Native American tribes buy back thousands of acres of land

Thanks Electric Brave, I also prefer the simple life of my grandparents (where I lived as a child), no electricity, no indoor plumbing or running water. A simple farm with cows, pigs, chickens, dogs and cats. A garden for vegetables and hunting on the adjacent Noxubee Federal Refuge. As I near retirement, I think constantly of going back to that life. Unfortunately, I still have get my children through school and on their path to life.
I am also aware of the children taken captive by native Americans, refusing to return to their previous lives, thus proving that there was something of great value in their new life.
Best Wishes.

My knowledge of the Eastern Tribes history is not good, except for the Cherokees, but recently I have read quite a bit on the Western tribes. The basic issue was a clash of cultures; Hunter/Gathers vs. Farming.These two cultures cannot exist side by side without fighting and friction. Farming cultures evolved as means to allow for larger populations to be supported by smaller pieces of land, thus explaining the basically European mindset of private ownership of land. The hunter/gather way of life exerts a form of population control due to starvation and illness for this difficult way on life. Pastoral herders or Farmers cannot allow for wandering people to reap the benefits of the hard work of the farmers. This fact has set the stage for conflict far before the early days in America. The farming cultures almost always win, if the farmland will support them for long periods. If the soil is poor and plays out quickly, the farmers then become wanderers soon to be acquiring land from the nomads by force or guile. Thus the current situation.

The issue with the Western tribes is particularly galling for me as it an offshoot of the Union victory in our Civil War. After Lincoln's death, a coalition of crooked politicians, Indian agents, and smarmy businessmen, in partnership with desperate Union Army officers; Sheridan, Sherman, Crook, Custer and others essentially took over the U.S. Gov't. They had two goals; to gain money and military advancement. The war was purposedly manufactured, as have several other since then, by the military and politicians, to allow for breaking of treaties and destruction of the Indian way of life. The military and it's leaders have little value in a peaceful society and they were determined to make the Indians an enemy to justify this destruction , while advancing their careers. This is not ancient history. My Greatgrandmother was born in 1882 and would tell me about her memories as a small girl of the publicity and shock when the results at Little Big Horn were released. Even up to the early 1900's, politicians in Washington were violating treatys and cheating the Indians. It has really been a stain on the supposed superiority of white American morality. Well, that is all for now.

Thanks for your input, MoonLoon. I recognize what you have said to be the truth, and I'm very sorry it happened that way. Just because I'm white doesn't mean I always agree with what white people do. White people can bhave just as evilly as any other race.

My point is this---- what has happened to the Native Americans is very sad, indeed, but what are we suppose to do to get over it? What do they want?

They are not at all required to stay on the "reservation", secluded from us all, but can join society the same as anyone. They have the same opportunities as anyone, perhaps even more if you consider scholarships, grants and other helps. They are no different than any other people from other societies who have found their "government" overthrown, and then learn to live in a new and different society, even though perhaps they are not happy about it.

I do have sympathy for them and what happened to them in even recent history. But their way of life is as gone as it can possibly be, never to return. Very sad, but yet it's true. There is nothing anyone can do to bring it back, no way for them to once again live the way their ancestors lived. It's simply not possible to go backward. The only thing that will help them is to stop trying to appease them and buy them with our "stuff" and help them see that they can still be the proud people who are self sustaining as they once were if only they would learn a new way and join us in that goal instead of continuing to mourn for what is lost forever. They themselves need to learn another way of providing for their children, while not forgetting where they came from, just like the rest of us do.

If I sound uncaring, I don't mean it that way. I'm just stating what I believe to be true. I see no other way.

@2helen; i have one issue with the Native Americans of today and that is their continous reference to returning to their traditional ways. Sad to say for them, but those days have ended. The past cannot be changed. So I say, "man up and move on", while adapting to this new world, that is the only way to success. Clinging to the past has never proven to be a good strategy, except maybe for the Amish in Pennslyvania, but of course, if America was ever invaded and defeated, their way of life would disappear. European culture is replete with wars, conquest, and subjection of various races and cultures, yet somehow out of this, arose a people uniquely qualified to adapt to change.
However, the native people of America need the resources and opportunity to be able to modify their traditional ways into a system that fits the "modern" concept while allowing them an opportunity for respect in a new system. Sorry to say, but they have been markedly slow in adapting. Maybe, as a result of the reservation system which has served to profit the agents rather than the citizens.

@MoonLoon: Agreed. I have much sympathy for native Americans, and I agree they have been treated in the most heinous manner. Yet, they are keeping themselves down by their refusal to change, to join our "NOW" society. Opportunities are there for them if only they would take advantage of them.

And where will YOU go when the government gives all the land back to the Natives? Shall we all return to where our ancestors came from? Think about this rationally, will you?

so you think its OK!!!????? just because that's how it happened does not mean that we should just leave it in the past, or that its understandable... if we don't recognize, empathize and realize the truths of the past we will continue to make terrible mistakes. like you said "it happens to this day." how bout instead of just accepting it as truth, we examine ourselves and the role of culture wars and stop it from happening again while simultaneously grieving for what has been done.
we dont have to contiue the same patterns, but if we dont own the past then we never will.

Totally agree with you 2helena. Not to mention, I don't feel that we should owe anything just because of the sins of our fathers. PhillyPhil is just... well I won't resort to name calling.

@phillyphil: Well, maybe not OK, looking at it from a 2009 perspective, but it is what it is. I refuse to be downcast about something that our forefathers did hundreds of years ago, something that was commonly done the world over. Hindsight is great, isn't it? It's just too bad we can't all live our lives according to hindsight.

One ethnic group overthrowing another has happened the world over since the dawn of time. In most cases the folks who were overthrown finally joined forces with those who overthrew (even though they didn't want to) and life just went on. But no, not our native Americans, who have the same opportunities to succeed in this country as anyone else, if only they choose to embrace it. No, they continue to hold themselves apart and expect.......something. What, exactly do they expect?

@2helenahandbasket and TabulaRasa

spoken like true oppressors.

do you think that people should just "get over it?" they should just join the oppressive culture that totally replaced their own, that forced them into schools to rid them of their history and language, that massacred their people, that is currently killing the planet.

you should go tell your thoughts to the Jews and ask them why they were so selfish in not just joining up with the nazi's... or the Palestinians that are not obeying the Israelis wishes for them to leave, or the genocide in Somalia, or what happened in Rwanda....

by saying that people should start accepting something and just assimilate is saying that the original action was allowable. diversity is a wonderful thing.

what if i came to your house and took all your things, told you all your beliefs were wrong, killed over half of your family and then expected you to show up at my business the next week to report for the new reality that i had made for you....

I am absolutely no oppressor, and I strongly resent your accusation. I had nothing whatsoever to do with the settling of America and could scream and stomp for the rest of my life and not change a thing. I see you don't like what I have to say, but if you're honest you will see that what I say is rational instead of emotional.

It is quite possible to assimilate into a new and different society and still practice your language and customs at home. Most folks who immigrated here do the same.

Everyone in America has the same opportunities to succeed, whether he be white, black, yellow, red or any other color. Maybe it's a matter of how important it is that one's family is provided for and that they're not starving, or whether one's family has a decent home to live in. One can choose to live a progressive life and still celebrate who he is and what his heritage is. People do it every single day in America. The only choices there are are these--- either change and learn to work within this NOW society, or choose NOT to and let things remain the same. Which is better for the Natives and their children? And, once again I ask you.... WHAT do they want?

I realize this might sound cold, but I do have sympathy. I'm also a realist and must be honest, if blunt...Their way of life as it was hundreds of years ago is gone, and it will NEVER be that way again. What do they want?

Thats insane, who would be foolish enough to buy a house under those terms?

ummmm, i am pretty sure that's how the Oneidas (and other tribes) had their land stolen from them in the first place. there was a territory dispute, namely that the new folks in town with guns and germs decided that manifest destiny meant they could seize any land they wanted... what goes around comes around? when is it ok and when is it not? who really owns this land? what price has been paid already?

we the people....

Hey, if you're waiting around for the government to do anything you'll die...... waiting. Good for you, keep it up; especially the sacred and burial grounds.

thank you earthwalker! i too am a native born american of european descent. my mother, my mothers mother and her mother were a born in central ny. like the indigenous people that follow the matriarchal lineage i too see this country for it's great truths, [declaration of independence/constitution], but also for the greed and lies of self centered and power hungry men of all nations of the world as they again rape and pillage what was once a great people and country.

please let me be clear, this is the best country the world has ever known, however without non-indian support from all of us, [born native to north america], to restore the dignity of mother earth from the cultures born to protect her balance, we too may one day be overrun and our ways will be taken from us .

we too will be 'indoctrinated' into new cultures from asia, middle east, india and africa as they leave their lands of oppression for the promised land and all natyive born americans and the great acomlishments we the people have made will be all for nought.

Native American of European decent... How does that work ?

what does the us gov't have to do with this except to accept money?

It is great but they shouldn't have to buy these lands and they shouldn't have to buy land that is allowed to them... all of this is theres