Reparations and Trust Lands

Another source of income for Native American tribes is reparations for past wrongs. Past wrongs include land taken away by treaties, allotments, and squatters, wars and deaths, diseases, and the destruction of sacred and/or ancestral ground. If the federal governments pays Native American tribes will that be enough or are we morally responsible for more? Should we keep paying them until they are completely free of poverty, or should we only pay them a set amount? If so, what amount? Who determines the amount? Is it different for every tribe? Furthermore, what circumstances, if any, determine the amount? Reparations given in cash to Native American tribes are used to buy back land given away in allotments. More land equals more resources which equals more sources of income. The government is trying to promote their welfare through reparations or "handouts". The government believes that with this money the tribes can buy more and start businesses in order to further their growth and economic income. However, it is morally degrading to have to accept something from the people who defeated you in order to survive. I believe that while reparations are degrading in the sense that the government is saying "this is for all the misery we have caused you and promises we have broken", the money is still needed to help break the current cycle of poverty that Native American tribes not involved in gaming, and some that are, are experiencing.

Reservation lands are held in trust, so they cannot be taxed by the state or the tribe for public services. Held in trust means that the federal government keeps the land for the certain Native American tribe living on it, and controls what it is used for and who it is given to. This came into being because the government did not believe that Native Americans could adequately care for the land. This is good because it means the states don’t hold power over the tribes, and the tribes have one less thing to pay, since they don't have much money as it is. However, it is a bad thing because those funds would be a source of income for the tribal government that could be used to help pay for enrichment programs. Though reservation land is held in trust, it can be leased to companies; but, there are legal concerns over who would own the structures, who the profits would go to, and how much would go where.