And please don't take my posts as criticism of your points. I've worked very closely with the tribes from inside the cognizant federal agencies and have years of experience in dealing with Indian law and tribal issues. It's all very complicated, and very few folks have a detailed understanding of the tribes and the issues and laws that affect them. In short there are now about 562 sovereign tribal governments inside the U.S. today, each with its own leaders, laws, and customs, the federal government is required to interact with them on a government-to-government basis. Needless to say, it gets really tricky.
Quite the contray, I've found you to be informed, polite and very considerate. I've learned from our little discourse, and I'm not ashamed to admit that I am not an expert in BIA and Indian treaties.
I fully accept your claim as having worked in this field, and as such am delighted to have this discourse with you. Bluntly, it's not very often that I am graced with an exchange with someone as suscint, respectful and informed as you have been. For that, you sincerely have my thanks.
Even as a registered Republican (with Libertarian leanings) I have to say that I am dissappointed in the 'Termination' approach that was sponsored by the Democrats in the 50's. If those attempts had been successful, I think everyone would be better off today.
Most other people I worked with before retiring live in nice homes, own modern vehicles, own boats, 4 wheelers, and other toys. It is the reservation system that teaches them to suck the gubmint teat and stay under the income standard that would upset the gravy train they are on. So they inter marry within the tribe to qualify for the housing, to qualify for the maximum government money, and generally wallow in self pity for your whole life. This is DESTROYING their culture, not saving it. Soon, they will all be retarded or cripples with all the cousins marrying cousins, and the mental weight of communism will crush their spirits into dust.