National Indian Conference begins in Bismarck - Tribes must move away from grant-dependent mentality

KXMA ^

[chance33_98]

National Indian Conference begins in Bismarck.

The National Congress of American Indians is holding its midyear conference at the Civic Center. Economic development on American Indian reservations is being discussed.

The group's president is Three Affiliated Tribes Chairman Tex Hall. He says tribes must move from a grant-dependent mentality toward self-sustaining economies on reservations.

The organization hopes to put together a national economic stimulus package for tribes to bring to the U-S Congress. One of the goals is to create 100-thousand news jobs for Indians in eight years.

[chance33_98]

He says tribes must move from a grant-dependent mentality toward self-sustaining economies on reservations.

The organization hopes to put together a national economic stimulus package for tribes to bring to the U-S Congress.

Looks rather odd...

[Eska]

Pretty tough for a native village with no economy to become self sufficient. On one hand they don't want a road punched in because it also brings America to their doorstep along with the economic activity. They quickly lose their language and culture follows.

Once I asked a native friend how could there ever be progress without development. He said development and progress were unrelated; so you see where they are coming from.

I really think natives that assimilate into America are the lucky ones and this is all dependent on location. People that live near economic activity develop work ethic, build houses, find the American dream.

Many good decent natives out there; not all alcoholics. I've seen good villages where the elders keep it clean and also have seen disaster zones, very sad places. I would really like to see natives break from the enslaving feds; but those days are a long way off into the future.

[Grim]

Two words: Offshore Banking