Native Americans and the federal government became so polarized because of their early interactions and current ideals. Native Americans were treated like animals, expected to die off, and not given the same opportunities as white children and adults. Many are still unemployed or under educated. Nuns, former military officers, and others tried to teach Native American children the white ways, but the children did not know English, so they could not understand what they were being taught. They were, the children and the adults, constantly told they were inferior "savages". As a result, there is a high percent of drug abuse on reservations. Native Americans tribes want to be their own nations, which they rightly are (our government made treaties with them and considered them separate nations in the early stages of Native American/white interactions), but, doing so in the middle of a United States of America would not only turn a majority of Americans against the government, but cause other world powers serious trouble in terms of international relations and trading.
To solve this disconnection I propose that the federal government give Native Americans as much freedom as possible, while still providing them government support. Some tribes still need government funds and support programs, as they have not established any gaming or other successful business operations. Tribal schools should keep teaching tribal history, tradition, culture, and religion, and Native Americans should be given the same opportunities as all other citizens of the United States. However, I do recognize that each tribe has a different government and social structure, and therefore must each tribe needs a different approach to handling relations. Native Americans should be given their freedom to the extent that no structural damage is done to society or our government. They should be granted all the rights whites enjoy, and should not be discriminated against for any reason.
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After more thought, I have come up with additional information for my Theory Post. Both Native Americans and the federal government have different goals, different objectives. Native Americans tribes want to be free, independent nations. The government no longer wants to "civilize" them, but still want them a part of "white society". Tribes do not believe in "white superiority", they want to teach their children how they have been teaching them for centuries. Native American children are taught the tribal language and traditions, ceremonial dances, religious practices, and respect of Mother Earth and all living creatures.Each Native American tribe is a separate entity, with different religions and philosophies, so the federal government has to take a different approach when dealing with each tribe. In order to solve the complexities of over hundreds of different procedures, one for each of the over 500 federally recognized tribes, I propose that the government defines a way to deal with each tribe, one that takes into account both viewpoints and is fair and just, and then follows it. Below is a site discussing the requirements of a federally recognized tribe.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.msaj.com/papers/fedrecnov.htm
One of the reasons many people immigrate to America is because of equality. While there are always the arguments that there is not equality in America there is still equality within the laws of America. With this proposition to treat every Native American tribe differently aspects of equality are going to consistently be coming up. One tribe will want what another tribe has and vice versa except that no two tribes will want the exact same things. This is a seemingly impossible task. Not to mention all other races, religion, etc. will be demanding new laws specifically for themselves. I don't believe that we should in any way treat Native Americans worse but I feel as though they shouldn't get special treatment.
ReplyDeleteYou make a good point about each race and religion demanding new laws that conform to how they govern themselves. Inevitably, there will always be one tribe wanting what another one wants; but, each tribe is different legal wise because of their unique culture, religion, and politics. Each tribe has a different way of doing things, and just like there are different policies for relations with Iran and Vietnam, while basically the same, their different governments and social structures must be taken into account when dealing with them. Each tribe wishes to be considered a foreign nation, one governed by a tribal government and tribal laws, enforced by tribal courts. Our ancestors, when they first came to America, made treaties with the Native American tribes like we do with other nations today. You're right they shouldn't be given special treatment, they should be given the same opportunities as everyone else. However, to be able to sustain that level of income, social structure, and power, they need to be allowed to deal with it based on their traditional ways, not our ways. We put them into poverty (http://www.spotlightonpoverty.org/ExclusiveCommentary.aspx?id=0fe5c04e-fdbf-4718-980c-0373ba823da7) so it is our responsibility to make up for the wrongs committed against them and help them get decent wages and jobs. There is equality in the laws but the laws are not always followed. New laws were created to implement the federal government's current mindset into their dealings with Native Americans. If they felt like taking away all their land, a law would be made so they could do that. If they felt like being nice and saving their land, a law would be made so they could do that. The Supreme Court was not always fair. Most of the cases it tried involving whites Native Americans, the outcome favored the whites. So long as it stays purely legal, in terms of a nation dealing with a foreign nation, I believe that it can be done. Many people will not approve and most likely vote against whatever law is proposed that would allow that. With over 562 federally recognized tribes, making a procedure for separate federal government-tribal government relations with each tribe relations is indeed a near impossibility. http://www.census.gov/pubinfo/www/FRN02.pdf A basis should be created for dealing with all Native American tribe, then additional procedures can be added based on the certain tribes government and social structure. While it is a good goal considering each tribe wants to be a foreign nation, you're right in the fact that it would be realistically impossible and people would start demanding new laws specifically for their race or religion.
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