I salute your brave history. The last to surrender, the Modoc Indians of the Klamath basin. The European side of my family comes from Tule Lake area, the Native side from N Dakota, and Canada. I don't know what perspective I can have on a politically charged forum such as this, except one point of view. That view is, in all capital letters, because it needs to be driven home. WE ALL ARE SOVEREIGNS. EXACTLY LIKE THE TRIBES. WE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT SIGNED A TREATY (THE CONSTITUTION) WITH OTHER PEOPLE, TO JOIN ONLY UNDER THE EXACTING TERMS OF THE WRITTEN AGREEMENT. That Treaty has since been broken and changed without a single vote. NOW WE BEG AND PULE AS A PEOPLE TO THE ENTITY THAT WAS FORMED BY US, FOR THEIR GIFTS, FOR THEIR FAVORS, AND RESPECTING OUR IDENTITY AS THEIR SUPERIORS., THEY SHOULD BE PROTECTING US, EVERY SINGLE PERSON AS AN INDIVIDUAL. THE INDIVIDUAL, OUR FAMILIES, CITIES AND STATES AS TRIBAL ENTITIES. WE ALL NEED PROTECTION FROM THE GOVT AT ALL LEVELS, BUT ONLY THE TRIBES HAVE FIGURED OUT HOW TO "GAME" THE SYSTEM.
I live as a man without identity among many people. I do not even self identify with my tribal roots, although I am proud of them. I still remember the stories of my grandfather (german) making my dads only sister cut her hair and wear hats, to hide her black thick hair. This was a open sign of my great grandfathers choice of a bride. A SQUAW as they spat it out. My Father told me of being tied to a tree and beaten within an inch of life, but not for being Indian, but for being German......yeah right. He had dark skin, looks like pictures of Chief Joseph, and black hair. My family was ashamed of its roots. So much so, that I don't even know where the family Bible is, the birth or death records. They are lost to history.
Although I am a conservative, a rare thing as far as Indians and Tribes are concerned. My tribe is about 98% liberal Democrat as well as polls will show, most other tribes. Indians take a beating from Republicans and even Freepers here on this site. I am usually around on most “Indian” threads, along with a couple of others, putting a word in for the Indian minority. I will say we get some backing from a few white people also, God bless them. We got back, over many years, our tribal rites for hunting, fishing, and gathering, and being Indians are less than one percent of the population, we have no power through voting. All our rites have been brought back with the help of many understanding white people, willing to stick their necks out for what they feel is the “right thing to do”.