How can Native Americans talk about poverty?

Question

The Seminole Nation of Florida bought the Hard Rock Cafe business for $965 million. Meanwhile Native Americans are the most impoverished people in the U.S. I have both White and Native American ancestry, so I can ask this without racist overtones -- How can Native Americans continue to raise the issue of poverty when they are not helping themselves with all this money they apparently have stashed away?

I am aware that not all tribes have casinos, etc. It just seems like they could help each other out. If your brother is starving and you have a billion dollars, how can you not help him out just a bit?

Answer 1

As usual, the money falls into the hands of a very few. Most are in poverty trying to make a living at the everyday jobs in a place where they don't get paid as much for it.

Answer 2

Some tribes have money, some don't. I hate to say it but assuming that all Native Americans are the same does have racist overtones, even though there aren't any malicious ones in your question. My grandfather was extremely proud of his Cherokee ancestry, and considered himself Cherokee before he considered himself as part of any larger category of 'Native Americans'.

Under the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982, the US Government gave reservations the status of sovereign governments within our borders. So think of the Seminoles and the Shoshone (a tribe bordering Yucca Mt. in Nevada) as Spain and Portugal. Even though they border each other, they're two separate nations and economies, and they aren't obliged to help each other out. Or, if they do, they'll help their own people first.

Answer 3

Only some of the nations have money. There are many Native American Nations and tribes. You should look at other tribes and you won't have any trouble finding the poverty. Make a run through the Cherokee and Creek Nations in Oklahoma. You will get a first hand view of what poverty really is.

I am of the people.

Answer 4

The country's 2.1 million Indians, about 400,000 of whom live on reservations, have the highest rates of poverty, unemployment and disease of any ethnic group in America.

That might surprise Americans who have consumed countless cheery feature stories about Indians making big
bucks on casino gambling. Some tribes have indeed gotten very rich.

But less than a quarter of America's 557 Indian tribes own casinos, and only 48 tribes earn more than $10 million a year on gaming.

Answer 5

First of all just because you are of Native American ancestry does not make you a non-racist. You wouldn't know why a Native American would talk about poverty until you've walked in their shoes, so you are no one to judge. What makes you think that you can judge a situation that you're not in personally?

Answer 6

there are also this kind of problems in China(I am a Chinese).Indeed there are some people who think they are the unluckiest guys in the world in order to slove this issue ,I believe ,we need helps from the government and also more important from the poor themsleves.the poor must change their mind by the education offered by the government .

Answer 7

They got their money from your spendthrift gambling ways. If they want to buy Hard Rock and have the cash to do it why not. They should be allowed into big money arena just like everyone else. (except black people) I don't see you ranting about sending your money to china every time you buy something from Wal-Mart. Quit trying to find something to complain about.