Most reservations choose to remain sovereign. They don't want to mainstream, and if that is the case, more power to them. The Amish live very nicely in their own communities, and God Bless them for it. They are doing a better job of keeping their communities clean and family oriented than we are.
No the poverty on some of the reservations isn't good, but to force mainstreaming and take away their sovereignty is wrong.
"Most reservations choose to remain sovereign."
Yes, most tribes want to remain sovereign, but is it in the best interests of the individual members of the tribe or just the power structure of the tribe? Like I said, if they wish to remain sovereign, then treat them like foreign nations. Right now they have the benefits of American citizenship but a lot fewer responsibilities. If Indian tribes wish to be sovereign, then they shouldn't be voting in US elections, contributing to US politicians or lobbying without full disclosure required of other foreign nations.
I have no problem with groups maintaining a cultural identity of their own. The Amish do that admirably. So do many other cultural groups. The problem I have with the tribe and reservation system right now is that benefits given to Indian citizens are dependent for the most part on their remaining on the reservations, and too many reservations are economic sinkholes. If Native Americans are entitled to certain benefits, they should be extended to them regardless of whether they continue to live on the reservations or if they choose to integrate with society at large.
I think the reservation system fosters dependency and an us-versus-them mentality. I saw myself how Indians youths were being held back from joining mainstream by their elders and by BIA policies. I still don't think it is healthy in the long run for them. I still believe the government should start a forty or fifty-year phase-out of the reservations and recognize Native Americans as individuals instead of tribal members.