The Role of Indian Youth in Tribal Leadership

With the systematic destruction of American Indian tribal cultures, the economic , social, and cultural situations on the nation’s various Indian reservations has reached a crisis. Beset by unemployment, alcohol and drug addiction, domestic violence, educational failures, and the sense of hopelessness that accompanies these situations, the nation’s Native American population has become despondent and unengaged in their own tribal affairs. How can a new generation of leaders develop, one’s that may be able to reverse the plight of their reservations?

The best way to develop a new generation of American Indian leaders and thus begin the process of overcoming many current reservation problems is to engage the youth in specific tribal cultural traditions. For example, establishing regular sweat lodge ceremonies, teaching the tribal language, engaging in tribal dances are all viable avenues for not only the retention, or in some case regeneration, of cultural traditions, but also for the development of tribal leaders. Programs such as the AFSC Wabanaki Youth Program can go a long way to ending the cycles of poverty and degradation that plague the various Indian reservations across the United States.

The AFSC Wabanaki program has engaged tribal youth members from the four groups that make up the Wabanaki Confederacy (Mi’kmaq, Maliseet, Penobscot, and Passamaquoddy). Throughout their history, these tribes, like others in the Northeast United States, have faced the systematic destruction of their cultures. Left with little choice, after centuries of interaction with Anglo-Americans, many of these tribal members have abandoned their traditional ways and have immersed themselves in the ways of the colonial powers. While some tribes have been exterminated in their entirety, others have maintained a tribal presence albeit in some degraded form. Thus, cultural authenticity on the nation’s various reservations is at a premium and those who retain even an ounce of tradition often find themselves in positions of authority on the reservations.

However, because of the rampant poverty on many reservations, those who remain are often not the “best and brightest.” Those making decisions for the tribe may be alcoholics, drug addicts, or abusers. How do those outside the traditional notions of power, i.e. native youth become involved in tribal government and administration without overstepping their position in a traditional tribal society? In short, they do not. Through the work of organizations such as the Wabanaki Youth Program, native youth engage with their culture and their traditions. In many cases, on the nation’s various reservations, it is the youth who have taken a determined stance against many of the major tribal issues (alcohol, drugs, etc). These leaders of tomorrow must be trained not only in their traditional cultures’ mores, but they must also understand the relationship between their tribe and the United States federal government. Thus, when Native youth are engaged in their tribal life, they may be able to right past wrongs and stop the loss of culture and traditional values that plagues many of the nation’s Indian reservations.

With Native youth engaged in their culture and the problems of current tribal administration under broader examination, Indian reservation will no longer be the home of corrupt politicians and those out to make a name for themselves by using their position on tribal council as leverage. Since many tribal communities now own and operate gaming operations, the questions of tribal sovereignty and involvement have never been larger. If native leaders are going to manage a twenty-first century reservation, then they must be as familiar with their specific tribal pasts as they are with the new theories and models of management, policy, and administration. The largest problem plaguing reservation communities today is the lack of cultural understanding. From elders claiming “devil worship” to others refusing to “attend church in a field” a traditions of this nation’s vibrant American Indian cultures continue to erode. Only by engaging the youth, by teaching the young the special place of their tribe in the universe, can these problems be overcome.

Opponents would argue that this recommendation is racist and designed to keep American Indians trapped in some vague past. Critics would say that American Indians, as much as the rest of the nation, live in the twenty-first century and as such must remain modern. This argument, is much like the one made in the 1940s by those who favored the disastrous policies of Termination and Relocation. These critics fail to see the connection to the tribal past in the current situation on Indian reservations. A people without a culture are a people lost in a void. Retaining and instilling a sense of tradition in Indian youth creates a link to a real past, not a fantasy one of Hollywood movies. Further, by instilling aspects of the traditional cultures, these new leaders will be able to combat the problems faced on the reservation in a manner that is both educated by research outside the reservation, but brought to the people in a culturally appropriate and competent manner.

Many programs specific to American Indians must be carried out in a culturally sensitive manner. From suicide prevention to domestic violence treatment, an understanding of the specific cultural history of a tribal people has plagued scholars and confounded practitioners. There is not one single answer to the problems faced on the nation’s many Indian reservations. There are over 560 federally recognized tribes, and many more state and locally recognized tribes. Each of these tribal groups demands its own specific, culturally appropriate, and reasoned action. However, when the youth of the tribe are involved and shown that they indeed have a stake in the future of the tribal, the tribal group as a whole benefits. Thus, programs like the Wabanaki Youth Program should be developed one each reservation. There should be little or no input from outside of the specific culture group, and tribal elders should be encouraged to take part. By instilling a sense of community, alongside a sense of self-determination, Indian youth will see the benefits of participating in their tribal culture as well as seeking remedies to the social, economic, and cultural issues facing their reservation communities.

US Justice Dept want Geronimo lawsuit dismissed

From the Associated Press

NEW HAVEN, Connecticut - The U.S. Justice Department asked a federal judge to dismiss a lawsuit brought by descendants of Apache leader Geronimo, whose remains were purported to be stolen long ago by members of a secret society at Yale University.

The government filed the motion June 10 to oppose a lawsuit filed in February by 20 of Geronimo's descendants, who want to rebury the warrior near his birthplace in southern New Mexico's Gila Wilderness.

Geronimo died in 1909. The lawsuit alleges that Skull and Bones members took some of the remains in 1918 from a burial plot in Fort Sill, Oklahoma, to keep in its New Haven, Connecticut, clubhouse.

Both Presidents Bush, Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry and many others in powerful government and industry positions are members of the society, which is not affiliated with the university.

Lumbee Recognition: One Step Closer

So you want to be a federally recognized Indian tribe? There are just seven steps that you will need to complete. They are: 1) Be continually recognized as Indians by outsiders since 1900; 2) Be a distinct community since historical times (i.e. have a clear and distinct historical record); 3) Be a political entity since historical times (i.e. be a sovereign nation for a length of time); 4) Provide a paper trail in government documents; 5) be descended from a historical Indian tribe; 6) No member of your group can be a member of another Federally recognized tribe; and 7) You can't be subject to any legislation forbidding the Federal relationship. Since 1978, 81 tribes have applied for Federal recognition. Of those 81, only 16 have gained recognition, 24 were denied recognition, and the remainder fine themselves stuck in various parts of the process. That is, of course, unless you are the Lumbee Indians of North Carolina.

The Lumbee have been through the Bureau of Indian Affairs process 11 times. That's right not once or twice, but 11 times the Lumbee have met the criteria outlined by the BIA for Federal recognition. In the past, since the Lumbee suffered under the policies of Termination, the Secretary of the Interior has stated that Congress must finish what Congress has started and denied the Lumbee's application. That was the stumbling block for the Lumbee until today.

When running for president, Senator Barack Obama openly supported recognition for the Lumbee. Today, Congress took up the issue in H.R. 31 (click on post title to read the full bill) sponsored by Democratic Congressman McIntyre from North Carolina. The bill would provide discretionary money to the Lumbee and the nation agreed to not seek a gaming operation at any time. This isn't about a reservation. It's not about a casino. This is about historical atrocities and the ability of a people to survive hundreds of years of violence and neglect. Rising to oppose the bill was Rep. Hastings a Republican from Washington who stated that recognition of the Lumbee would cost the tax payers too much money. The Lumbee with 54,000 members would become the third largest tribe in the United States. Hastings and the Republicans were defeated in their efforts to stop the recognition, but then in a procedural move, Hastings offered an amendment. Hastings' amendment would force the Secretary of the Interior to "verify" the rolls of the Lumbee nation to ensure that all members were indeed descended from historical Indian tribes. Hastings' amendment was a direct result on Indian sovereignty. All Indians tribes have the right to determine their membership, the Secretary of the Interior verifies NO tribal rolls. The amendment went up for a vote and in a near party-line vote, the amendment was defeated 224 to 197.

Voting then was called on the passage of H.R. 31. In a 240 to 179 vote, H.R. 31 passed and the House of Representatives agrees to give Federal recognition to the Lumbee nation. The Lumbee people are now one step closer to obtaining the recognition they deserve and can finally see the end of a 100 year plea! Let's watch this one closely as it goes to the Senate.

Also today, H.R. 1385 providing Federal recognition to 6 tribes of Virginia Indians was approved. The bill did not see the fight that H.R. 31 did. The Senate will now take up both bills. Watch closely folks there could be some "new" tribes joining the mix!

Is this the 19th Century

I have been gone for too long, but this story has brought me back to the blogosphere! From Canada, a seven year old boy's haircut against his will has outraged not only his family, but also native people across Canada and in the U.S.

At his school in Thunder Bay, a seven year old student active on the pow wow circut was subjected to the same dehumanizing treatment our ancestors were subjected to at the off-reservation boarding schools. A teacher's aide who thought the boy was having trouble seeing through his bangs, grabbed the child's braids (which reached his chin) and cut them off!

The family has hired a Tornto-based human-rights lawyers and has filed a formal complaint with the police. The police investigated the incident and decided not to file charges. The law clearly states that cutting someone's hair without thier consent constitutes assault. There is NO REASON why charges have not been filed in this case!

Just one year since PM Stephen Harper apologized to Indian people for boarding schools and the attitudes that created them, we are here again. This is a fine blast from the past, right out of the 1800s! And, of course, no charges will be filed. Police in Thunder Bay say it was the Crown's decision not to file assault charges. The Ministry of the Attorney General claims it was the police who refused to file charges. Seems that no one wants to be accountable for this wrongheaded decision. The principal of the school called the family to apologize and the teacher's aide was suspended. The school refers to the haircut as an "unfortunate incident."

Unfortunate indeed! Perhaps a lerger investigation into the treatment of First Nation's people in Canadian schools is called for. Perhaps some justice for this child and his family would come from the aide being fired. Do we need laws passed that say "We can't cut children's hair without their consent because of possible religious issues." No, this is a simple case of assault and disrespect--I'm not sure which is worse?! Someone must be accountable for this blatant disregard for native rights!

Kalispel Hospital Paid for with Casino Funds

What does an Indian tribe do with $18 million of casino profit? Well, if you're one of the 390 members of the Kalispel nation you build a hospital. The Camas Center for Community Wellness is a sprawling 7700 square foot establishing on a tiny reservation along the Pend Oreille River in Northwest Washington. The Center was paid for with profits from the tribes Northern Quest Casino just outside of Spokane. With the Senate currently debating an Indian Health Bill, the time is right for Indian nations who can to demonstrate some of their self-determination. Don't wait for the feds to pass a new bill, if the casino profits are there, use them and rid yourself of the IHS. I understand that the federal government is responsible for medical care--the promise of many a broken treaty. However, in the current political climate Indian tribes are likely to be left on the outside of this new bill. Many conservative senators are opposing the entire bill based solely on a few partisan issues--abortion, for example.

Some tribes lack access to casino wealth. These tribes will be forced to live with the IHS or seek health care elsewhere--with 42 millions Americans lacking this possibility, what the chances? If the IHS is the last best hope in health care for many tribes then the Senate needs to fully fund the current bill. Those nations who can provide for themselves, likely should see this as an opportunity.

Indian Health Improvement Bill

President Bush has threatened to veto a bill that improve the medical care available to Indian people across the U.S. Doing so would be yet another miscarriage of justice. Five years ago, the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights looked into the government's treaty obligations and found that the federal government was spending 50% less per capita on Indian health care than on felons in prisons and those on Medicaid.

A bipartisan bill to reshape the Indian Health Service is now under consideration in the Senate. Included in this bill are provisions for urban Indians (long neglected by federal agencies but accounting for 2/3 of the Indian population). Most urban Indians live much too far from IHS service centers to take advantage of them or, in some case, have been ruled ineligible for services. During the Bush years, the President has sought to cut the already underfunded Urban Indian Health Program. The current bill would address problems ranging from alcohol abuse, suicide, depression, diabetes, and heart disease.

The President claims that he wants to improve Indian health care! However, he has stated that much of the present bill is "objectionable," and has noted that the increase in funding for the Urban Indian Health Program would undercut other federally funded initiatives (read Medicare/Medicaid). Administration officials also see the construction of new clinics as tantamount to ear marks because it would force the federal government to pay construction workers prevailing wages--something they have been loathe to do even on the Gulf Coast!!

Since the signing of the first treaty with Indians, the U.S. has taken on the moral, legal, and ethical responsibility of caring for Indian people. In the past the nation has disregarded this sacred duty--that must end now! Congress must stand up for the rights of Indian people and pass the bill without thought of Bush's veto. Passed with a 2/3 majority, the Presidential veto would be meaningless, Congress MUST strengthen the IHS and send a clear message that they are on the side of righting centuries of injustice.

Indian Education in Canada

Looks like the problems of Indian education aren't just the province of the US. Canada appears to have it's share as well this story came out of Toronto.

The First Nations School of Toronto suspended one-third of its elementary school this year when the entire third grade class failed to meet provincial standards in reading, writing, and math. The Toronto School Board has been meeting recently and discussing the establishment of similar schools for black children, Asian children, and other specific ethnic groups; the failures of the First Nations School come as a great shock. The First Nations School is composed of K-8 classes, but currently holds the distinction of being the worst school out of Toronto's 451 elementary schools. The suspension of 33% of the school was a measure taken by school officials to increase the scores of students of province-wide tests. However, last fall, the entire first grade class (77 students) scored at the lowest literacy levels. It appears that things won't be getting better for the school even with the suspensions. Perhaps it would be best to take a look at what is actually going on at the First Nations School rather than allowing the suspension of below average students to increase test scores!?