Letter to the Editor
Selling off Indian country
Published Tuesday, May 27, 2008
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To the editor:
Why are my Native people selling their allotments? Only for a pile of cash they’re going to blow in a month? Your allotments are the only things you have to offer your children and grandchildren. It’s the only thing you can pass on. Well more than 10 have been sold in my area, and I have heard of more than 42 in the Yukon Flats. Did you know that Native allotments have not been determined, by the U.S. or state courts, to be “Indian country”? These lands you’re selling off are our last hope for an argument to the state and federal governments that there is Indian country in Alaska. It’s our last true hope for Alaska Native sovereignty, and you’re selling it!
While a sport hunter sets up a lodge and takes all our wildlife and hogs all surrounding village lands, I hope you have fun at bingo, because your entire village will be paying for it!
Also, the reason the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service doesn’t give us problems for traveling over refuge lands is because we have Native allotments all over refuge land. When they’re all sold to the agency, they’re going to get stricter with us. They might not even allow us on refuge lands anymore.
I know you’re struggling. We all are. If you want money so badly, than get a job, go to school. That land doesn’t belong to you, it belongs to your grandchildren.
This makes me angry! I wish our elders were still alive! They’d be all over this. When the Dawes Act of 1889 passed, they divided up the lands owned by the Lower 48 American Indians into allotments. They lost an area the size of California from the selling and losing of allotments. Now this is happening to us.
If you don’t want to listen, and you’re still desperate for money, can you at least wait? The Yukon River Watershed Council, Venetie Tribal Governments, and Gwichaa Gwich’in Tribal are in the process of finding funds to buy them for the tribe. At least wait until we get funds to buy them.
Community Discussion
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If I buy one can I build a casino on it?
Taught school in bush, sorry to say it but I saw it coming. The younger native generation doesn't see the importance of keeping the heritage. It does make me sad.
Very unfortunate. I see a lot of these younger generation hanging around downtown wearing their 'native pride' hoodies while knocking back a bottle of listerine with a few friends. They have no sense of identity or pride for where their heritage comes from. But how would having elders of the past here make any difference on the younger generation, if they tend to not even respect anyone around them today?
Matt,
Shrug off the callous comments, you're just trying to do the right thing.Some of these people will just never get it and will always be ready to pounce on a perceived unfairness to themselves.
It's all about Manifest Destiny to them.
Even some of us not liberal at all old timers see through the crap.
This is sad, it's not good for anybody to have these properties commercialized. The Californication moves on...
There are many young Natives who are thoughtful, respectful, and hoping to make a positive difference in their community. Don't let the misdeeds or behavior of a few influence your perspective. Over the years I have encountered drunks, drug addicts, vandals, and the righteously indignant. They didn't all belong to one race, except the human one.
It's time to leave the past behind and join the rest of the world.
Unfortunately, you can not hold onto the past or your heritage and you are not all living subsistence lives.....with snowmachines, xboxs, internet, Fred Myers,mail order....it seems to me you want the best of both worlds. You will never survive as a race if you stay out in the bush. Your children deserve better than that! Open a museum but teach these kids and grandkids how to be productive citizens in the community, first get an education, then teach them how to be politically minded, how to stay sober and to break the chains of domestic violence, teach them the past but let them BE the future....you owe it too these kids to educate them and teach them about the world so they can leave it a better place than you found it.
Yes, some land can be sold.
But, heritage is forever-Heritage can only be lost when all the Native songs are forgotten, the art is not practiced, the language is extinct, and all the fish and animals are gone.
Have some hope people, good lord.
Therefore, We Alaskans still have our Native languages (phonetically documented forever), Alaskan Native cultural art is rich and strong (See AFN, FNA, Celebration, local shops, etc.), Animals and fish still persist and hunting is still practiced all the time (heritage). We Alaskans can still live off the land if chosen to do so, it is possible. Widen your narrow visions and perceptions of what you think is "coming" or is "sad", especially when judging all of Alaska's communities when only seeing one or two villages or a couple of kids downtown.
A people are only defeated when they adopt such depressing beliefs, get some faith.
Hold on to your land & culture. There are things more important than money & short-term financial gain.
Matt, keep it up! Don't stop with just one letter.
I feel sad that the native people are selling their land....I had no idea it was happening. Hopefully the Yukon River Watershed Council, etc can find the funds before other allotments are sold.
authenticalaskan-I always wanted to learn how to hunt, fish and learn my native language but the elders I know are busy or don't have the tools to teach. Now I live in Fairbanks because there are no job opportunities in the village and the cost of living is overwhelming.
claydoh-too bad you see only the young native alcoholics wearing their hoodies and chugging from their Listerine bottles. I look around and see my native generation in their work uniforms starting careers.
What does bingo have to do with it?
I recently inherited land from my father who passed away in Oklahoma. I get statements of .25 cents to .13 cents to my account. The reason this is, is because there are so many of us sharing this land, no one can profit from it, but you know what? I am so happy my dad just thought about my siblings and I when he left. To me, it is just an honor to have my name attached to this property, even though I will never profit from it. The land is the last vestige that ties natives to their heritage, like language or songs. Money comes and goes, but land inheritance is a privilege not every person in this country has. Money either destroys natives, or it only helps them when they INVEST it into something lasting, otherwise, you are weakening your peoples power and land base. Don't complain when you have nothing to give your children's children.
Im not native and it makes me sad and mad. I hope to pass something to my babies. I dont have land. maybe the house oneday?
Oh for pete sake Mr. Gilbert; Welcome to the human race! It isn't about being native for crying out loud it's about being Human. They take the path of least resistance. Its nothing new!
If you want to see sad. Go to Southern California where I am from. Land in LAX or Ontario International airport. There are signs everywhere saying "Why drive to Vegas when you can stay local".The signs are referring to the Casino's everywhere on "Indian" land. Building Casino's is no way to "preserve" the Indian Alaskan heritage.
I don't think just moving on with technology is the answer. We need to keep some of our past pure. EVEN if your not native American.
I agree "mit", it is about just being human. At a time when race is not defined by skin color or culture, its about economics, we are all on the same sinking ship with gas, food, and basic needs that cost too much. Is it because we are excessively wealthy compared to the natives of Latin America or African peoples, no, its because we struggle to make ends meet while supporting a system of government that bleeds us and keeps us from getting ahead, or just barely breaking even. Most indigenous cultures around the world do not pay taxes to our extent, nor serve their governments wars devoutly as the American Indian. That is not the problem.
The problem is that we as "taxpayers" are fed the lie that this is the best nation in the world when it is not! It is the best nation only when we suffer together and support each other during times of crisis, and it should be more than that! It is not the best nation when promised a prosperity while indebting our grandchildren under false patriotism and the illusion of freedom. Is this what our soldiers die for? Natives do not take the path of least resistance, as a matter of fact, natives defined the true meaning of freedom written into the Constitution by the fumbling fathers. Natives survived atrocities as has every other race, except, we are not allowed to prosper or own anything after proving loyalty and sacrifice, can the same be said for the rest of America's "right to the prosperity and individual freedoms?" I can only disagree on the point of "least resistance" since it seems non-Indians have flourished and experienced the "right to prosper" and not have their doors kicked in or cars searched, but I think soon, if not already, the rest of this nation will understand what the native goes through. I just wonder if they will still serve patriotically and believe there is still hope after all seems lost. Everyone turns into communist when Indians make money. Take that to church with your human race! No amount of money can remove thousands of years of respect to the land and I predict that natives will keep America economically afloat being the first and last community contributers after all the non-Indians move their jobs and money overseas. The problem is that Nnon-Indians would rather see Arabs, Asians, etc., own this nation over themselves and the aboriginal peoples.
If you want to see sad. Go to Southern California where I am from. Land in LAX or Ontario International airport. There are signs everywhere saying "Why drive to Vegas when you can stay local".The signs are referring to the Casino's everywhere on "Indian" land. Building Casino's is no way to "preserve" the Indian Alaskan heritage.
I don't think just moving on with technology is the answer. We need to keep some of our past pure. EVEN if your not native American.
I told you; everyone turns into communist when natives make money! Gaming is a very SMALL entity covering a fraction of the hundreds of native nations across America and the billions made compares to the 8 billion GIVEN and UNACCOUNTED FOR to the Iraqis purse? You won't complain about that though, you want to "Kill the casino and save the Indian"? Baloney! Capitalism is as American as Donald Trump or OJ Simpson. Lets be real here. You cannot expect purity when American children are obese from McBurgers and Coca-Cola; you cannot expect purity when corporations dump toxic waste on reservations; you cannot expect purity when TV, music, and movies compete on who can be the most grossest, sexual, and violent imagery; you cannot expect purity when you cross your fingers and hope your elections are truly democratic and find out later it was rigged and we get a manipulated election. How can you ask for purity in the past when you cannot stop the impurities of the now? I am not pro-gaming. If the tribes use gaming for a "jump start", something everyone else is allowed to do, I could see it being a good thing. I would rather see tribes/nations help build their communities with fire stations, police stations, roads and bridges, schools, hospitals., etc,. To me, that is where our people invest in America, not continuing the good old boy system of greed and excessive privilege. Remember, there was mafia, corruption, and immoral behaviors long before Indians had enough money to count in LA, Vegas, or Atlantic City, and you know what? You never complained then, and your not complaining now!
WHO CARES They didn't buy the land. They didn't get a job to finance it. They didn't scrimp and save to get it. THEY DIDN"T EARN IT. It was given to them by our government(along with all the other social programs they enjoy that allow them not to ever work). Go ahead and sell the lands. Put it in the hands of someone who can appreciate it beauty and value/
JayT, Do some treaty research.
The land was not given by the government. It was belatedly recognized as belonging to the inhabitants. That means the people living there. Sort of like the French live in Paris and have for quite a while and most figure Paris is owned by the French. Unless you repossessed it on your last visit.
The lands were not given to them by the government, they were inherited from their ancestors.
Native corps are more interested in making money than preserving culture. Don't complain to me about land issues when the corperations are manipulating land ownership in order to restrict access for the rest of us. Healy for snowmobiling and Chitna for fish are but two examples. I have been here for 40 years and I see no reason why you should get free land and me not.
Keep it up JayT, a pure capitalist? Just because natives don't have Wal-Mart or McDonalds as a culture doesn't mean they live in a never-never land. There were laws and covenents created between man and the land as natural orders thousands of years ago (how hard it is for one to change with those years, its scary for you I know, kinda like having a President that is not white and male?) We want to be sure women, blacks, and especially Indians (darn Indians just don't appreciate whites letting them live!) are held to high morals while that white guy, running things for 200 plus years, doesn't screw things up? The last two Presidents were either getting blown or blowing things up! Its a natural order of things being white and being native, we BOTH now scrimp and save to get gas money to go pick up our sons and daughter at the bus stop coming in from Iraq. Our relationship with the land is kinda the way the Jews have the Torah and Christians have Jerry Falwell in America, or George Bush for that matter. Its a natural occurance no matter how you try to stop it or it confuses your little mind. When Bush was asked during a conference of native journalist about "what is sovereignty with regards to native Americans?" He said the same thing you did. "YOU ARE GIVEN SOVEREIGNTY," Hmmm, coincidence? Americans cannot fathom the idea of owning something without it being bought or sold, thats capitalism. Information, news, religion, sex, drugs, rock and roll and Britney Spears all have a price. How about your soul JayT, does it have a price too?
And you are completely wrong about natives not paying for it. If we didn't pay out of pocket, we paid in blood. Do you know how many Indians were killed legally and illegally for their lands? Ever heard of the Osage in Oklahoma that were killed off by white oil barons? Did you know the young white college kids today reap that prosperity? So much for it being the PAST and I HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH IT! Do you really believe the US government doesn't charge us? Did you know the old school thinking that Indians don't pay taxes is completely the opposite? Natives pay grocery, property, local, county, state, federal, and tribal taxes. We are the most taxed people on the planet, so do your homework before you spew emotional rhetoric!
if you are interested in "same day cash" contact me. i will buy any land you may have. why drink listerine when you can enjoy crown royal? will pay you with cash! sell sell sell!
RE: if you are interested in "same day cash" contact me. i will buy any land you may have. why drink listerine when you can enjoy crown royal? will pay you with cash! sell sell sell!
Natives never got same day cash, how does rotten meat and polio infected blankets sound to you "flemm"? Or maybe we should go with the Chinese, Russians or the UK, we might as well since you continually burn them and us too? Never forget, we can bring them into the equation with your contant genocide! Your people are way behind in rent, so don't tempt your landlords! The Chinese sound real and we'll still have Wal-Mart?
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Joprenov - good to hear that there are those who are not settling for the least, and are making the most of their time and helping their community. What I was implying was that those I see wasting their lives away on drugs and alcohol are more than likely the ones giving away their allotment?
NoLand,
You may want to check your facts. Polio is spread by contact with infected stool, not blankets. The story you are referring to is the urban myth that Europeans spread smallpox among natives with infected blankets. There is one documented case where this was at least discussed by Jeffery Amherst during Pontiac's rebellion (to break the seige of Ft. Pitt) but no documentation it was carried out. More likey it was carried out independently by a subordinate during a parley with the Delewares.
Before you negotiate with the Chineese, you might want to ask the Tibetan people how that worked out for them...The Russians and Chineese have records of contact with minority populations that make the Europeans look like humanitarians...
I once heard a young native women speak up about land sales. She is very young and is a educated teacher at an early age. Her message came across Loud and Clear; "please don't sell the land, it doesn't belong to you. I has been passed down for generations, why do we say MY LAND! It needs to be passed on to your great-great grandchildren who may not have anything left to give their children. I thought those words were pretty powerful coming from our younger generation! Lets not judge one another and learn to respect each other. I have nothing bad to say about anyone except we are only Human, it's in our nature. Have a good Day!
if you don't want to sell it DO SOMETHING WITH IT THEN instead of just bitching ....
And (they) say: History doesn't repeat itself, Indian Removal Act 1828, Dawes Act 1887, Curtis Act 1898, the Indian Reorganization Act 1934, Alaska Native Land Claims Settlement Act of 1971. Turn these tribal members into individual land owners. Make them gentlemen farmers and ranchers (corporation members) and do away with tribal ties. By the time of the Alaska Native Land Claims Settlement, assimilation was a fine science. In 1887, the tribes had owned about 138 million acres; by 1900 the total acreage in Indian hands had fallen to 78 million. (Answer.com) Please don't tell this old country boy from Oklahoma that it wasn't or isn't about the land.
I believe you are misled by the articles you read! Does it say anything in the books about the right to choose the way you live and what went on during the assimilation of tribes? None that I read! Indians were forced to live a lie and were given a fraction of land to live on way out in very remote spots. As a Native American, I would rather be surviving off the land than take the almighty dollar which would be gone within a few years. Money obviously is behind your choice, I choose to continue enjoying my native culture handed down over the generations by our ancestors which I will teach to my grandchildren. I feel sorry for those that are quick to judge someone elses beliefs. I am telling you that the land is more important than a few thousand dollars. Your'e land will be there forever for your great-great-great grandchildren to enjoy as I did when I was young.
Osage? Osage??!!
And all the rich-oil producing land they own? Don't even go there. I was (unfotunately) married to one of 'em, bear and raise the kids alone, am owed about $160,000 in child support...
And I have personally witnessed the oil money they get from certain "head-rights," whilst suckin' down the Crown Royal of a mornin', hittin' up the bathtub crank with the best of dirty needles picked from a gallon baggie of dirty needles, losing beautiful farmland filled with pecan trees and so much more to this lifestyle...and they diss those who work...
I have personally witnessed and been told the stories--from the roundhouse, "49's," and elsewhere, of their buying new Caddies in the 70's and trucks in the 80's, only to trash them and laugh and go get another...
Then, the sheriff of these towns tell 'em, "You're a fine American 'cuz you buy American." I was there.
Why? Because the Osage have so much money and blow it on idiocy so fast...In NE OK., they own the cops, the courts, and the rest of it. And they laugh about it.
I have personally witnessed this. I am ashamed to have ever been associated with them. At least I didn't partake in their stupid crap. Plus, they were the worst litterers I've ever seen.
Answer.com??!!! Are you kidding? Read Don Mitchell's "Take My Land, Take My Life." It's all about ANCSA from way before it was a gleam in anyone's eye, and he was the chief council for AFN. The Alaska indigenous people got a good deal, and wanted it. What they do with it is their thing, but they sure have an awful lot of political power...and know how to use it.
OneVoice, you took the words right out of my mouth...I feel for anyone having issues, but sometimes... People bring this upon themselves, not always, but sometimes..
I hope you all can work this out and keep your heritage intact, but have the foresight to move up in an everchanging world.
So you been there for 40 years. My people have been there forever.
And for those of you who sold your land. STUPID!!! What else do you have to offer your children. I hope you put the money to good use, such as your childs education, warm winter clothes, a boat to go out hunting in the fall so that you can provide food for your family. Something, anything, to better the lives of you and yours.
Ok, now I am going to put on my "Native Pride" t-shirt and sit on my front porch with a nice tall glass of sweet tea....it's in the 80's today.
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