While I agree that the Native American society was all but destroyed when the first Europeans colonized the US, does that entitle their descendents to special treatment? If Native Americans live in non-segregated towns, work in non-segregated jobs, go to public schools, and basically live the same way as anyone else, should they be allowed, for example, to open casinos in areas where gambling is illegal? How long will things that happened centuries ago be used to gain special priviledges? What do you think?
2006-09-01 16:47:59 · 17 answers · asked by Crys H. 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Cultures & Groups ➔ Other - Cultures & Groups
I know that there are similar happenings within other groups...I'll address those in future questions.
2006-09-01 16:49:23 · update #1
My understanding is that Native American tribes are considered to be sovereign nations within our nation. That's why you will hear them referred to as the Cherokee Nation or the Lakota Nation. Our federal government actually still has treaties in effect with them, as with other sovereign countries in the world. They have their own tribal governments and tribal law enforcement agencies.
So the reason they are allowed to be governed by different laws in many respects is an acknowledgment by our government that we took their LAND away, but we did not take their INDEPENDENCE away. The federal assistance given to the tribes is equivalent to foreign aid we give disadvantaged people overseas.
2006-09-01 17:04:43 · answer #1 · answered by hquin_tset 3 · 0⤊ 3⤋
"does that entitle their descendents to special treatment?"
The US government signed treaties with many tribes in North America. Many of those treaties entailed provisiions for education, medical assistance, and food subsidies for those people who were displaced from their homelands onto reservations. These were treaties made in exchange for land and mineral rights. Oddly enough, all the benefits mentioned are the same benefits that any person in the US is entitled to.
"Native Americans live in non-segregated towns, work in non-segregated jobs, go to public schools, and basically live the same way as anyone else, should they be allowed, for example, to open casinos in areas where gambling is illegal?"
I've got news for you. It wasn't the Native Americans that chose to live in non-segregated towns. It was the US government that placed Native Americans on reservations for "their own protection". It's the Bureau of Indian Affairs', aka the US government, rules that prohibit non-Native Americans from owning property on reservations. The only reason why many jobs on reservations are predominantly Native American is because that is the majority demographic in those areas.
As someone mentioned, tribes were granted sovereignty to run things how they see fit. This policy began in the 1940's when the US government decided it didn't want to be responsible for Native Americans anymore. Although it's a limited sovereignty, the US government felt it should be up to each individual tribe to decide if they should allow casinoes on their reservations. Keep in mind, not all tribes allow casinos, mine being one of them.
"How long will things that happened centuries ago be used to gain special priviledges? What do you think?"
What special privileges? Please, send me an email so I know what I should be getting because I haven't seen a penny yet.
2006-09-02 01:15:58 · answer #2 · answered by Kookiemon 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The worst thing that ever happened to the American Indian is that they are being treated differently. They are the only ethnic group in America that has failed miserably, with hardly any contribution to American Society. People from around the world are risking their very lives just to be able to come here and partake in the American dream. American Indians should move on, forget the past, and try to make their marks in society - economically, politically, socially, etc. The blacks, Chinese, Ethiopians, Filipinos, Russians, and all the other immigrants are laughing at you, because you have been here longer and you have not done anything. The past is the past. Embrace America. It ain't so bad. Look at how many people are trying to come here for that.
2013-11-26 12:59:36 · answer #3 · answered by obbieman 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think you're begging the question there. You already know the answer you want to your question, based on your phraseology, and that makes any answer moot if it doesn't agree with you.
The casinos in question are usually on reservation lands, and if you think life on most reservations is "basically the same" as your average white bread American's, boy, have I got a news flash for you.
If a 'non-segregated town' exists, I'd sure love to know the name of it, and I'll move there tomorrow. Same thing with the 'non-segregated job.'
Check statistics on employment, education, alcohol and drug problems, poverty, and malnutrition among Native Americans, then come back and ask a question like this.
2006-09-01 23:59:04 · answer #4 · answered by Wolfeblayde 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I think that we entered into treaties with the Native Americans that provide a sovereign area for them to do with as they wish. I'm less interested in creating new treaties and new reservations for the express purpose of creating casinos and making the few very wealthy.
On the whole, I think once we've finished with Iraq, maybe we should consider finishing the Native American wars we started.
Or maybe we should just get used to the relatively few casinos that now exist and make sure - through diplomatic means, of course - that they're the last.
2006-09-02 00:00:20 · answer #5 · answered by Biff 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I think because of what was taken from them they should get as much special consideration as possible. Did you know that one of the highest suicide rates are among Indian young people? They are taken off the reservations to go to school. They get a taste of the world and then are sent back to the reservation. They feel hopeless and lost. More power to all of them. We as a country owe them!
2006-09-01 23:59:45 · answer #6 · answered by Sassy 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The land was thier land,they were here
first before the Europeans robbed,and
stole it from them. Maybe the Casinos
are thier way of giving back some of what
they stole from them in the first place.
2006-09-02 00:01:21 · answer #7 · answered by trebor2 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yes, it still belongs to them because they let others dictate them which is why they are not kings of this land. If I was them and had so many others you want to live here I would make them pay all the taxes or go home.
2006-09-02 02:11:21 · answer #8 · answered by justme 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I hope not! Look at what is happening in India today. even after50 years of reservations the backward castes are still under performing! Merit students are suffering badly.
2006-09-08 08:52:19 · answer #9 · answered by beatleslover 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, they are dark skin people, darker than us.The other dark skin people, that our fore Fathers imported in after they had destroyed the NATIVE AMERICAN'S,to do their chores, we will never be able to live them down.We will continue to pay for those two mistakes, for several decades to come, so get used to it.
2006-09-01 23:59:37 · answer #10 · answered by avery 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋