The Black Vault

While $3 billion sounds like a relatively high amount of money, it is still not enough. The fact remains: owners and occupants of these and many other land trusts have been underpaid since the late 1800s. If we look at the details of this settlement, one discovers that $1.4 billion will be given to members in the form of $1000 checks; an insult considering the government's utter wanton mismanagement of trust funds. The other $2 billion or so would be used to purchase any lands that are deemed "unprofitable" that owners may wish to sell. Furthermore, the allocation of this settlement money is still dependent upon congressional approval (typical).

When we look at the ramifications of the Dawest Act and the profound effects it had on the fragmentization and exploitation of the Native American population, one will understand that this money (conditional money) is not enough to ameliorate the injustices from lands that were usurped by the US government, resold to non-Natives and corporate interests, including drilling and mining.

Hello Aquarian, good to see you around and thanks for adding some information to this discussion. Yeah I was just reading more details, $1,000 checks is definitely an insult, although, how long has this case been under work, and why should we expect now that the US government would settle anything remotely fair concerning Indigenous lands. Out of 750 treaties, how many of these were not broken, how many were mutual signed agreements, and how many were not deviously revised before the ink dryed? How many counts have there been of US government trying to abolish Tribal government entities/courts/rights/territories. With casino gaming being one of the main sources to fund tribal sovereignty, even that has been under attack in recent years and I will expect much more in the future. Its appealing to the US government to have state run casinos more now than ever.

"The House Commerce and
Labor Committee held a hearing
on several gaming expansion
bills at the end of February.
Advocates for a racino bill
argue that slot machines at
Canterbury Park in Shakopee and
Running Aces in Anoka County
would generate $125 million
annually. This revenue, which
would take two years to
generate, is proposed to be used
to help rural Minnesota, earlychildhood
programs, the
development of bioscience and
medical technology, the state’s
general fund, and recreational
facilities, such as a new Vikings
stadium.
Additional gaming expansion
legislation introduced included,
electronic pull tabs in bars, slot
machines at the Minneapolis-
Saint Paul International Airport,
and a racetrack outside the Twin
Cities.
Although gaming expansion
bills are introduced in the
Legislature almost every session
with no avail, these bills are
gaining support this year due to
the state’s multi-billion dollar
deficit."

If something gets passed, 3billion is a death note.

http://www.millelacsojibwe.org/NewspaperPDF/newsMarch2010.pdf
paper I get, and regular source of mine for ndn news.

Aquatank, I'd like to see that UN report thats for sure!
Was just reading online 'Washington Update on Indian Tribal
Housing Legislation and Policy Developments'
http://www.naihc.net/NAIHC/files/ccLibraryFiles/Filename/000000002539/NAIHC-2010-Legislative-Conference-Moorehead.pdf
South Dakota has some of the worst if not the worst living conditions
for American Indians. Other tribes as well could be donating more to
lift some of their burdens. I know Mystic Lake here in Minnesota donated more than
44,000,000 last year, 1million to the SD communities...which was atleast nice to see.
Considering Mystic Lake gives their band memebers some 1million each a yr in per cap,
they are another souix community that could be doing even more.
I'd just like to see more indian communities working together I guess.
To be divided more is not in our favor.

I'm not sure off the top of my head about this its just a thought, but I'm thinking the USA really needs to re-evaluate how it deals with the entire issue.
The First things that comes to mind (no particular order):
1 ) Expansion of territory, in addition to recognition of a nations territorial sovereignty and its borders. This means at the very least giving each nation's citizen (age 0 up from initial enforcement date up) 50 to 100 acres in addition to already held territory (atleast in my mind.)

2) Recognizing each nations rights to self governance (no more federal jurisdiction crap), and its own laws of citzenship and justice etc. They must be treated fairly as foreign nations.

3) Elimination of the BIA, to be replaced by proper embassies and Ambassadors

4) Proper recalculation of debts, including continental take over of lands, and mineral wealth and paid back at todays prices. Interest on all debts at 50% annual paid back. Payment for head of cattle (Bison & Buffalo) to be paid back at todays prices. And a large repartions package payment (maybe 500% of the afforementioned betioned debts) for the attempted genocide.

5) Recognition of Hawaii as a sovereign nation and no longer a state

6) and most important of all and hardest to get a NATIONAL APOLOGY for all wrongs committed since 1492. AS well as open accountability & recompensation to survivors of the "indian schooling".

7) New treaties recognizing the Native Nations and new treaties to be through proper procedures such as the UN UNSC with congressional ratifications et cetera.

Like we've been saying 3 billion is an insult.

More that I look at things, 3 billion is more than an insult, its complete BULL!

3) Elimination of the BIA, to be replaced by proper embassies and Ambassadors

I've been wishing for this for a long long time.
The BIA has superior authority over tribal entities, but seems to not be accountable for what it does to tribal entities, which has shaped a wreckless dictatorship. Congress hands over funds to BIA and they pretty much have full rein. There is no protection from BIA fraud, mismanaged funds, horsesh*t programs, no protection whatsoever. The BIA obviously cannot be taken to court. Look at what happened with this Colbert case, the BIA 'LOST' the old land records, or 'somehow' they were destroyed, and the BIA could not even estimate what type of monies could be owed.
Not only that sinse what 1979 there is an estimated atleast 5.8 BILLION DOLLARS OF MONEY THAT HAS NOT BEEN COLLECTED FROM COMPANIES THAT ARE PUMPING GAS AND OIL FROM INDIAN LANDS- THEY ARE DISORGANISED LAZY LYING THEIVES IF YOU ASK ME. I think I read that as well in an article you submitted.
I say get rid of em, they like too much congress handing funds over for their negligence, and in return, look out for not the interests of the Indian peoples, but for the US government.

p.s. That was one good list you had.
Kind of brings alot of things to the surface though for me if Im honest, very
hard to look at those things. Heavy.

I just get very tired of seeing these large scale injustices to people worldwide, it doesn't matter which government or group does it, such things need to be stopped and the systems needs repairing so they work for all the people. The situation between the post-colonial governments and the native nations is a local problem, and in a way its an old addage. Think Globally Act Locally. Whats really bad is its not just the aboriginal populations that get railroaded, the extreme poor destitute and homeless have some of the worst offenses carried out against them and hidden away in addition to anyone viewed as racially or culturally inferior. And it happens everywhere on this globe. And if they try as a group to raise themselves out of the muck they end up getting pushed, often times violently, back down into it with anyone supporting them labeled as communist socialist or liberal as if either ideological status were an insulting blacklist.

Maybe thats part of why I like looking at decentralized electricity, and hydroponics and other Alternative Futures so much. Over the years I've come to the realization that taking that approach forces a revolutionary change in society away from an capitalist industrial social order to a localized agrarian barter order with less need for long distance trade. (Each homestead or village produces nearly 95% of its needs with only trade in raw materials necessary and occassional fairs and festivals to promote genetic diversity and limited non raw material trade) The main problem ends up being desires for entertainment diversions ("wants" not "needs"). But while I see that such a way can be established I look over at Israel and Palestine and how the IDF smashes and destroys Palestinian agriculture, rain water collection , and means to self sufficiency and realize the similarity between that and certain states water rationing laws and other injustices. I keep hoping the Lakotah Republic can set an example of a system within the system that works without getting smashed, but I realize it has a long way to go and many detractors and possible enemies already.

Yeah its a bit of long list I wrote, but its nothing that should not have been done in the first place IMO. In my opinion the colonial outposts should only have been long term trade cities under lease like Hong Kong, with local nations deciding their own immigration and naturalization policies. But we both know what happened instead.

BTW Sandra Thats the first time I seen you vent a bit about the BIA, used to be you'd avoid that subject for political retaliation reasons. Proud of you, just be carefull.

Aquatank wrote:Maybe thats part of why I like looking at decentralized electricity, and hydroponics and other Alternative Futures so much.

Yes I've taken note of your interest in these directions, people like you are far and few, because its obvious you think of these things for the right reasons, and with hope that they will develop. If sh*t hit the fan, most people would not know how to pick up the peices and survive on limited natural resources, and if I find myself in that situation with others, I hope you're in the vicinity. In other words, I see alternative futures as something that will become inevitable. And some of us will just not be capable of the transition.

Aquatank wrote:BTW Sandra Thats the first time I seen you vent a bit about the BIA, used to be you'd avoid that subject for political retaliation reasons. Proud of you, just be carefull.

I'll be a little careful, yes good advice.
This thread has caused me to break a few dams if I'm humiliatingly honest.
I'm proud of myself too, and grateful for your contribution.