I've never pursued any “tribal” rights, but I do have a valid legal claim to them, via my documented unbroken maternal line of Blackfoot Sioux lineage.
The Lakota Sioux tribe absorbed what was left of my own peoples extremely decimated “tribe”, along with several others, when the supposedly “final treaty rights” were written.
I'm mostly “white”, and one of the reasons I've never tried to force myself on the Lakota, is out of respect for both them, and also my grandparents, who chose otherwise for their children.
I will always support their tribal rights.
For those who don't, fair warning, there are many people like myself who do and will.
From every state, and every conceivable walk of life.
It's pretty obvious their land is now coveted by others due to vast oil deposits that can only now be economically mined.
While I haven't kept any type of watch on tribal leaders, it seems the Lakota government is about to hit the financial jackpot for their very valuable property rights.
I still won't apply to be recognized by the tribe, but I do back their sovereign property rights, as a USA citizen.
So will most USA citizens, mixed breed or not.
Property rights?
Firstly, Indians were killing each other a lot, and taking land from one another. Before everything was civilized, there was lots of genocides going on. I’m not saying the white man did anything better, but let’s be honest. The reservations need to go and the tax dollars need to stop. That is a form of slavery.
In other news, they’ve determined that the Indians weren’t even here first. They’ve found remains that predate everything Indian, artifacts and remains. It should be noted that the remains were white boys.
Based on that, I should be getting reparations and my land back etc etc. Instead, I choose to earn a living, move to follow work if needed, and provide for my family.
Really liked your posting on this topic.
Aside, does anyone know what the legal authority is for the Natl. Park Service (or whatever it’s called) to claim land? It must be part of the Bureau of Land Mgt., I guess, so the question applies there, as well.
The Congress should cut their budgets to funding maintenance and Rangers in National Parks, while eliminating about 80% of the bureaucrats.