A native man asks Democrats.

[Iktomiwicasa]

In light of the last two years, and especially after yesterday's election, it seems like a good time to repost something I wrote five years ago. I registered as a Democrat to elect President Obama, yet nothing has changed at all. To our eyes, and this is a very widespread sentiment in Indian Country, he is just another white-man politician who speaks out of both sides of his mouth.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4838363

From Sept 2005:

I'm pretty new here, but I hope that you folks can listen to me and hear what it is I have to say.

I'm opposed to the Bush administration, I do not like what they are doing in the world and to other people of color.

I am Oglala Lakota, and I'm from the Pine Ridge reservation in S. Dakota. What I want to ask you democrat people is why you have not put restoration of our treaty rights, our land claims, and freedom of our political prisoners at the very top of your agendas. Your track record in these areas is no better than the republicans. We do not want your government programs, your handouts, your funding. We do not want a "seat at your table" We have our own table...time long past for you to give it back. Your party is more than willing to be an advocate to the Palestinians, to black people, and to most any other oppressed people in the world, but you run from us. Why?

I will tell you why. It is because it is easier and more comfortable to ask someone else to give something up than it is to give it up yourselves. Restoring land claims would mean plenty of democratic voters might lose land, homes, businesses. This must not be acceptable to you, yet you have no problem asking the Israelis to do the same thing.

We as native people are the legitimate keepers of this land, not the US government and your people as a nation will NEVER have national honor regardless of who you elect and how you change the current foreign policy. You cannot have honor unless and untill you deal with us, and live up to the obligations that you have agreed to long ago.

I say this not to make enemies, not to anger or alienate, but to send a voice so YOU can force your politicians to make this a front and center issue, so you will know the right thing to do. Your nation is doomed unless you listen to us.

[leftstreet]

1. Your voter demographic is too small

No one running an election campaign gives a shit

[Leopolds Ghost]

18. Sarcasm? There are people who literally do have that attitude :(

[Iktomiwicasa]

30. Yeah, real good reason...

..for "progressives" to ignore the issue.

[Broken_Hero]

33. You are right on a national level

at the state level its a different story, especially states with heavy American Indian populations aka Oklahoma, N/S Dakota, New Mexico/Arizona.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. Well said.

Recommended.

I have always been ashamed of how you were treated.

[OneGrassRoot]

3. I don't have an answer, Dear Sir....

but I respect your question and shall K&R

:)

[Naturyl]

4. K&R for the First Nations

They are the ONLY people rightfully entitled to be talking about "taking back America."

Native peoples: fighting foreign terrorism since 1492.

[WHEN CRABS ROAR]

5. Greetings from Siletz ! I think the simple answer is GREED.

[Fire Walk With Me]

6. We are not very good at taking responsibility, and that the crimes are in the past

make it even more difficult for people to say "this is my responsibility, this must change simply because it is not right and because I can do something, anything about it." The descendants of those who have wronged you continue to wrong you and yours and do not understand the weight that would lift off of all of us if we were to simply DO something right.

If I may, and I can think of little to do beyond the prayer I send out for the healing and empowerment of all native American nations, I suggest creating a list of requirements for your peoples, of lands and boundaries and expectations, which may solidified and be brought (again and again) to the attention of the politicians, and rallied around by those who share some concern. If this has not already been done, it is far past time. That such might again be ignored might gain some additional concern and empetus to the cause.

Many of us are based in the fear of change, of losing what we have and of not gaining what we want, and might consider little above that, in our lives and decision-making. Of course it is worse at the level of government..please accept what little apology I can present, for whatever value the words alone may carry.

May the Holy Creator bless and guide us all to the best possible solution for all involved.

[blindpig]

7. Absolutely, positively right.

Solidarity.

[Bobbieo]

8. Please don't give up!!! There are five ways Native Voices can be heard -

through Education, Entertainment, Media, Politics and Sports.
Get educated first and the rest will follow. Peace!

[Iktomiwicasa]

16. We have made...

...alot of progress in all these areas, but that isn't enough.

[readmoreoften]

17. +1

Solidarity.

[Iktomiwicasa]

9. Bump

[Celtic Raven]

10. K&R

[bobbolink]

11. You speak the Truth.

The Democratic Leadership isn't all that fond of the truth.

:(

[Name removed]

12. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[MissMarple]

13. I think there was one small change in the policing of the reservation lands.

The Native American officers and courts have more power. Leaving it to the feds wasn't working out well at all. Well, it's something. And how near are they to settling the oil and mineral mismanagement scandal? We owe the tribes gabillions. They need schools, jobs and infrastructure. In that regard, the rest of us are looking pretty tattered, but not like the Native Americans.

[Leopolds Ghost]

20. My father spent decades whistleblowing on MMS stealing money from the tribes

Guys like Obama (ironically) didn't give a shit until they did something that affected white people.

Clinton's Interior Department IGNORED A CONTEMPT OF COURT ORDER from federal courts in
reference to a $5 Billion claim against MMS. They said something like "sue us".

[MissMarple]

21. As a country, we are pathetic in our ignorance, our arrogance. I have no words except....

The the Interior is hamstrung by politics. In other words, money, power, and influence need to be curbed. Now, how does that happen? It is a tragic quandary. But I remain hopeful, but that is easy for me to say. Sadly, MM.

[RainDog]

14. they won't listen

because they will never be willing to indict the policies of past American presidents that led to the situation that exists today.

myth is more important than reality to too many here.

If only the guys writing the constitution had not only taken the blueprint for governing from the Six Nations Confederacy, but also the concept of the general welfare. Some people speculate the Iroquois were never given credit for their contribution to the creation of the founding principles of this nation because it would have meant acknowledging that women were also part of governing bodies. That would have riled the slaveholders, too.

some days I wonder if the compromises that were necessary then, that continue to be necessary now, to hold this union together are worth it, considering the bad government we get in return.

that includes the way the first nations are treated.

[mmonk]

15. It really hasn't changed much for us either but we tried and we will keep

trying. I would like to say we could force our politicians to honor what you wish or listen to what you say. But it seems a lot of times, they do not honor or listen to our requests either. My apologies.

[Rex]

19. Nice to see hope alive in a native man.

But we all know this sad little tale, it will never change because there is no need to change. For them.

[Iktomiwicasa]

22. One last bump for the midnight crew

[Blue_In_AK]

23. Iktomiwicasa, I wish we Alaskans had been able to elect Scott McAdams

for you. He is all for tribal rights and really understands the issue, at least from the perspective of Alaska Natives. His wife is from a tribe - I can't remember which one - from the Lower 48, and he has been adopted by a Tlingit clan.

Scott campaigned really hard, and was by far the more honorable candidate. I hope he tries again. Native issues are very real and need to be seriously addressed. I believe in Native sovereignty. It's only fair, and like you say, there are treaties.

[Tsiyu]

24. Oh, you don't like that wonderful hunting/farmland you were expected to

thrive on?

:sarcasm:



It boils down to a Lakota (or Lenape, or Tsalagi) not being a person, not really human, more like refuse. You are not heard. You do not count. You will never get a sincere apology or your property back from America, because no one wants to admit culpability - especially in this shallow, image-is-everything, smile-while-you-stab-em-in-the-back culture we have created. Short of a miracle or a prolonged, exhausting fight - (but what's another hundred years or so, right?) i don't see America budging to return what's yours.

It's disgusting but it's reality, and I do feel the doom this nation faces due to those who don't want to open their eyes.


Thanks for bringing this issue up here from your perspective.

[sohndrsmith]

25. Iktomiwicasa, I heard you and respond to you. I don't have an answer.

I am not recognized as a tribal member, but my dad and his family were. I could be, given how much I can prove my heritage and my family's acknowledgment by the tribe. I have land within the reservation but it's hard to be viewed as an outsider. It's trust land. I lived there as a kid, went to school and rode horses, and it was the only place I ever felt I belonged. : ) I have never had the guts to ask the tribe to accept me, though given the requirements I could qualify - except for living within the nation - I haven't. But I want to, and I want to share what I have.

My brother and I enjoy a large amount of land within the reservation - along/near the beach of the Columbia - it's beautiful, but there is nothing there. I fear that permits beyond grazing will rape this land - for trees and minerals - I just hope to preserve it - as small as it is (100 acres). You know how general such a description is... I still think the land has potential that could be useful and positive for the community - somehow.

What you say - as accepted as it has been in this forum - is foreign... because I think those things you describe (that under every other circumstance would be considered reasonable) as legitimate - no one really responds, much less finds the issue important. Were you Latino, you'd have a voice... were you Muslim, you'd have a voice. That you are preeminent in the land and her voice here - is invisible. That stinks, man.

I am a full supporter of Obama - to those who claim disappointment in him, I ask - who would be better? The man is FULL of honor and integrity - and I believe in him.

This nation and that nation are affected by all of it. I wish you had more hope.

I don't know how to be there for you as a friend, or challenge you as a realist. I'm not sure that either are useful or legitimate.

I can only say I'm heartened that true native men/women are challenging. thank you.

[Iktomiwicasa]

26. Obama won't...

...take a hard look at Native issues nor do what is needed to rectify some things that he has the power to do because it is neither expedient or or politically profitable to him. Same old shit we've dealt with for the last 200 years and longer.

[Fire Walk With Me]

27. Kick.

[Iktomiwicasa]

28. bump

[Iktomiwicasa]

32. Kick

[BeFree]

29. A crime of humanity

What our forefathers did is an irredeemable crime.

Understand, however, that we treat our poorest the same today.
And that's how it is. It ain't right, but, that's how it is.

What all of us have to remember is:
We are all humans, and we are all in this together. We need not fight each other, we need to band together and fight the few criminals.

[Iktomiwicasa]

31. I missed...

...the "deleted sub-thread". I'm betting someone spoke about what the dominant culture really thinks.

[Zephie]

35. In fairness, it could have also been a racist freeper troll

who knows? :shrug:

[Broken_Hero]

34. In my view,

most Indians should vote D, as the Dem's usually aren't to concerned with cutting funding to BIA/Indian initiatives. As far as the RW is concerned those fuckers would cut us off in a heartbeat, if given the chance. As the first post in this thread states, we as American Indians aren't big enough of a voting bloc to change things on a federal level, and at best influence the outcome of state level politics in a handful of states. We are less than 1% of the American population, that is why things will not change, with either Dem/RW, at least the Dems are willing to keep/maintain funding.

Hell, I've seen numerous stats on how many GLBT's we have in our population, and I've seen numbers that range from 7-15%, and a voting bloc of that size gets pissed on, on a daily basis. As for forcing our politicians to keep AI a top of their plate, good luck...I got Roy fuckhead Blunt, who cares more about chickens, than clean drinking water.

I think the main reason why politicians don't make AI issues a point is because they literally, could give a fuck less.