fyi–more white people judge me based on my skin, rather than non-whites…). Racism is a power relationship, and it is clearly a problem that rests with the idea of “whiteness” in America, not in Native Nations as they have nothing to do with its’ production.
Like many people, I may not like people who are a-holes, but they abound in all categories of people and they even have different eye colors, are disabled, or have blonde hair with some hazel highlights!! Noooo… not “those people!” They are all A-holes based on my encounters with them, and I heard they have a government too, it’s called the US! Let’s call for an end to it!!
Are you buying this crap? ‘Cause that is what you expect me to buy from you.
Which leads me to;
Professor Rob Natelson.. please give us all a well thought out editorial as to why you think that your comments defending an anonymous letter writer’s desire to end all Indigenous Stories in this region has attracted the supportive comments from individuals like Craig Moore who claim to have an answer to “solve the proverbial Indian Problem,” who in his highly experienced opinion are the cause of racism?
**Crickets chirping***
**Crickets chirping***
**Crickets chirping***
The letter writer is racist and of course many here can’t see it. I’ve given up trying to make whites see racism, but their are some points to be made. I find it curious that the writer should complain about reading “Indian issues” when Indians and other minorities have to read mostly about whites in the news with little complaint. Secondly Indians are American citizens and I wonder why the letter writer is so opposed as to hearing about American citizens who just happen to be different than him in race. If we are all Americans then it’s all our news. Third, I’m glad someone is writing aboutthese things or else the majority of Americans would never hear about them. I mean as a country our ignorance about American Indian issues are just so great I don’t know where we can ever begin. I would love for it to be taught it schools (beyond Columbus) but schools have a way of mucking up everything.
I personally believe this all stems from white guilt and America has never really dealt with what happened. And 500 pound gorilla room is that most Americans are living comfortably on stolen Indian land. Land that would probably bring them wealth and prosperity if it hadn’t been illegally taken from them. So Americans blame everything except for the fact that their beloved America made a concerted and widespread effort to first kill Indians then forcefully assimilate them causing historical trauma that still affects them to this day. Not to mention all of us who are effectively squatting. And those that don’t like to hear that will probably ignore this and dismiss me as a “librul”.
Finally speaking as a non-Montanan but a reader of “Indian issues” whenever I read a story from a Montana news story about Indians the comments are never pretty and are usually pretty darn racist. However not as bad as the comments from S.D. but still racist nonetheless. Maybe Montanans should look at their own writings.
problembear, when the conversation focuses on the issues, I agree with you. When those conversations turn to nasty personal pejoritives, they are a distracting polarization. Thankfully, each day presents a new oppotunity to shape tomorrow’s future. Take your cuts at the plate each day. (baseball reference) Those that are filled with an angry, self-righteous, venemous agenda have much to discover.
I spent hours last night reading some of Professors Natelsons opinions>> I will say this , It is a big disappointment that a brilliant mind could become such a right wing zealot. His true colors show up with his comments on this blog. I would hope Mr. Natelson would spend some time reading comments on other papers when a story by Jodi, or any other reporter on an issue concerning Indians. The negative comments are as abrasive and without fact, it is truly disturbing. For that reason the contribution to understanding Native Americans by Jodi Rave and Lee enterprises is just as valuable as Professors Natelsons legal opinions.
Say Craig,
I see people are really off tract here. Maybe I can help. In this country there are 562 federally regonized tribes with many state regonized tribes ,in which , and in fact, since the 1934 Indian Reorganization Act have a government to government relationship. In this act the people whether tribal or non-tribal have no say. We have been left out of the equation. This is not a rasist thought but an government to government agree our congress in with tribal governments. I have spoken to many congressmen and their people on a related matter and was told they don’t have to speak to me because I am not a tribal government on this related matter as per their agreement through the above federal law. They don’t even have to listen to regular tribal members this was verified in the justice department when I was there. The real problem lies in our government this is where the fix is need not in name calling. Acorrding to the Geno Project this is no real different between all the people on this planet except our pigmentation. We are all just subjected to our cultural way maybe because we were so isolation for centuries.
Many tribal governments have become mult-million dollar non-profit corporations that pay no taxes and share very little of this money with there people. Some of these tribal governments sue the government (us taxpayers) and have gotten large settlements. The last time I check at how many lawsuits there were it was at 151 suits. Many tribal governments hire lobbist in Washington D.C and big law firms to lobby congress for their personal a needs and not that of the people. People need to see that tribal people and regular citzens are truly victims of these many laws and treaties.
People get educated, talk, agree you are not going to agree on everything, make changes,and stop this rasist talk it is so old fashion and out dated.
hey people!! I am trying to raise a family and I am sick of all this crap about racism. Iam proud to be Native American and I am proud to be an American, my ancestors killed Custer and my father fought in world war II. Yes Montana is infested with racists who think that they are speaking for the Majority, but so what? let them die with their stupid beliefs and live your lives with the dignity of a person who has earned it. We are all human beings, rascists are simply a biproduct of a time when this country was governed by bigots. lets show the rest of the country that Montana is in step with change and out of step with the good ol’ boys in thier white sheets and thier rascist mouths! if you are ready for change that is, otherwise go back to your old ways and live a miserable existence, I dont care……….What I do care about are all the good people out there, whatever color your skin is , it is you people that keep me strong in the face of bigotry and racism..good bye
Craig says; “problembear, when the conversation focuses on the issues, I agree with you. When those conversations turn to nasty personal pejoritives, they are a distracting polarization. Thankfully, each day presents a new oppotunity to shape tomorrow’s future. Take your cuts at the plate each day. (baseball reference) Those that are filled with an angry, self-righteous, venemous agenda have much to discover.”
This is Craigland everyone, history started with his birth and people who disagree with his positions are “angry, self-righteous, & venemous.” Craigland is a place where Craig can espouse racism from the tips of his fingers, yet claim to be above the fray. If you do not “play” by Craig’s rules of not arguing with his “opinion,” then in Craigland, Craig takes his ball(s) and goes home.
As Craig has pointed out, Craig has an agenda–”to eliminate all Native Nations based on the odd and self rightgeous notion that Native Nations are producing race based hatred.” This is no strawman argument for random people to beat down, it is Craig’s argument.
But what Craig does not know is that his “white-washed” vision of the future is not going to be produced. Why? Because history has informed us all that forced assimilation is ethnic cleansing! And this is not happening on my watch.
Welcome Toni, finally, a spokesperson for an anti-Indian group. Yes, if I am correct, Toni represent the most prevalent anti-Indian group in the US because Toni has arrived to save the day for Craig (who was floundering weakly).
I know I am correct, because this is an organization that seeks to speak for Native people and for what Native people want, eventhough they do not actually speak to Native people about what they want nor have they been elected by Native people, and in almost every instance, they actually blame Native people for being Native. But then this group claims to want to change federal laws to help natives, and then refuse to allow Native people space.
Oh, Toni and your anti-Indian group, you thought you all were alone, but there is a new group out there that claims to speak for non-Indians. It is called, the “Anti-Anti-Indian Group.” The AAIG–yeah, this group is against Anti-Indian groups like yours. You are on notice, now go tell your anti-Indian friends.
Lets be truthful though, 5% of your arguments have merit, sure, but your one-side conclusion to end Native Nations and lack of inclusion of Native peoples belies the claims of 95% of your argument. The fact that no one in Congress agrees with your arguments should not be surprising; it is because your arguments are based on a hatred of Indians and even Congresspersons can see that.
You run to Congress not to get information, you Run to Congress in order to stop Federal Indian Policy, dismantle the BIA, and eradicate Native Nations. I have read your propaganda, and it is unimpressive. You cite race-based federal court proceedings and then turn around in the same breath, claim that the current system is “race-based.” Well, no kidding, Sherlock! Everything in the US has racial undertones, but then you turn around again and claim that the US has eradicated racism so Native Nations must be eradicated.
But your group knows all of this history, because your group proposes forced assimilation as a “final solution” to the proverbial “Indian problem.” This is both racism and ultra-nationalism at it finests…the equivalent of a KKK/Nazi marriage of ideas.
Robert, well said.
GENÖ: the Shadow Wolf (February 19th, 2009 at 10:30 pm) Says: “When it comes down to the dark history of racsim in this counttry. white people have been committing various atrocities on every minority group in this Nation than any other ethnic group.”
White people or White European Christian people?
Alright Robert! I agree
I just hope that my daughter, who just turned two years old, will not have to experience what I went through as an Indian person in this society. For the longest time I chose not to start a family because I did not want to bring another Indian child into this particular vale of tears that we as Indian people have been so horribly subjected to throughout our lives. I, in the darkness of my own sickness as to race in America, waited until I met an Indian woman who was light-complexioned so that the children that we would have would not be made to feel inferior as a matter of degree in terms of coloration. I know that many blacks seek out mates who are of a lighter skin color with the objective in mind that the less dark they are, the less racism they will experience. My little girl’s mother is from a tribe in the Great Lakes area and since she is Ojibwe, French and Lithuanian, her racial admixture is such that she strongly resembles the actress Kate Beckinsale (with a slight Asiatic quality to her eyes and cheekbones) and I thought that any child we would produce would take after her. But no, my daughter looks more like me and I am close to full-blooded with a fairly dark complexion. I know that this type of reasoning may seem like a very peculiar obsession, but to be totally honest, I have been plagued by deeply rooted and intrusive thoughts as to the nature of race in this society all of my life. At any rate, my daughter is here and I have extremely high hopes that by the time she goes off to college that most of today’s “old school” racists will have died off – and she will not have to suffer through life as I and so many others have.
CLARIFICATION, Fourth Sentence – Per my last post:
I know that many blacks seek out mates who are of a lighter skin color with the reproductive objective in mind that the less dark their mates are, the less racism their offspring will experience.
PROFESSOR Rob,
Is it really ethical to make a stance that speaking hurtful words to a group of people is right? Especially, when you work in a place of education? Would you be willing to tell my children that it is okay to speak negatively about American Indian people? Would you be me for a day and walk in my shoes, an American Indian student. Would you be me and tell me why everyone thinks I have a free life? Would you be willing to shed my tears when the pain of racism pierces my heart from time-to-time? I think not.
I think you would not want to be me. I am 27 years old and fear the day my children will shed the same tears I do because of the struggles I face on daily basis. The struggles related to being born as an American Indian and defending yourself against “Indian Haters.” I think you would not want this pain. If you really knew how hurtful, it really is, you would not stand up for this person who rights that I get everything “FREE” because I live on a reservation.
I pity the American Indian students you teach because you do not have cultural humility. You do not know how it is and how it physically feels to not know why people HATE you because of your skin. I have worked to get to where I am with everything I have in my heart. Not because anything was ever given to me free. As a matter of fact, I do not know anything that I have received from anyone was really free. I have worked hard and struggle to make ends meet. Please tell me you are not this ignorant. God help us, American Indian students and God help those who cannot understand the hurt that racism causes. PROFESSOR Rob, that letter was racist if I ever knew it. In the end, at least we know you are not truly ethical, you are unethical.
I wanted to comment on the below statement: This is totally off base, do you know that most Triibes can be viewed at “third world” countries? We do pay taxes! Again…your statement perpetuates racism and the idea that Indian people get everything free! GET EDUCATED! What a poor misguided soul!
Many tribal governments have become mult-million dollar non-profit corporations that pay no taxes and share very little of this money with there people. Some of these tribal governments sue the government (us taxpayers) and have gotten large settlements. The last time I check at how many lawsuits there were it was at 151 suits. Many tribal governments hire lobbist in Washington D.C and big law firms to lobby congress for their personal a needs and not that of the people. People need to see that tribal people and regular citzens are truly victims of these many laws and treaties.
People get educated, talk, agree you are not going to agree on everything, make changes,and stop this rasist talk it is so old fashion and out dated.
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[...] Rob Natelson happy. In February, over at Electric City Weblog, Prof. Natelson said there was just too much native news in Montana’s newspapers (as opposed to right-wing, white-guy [...]
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