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Broken promises to Indian tribes continue

Written by Administrator

Tuesday, 16 February 2010

Broken promises to Indian tribes continue February 13 AMPhoenix Independent Examiner Chris Greenwood When the Europeans landed on the eastern seaboard over 500 years ago, they were greeted openly by the Native Americans.  The abuse of that gracious nature has endured since. With most of the midwest and the east coast hammered by winter storms, it should come as little surprise that the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation is being ignored.  The snow and ice killed power and water to the reservation, with a population of almost 50,000 people, almost two weeks ago. Meanwhile, the Indian Affairs Bureau carried on with business as usual. The local utility company was providing propane to as many people as they could, but conditions were so bad that a shoe drive was held at the University of South Dakota to try and provide even the most basic necessities for these people. That was before the Countdown with Keith Olbermann show got wind of the situation. Olbermann, a liberal pundit known for his rivalry with Fox hosts Bill O'Reilly and Glen Beck, ran a story about the neglect and the fund raising efforts on Tuesday, linking the donation sites to his website.  The hope was that somehow they could raise $35,000 by the end of the month to help get this situation fixed and stabilized.  On Wednesday, an amazed Olbermann announced that his viewers had donated approximately $185,000 in about 24 hours. This is nothing new for viewers of this program. In October, increasingly frustrated with the health care reform rhetoric, Olbermann, who lost his mother last year to cancer, and whose father is currently suffering from kidney issues, called on his viewers to do what they could to help those who needed medical care now, and to show the politicians the severe need for real reform.  He asked them to donate to the National Association of Free Clinics. His viewers responded, and kept responding. They have raised over one million dollars, and the donations have contributed to free clinics in Louisiana, Arkansas, Kansas, and Missouri.  It is estimated that 45 million Americans do not currently have health care coverage. So when Olbermann called for help for the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation, it shouldn't surprise anyone the results were incredible. What is also incredible is the continued practice of breaking our promises to the Native Americans.  Every time our young nation was ready to expand, we forced the tribes to relocate further and further west, often offering treaties that indicated these new lands would be theirs forever.  Or at least until the next time we wanted more land and saw them as being in the way. This particular tribe has an unemployment rate of over 80%.  Their infrastructure, as clearly evidenced, is a disaster.  This is a clear example of an area where Recovery Act money, or money for the newly proposed Jobs Bill could see lasting benefits.  Put those in the community to work, dramatically improve the infrastructure for the community, and raise the health and living standards of a community. If only they weren't Native Americans. http://www.examiner.com/x-32067-Phoenix-Independent-Examiner~y2010m2d13-Broken-promises-to-Indian-tribes-continue#

 

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