In the 2000 census there were about 4,400 tribal members living on the "Res," and by 2005 the Bureau of Indian Affairs (yes, there is still a Bureau of Indian Affairs) shows more than 6,600.
Remember my saying a couple of days ago how "not pretty" reservations are? Well, maybe it's because there was a 47.3% unemployment rate in the year 2000 - even with casino work.
I copied this Obama 2012 Budget (Proposal?) from the Department of the Interior website which the Bureau of Indian Affairs is under (not that it matters because Obama hasn't had an official budget during his 4 years in office...)
Strengthening Tribal Nations
The 2012 Budget for Indian programs is $2.5 billion, a decrease of
$118.9 million from the 2010 enacted/2011 CR. The major reductions
include: completion of a one-time $50 million forward funding payment to
tribal colleges; $14.4 million for completed settlements; $5.1 million
from the Indian Guaranteed Loan program, while the program undergoes a
review; $14.2 million from central oversight consistent with increased
contracting to Tribes; and $27.0 million for Trust Real Estate Services.
The Budget includes $29.5 million for contract support and the Indian
Self-Determination Fund. These funds will enable Tribes to fulfill
administrative requirements associated with operating programs.
Honoring trust responsibilities and Strengthening Tribal Nations:
The 2012 Budget includes $354.7 million for Bureau of Indian Affairs
public safety and justice program operations to improve the safety of
Indian communities. The goal is to achieve a reduction in crime of at
least five percent within 24 months on targeted tribal reservations
through a comprehensive and coordinated strategy. This request is a
program increase of $20.0 million above the 2010 enacted/2011 CR.
American Indian land and water settlements: The 2012
Budget also includes $26.7 million to begin implementation of the
Claims Resolution Act of 2010, which includes four water settlements for
Taos Pueblo of New Mexico, Pueblos of New Mexico named in the Aamodt
case, the Crow Tribe of Montana, and the White Mountain Apache Tribe of
Arizona. Primary responsibility for constructing water systems funded by
the settlements was given to the Bureau of Reclamation, and the Bureau
of Indian Affairs is responsible for the majority of the trust funds.
This funding is in addition to mandatory appropriations for these
settlements.
* * * * * * * *
From the BIA.gov (Bureau of Indian Affairs) website I copied this:
Services Overview
The United States has a
unique legal and political relationship with Indian tribes and Alaska
Native entities as provided by the Constitution of the United States,
treaties, court decisions and Federal statutes. Within the
government-to-government relationship, Indian Affairs provides services
directly or through contracts, grants, or compacts to 566 Federally
recognized tribes.
And this:
How large is the national American Indian and Alaska Native population?
According to the U.S. Bureau of the Census, the estimated population of American Indians and Alaska Natives, including those of more than one race, as of July 1, 2007, was 4.5 million, or 1.5 per cent of the total U.S. population. In the BIA’s 2005 American Indian Population and Labor Force Report, the latest available, the total number of enrolled members of the (then) 561 federally recognized tribes was shown to be less than half the Census number, or 1,978,099.
Now, WHY do we still have reservations? Isn't a reservation almost like a prisoner-of-war camp? Sure, they can come and go whenever they want, but why not divvy up the reservation land, give it to individuals of the tribe, and I would bet you that they will begin to take care of their little piece of the world in a way that they do not now do. Maybe the tribal leaders don't want that because the tribe will lose their identity?
Remember that movie, "Windtalkers," about the Native American's code talk during World War II? Keep that in mind as you read that website.
And this:
How large is the national American Indian and Alaska Native population?
According to the U.S. Bureau of the Census, the estimated population of American Indians and Alaska Natives, including those of more than one race, as of July 1, 2007, was 4.5 million, or 1.5 per cent of the total U.S. population. In the BIA’s 2005 American Indian Population and Labor Force Report, the latest available, the total number of enrolled members of the (then) 561 federally recognized tribes was shown to be less than half the Census number, or 1,978,099.
Now, WHY do we still have reservations? Isn't a reservation almost like a prisoner-of-war camp? Sure, they can come and go whenever they want, but why not divvy up the reservation land, give it to individuals of the tribe, and I would bet you that they will begin to take care of their little piece of the world in a way that they do not now do. Maybe the tribal leaders don't want that because the tribe will lose their identity?
It wasn't until 1948 that all the legal rigamarole got resolved and all Native Americans got the right to vote. (And African-Americans think THEY had it bad!!) There is a super website that I won't even attempt to paraphrase that, if you are even a little interested, you should go to:
Remember that movie, "Windtalkers," about the Native American's code talk during World War II? Keep that in mind as you read that website.
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