“This whitepaper, written as a partial requirement in a Master’s Degree program, was also written to help create a case for civil society by advocating for real justice on behalf of the Native Americans. It was also written to encourage philanthropic efforts on their behalf.”
The first thing you need to learn is that ALL Indians (that’s what my ancestors called themselves) were not all culturally or politically the same. The second thing is that no ‘nation within a nation’ has ever worked. The Indian tribes need to get over their self pity...they wrongs done were to their ancestors...they are ALL dead!
You, I or no other American owes me or any Indian anything.
The best thing is for this tribal division/identity/victim status to stop and become Americans and save this country.
Good material here in Episode 3 “Trail of Tears’ to really understand that the “indian’ did himself as much harm as the US government did.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/weshallremain/
And you can find what really happened to some Indians, told in their own words here:
http://jesusweptanamericanstory.blogspot.com/
In 1969 I received $1700 in exchange for 140 acres of tribal land held in trust by the feds, $500 up front and the rest when I turned 18.
The govt then sold oil and gas leases on this land.
My grandparents and mother suffered horrible abuse from white school teachers and missionaries
My grandmother and mother are still alive.