Navajo Nation to Sign Settlement for $554 Million from US Government
- Thread starter SeaBreeze
- Start date
Debby
Well-known Member
- Location
- East coast of Canada
I didn't realize that First Nations people had ongoing issues with the American government. I thought that was strictly still only a Canadian issue. Well thanks SeaBreeze, learn something new everyday.
Hello Debby. In the US the original people are normally called 'Native Americans' which amounts to the Canadian 'First Nations People'.
I was going to post some links but just found out that some of our native people groups have recently changed their web sites and the calls to bring them up. The one I was trying to bring up was the Navajo Nation web site and some of it's associated links. So I will have to restart to building my data sets on American Natives sites.
Here is the current one for the Navajo Nations government. There are others that are much more personal and interesting. When I find them I will post them too.
http://www.navajo-nsn.gov/govt.htm
I was going to post some links but just found out that some of our native people groups have recently changed their web sites and the calls to bring them up. The one I was trying to bring up was the Navajo Nation web site and some of it's associated links. So I will have to restart to building my data sets on American Natives sites.
Here is the current one for the Navajo Nations government. There are others that are much more personal and interesting. When I find them I will post them too.
http://www.navajo-nsn.gov/govt.htm
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Debby
Well-known Member
- Location
- East coast of Canada
Hi Bob,
The first thing that struck me was the difference in the titles: Native Americans vs. First Nations. Not being native myself, I'm assuming that the First Nations people adopted their 'label' because they were here before there was a Canada. They are the 'First Nation of people on the continent' sort of thing.
Considering the history, I'm surprised that Native Americans adopted the label that they have.
But thanks for the link. I'm always looking to learn stuff so I'm going to take a peek at it as soon as I post this comment. By the way, are you a Native American by any chance?
Debby
Well-known Member
- Location
- East coast of Canada
Hey, just looked at the History part of your link and I've gotten the impression that while your First people cultures were treated very badly by the fledgling government/military, they have worked things out much better than my government with our First Nations people. First Nations schools here are underfunded by 1/3 the monies that our urban/rural white schools are and there are many bands here who are living in the worst kind of poverty and our government seems totally disinclined to deal with any of their issues.
Are there bands in the US that aren't doing as well as the Navajo seem to be?
Are there bands in the US that aren't doing as well as the Navajo seem to be?
Debby, the Navajo are the largest of all tribes and cover from Nevada eastward across Arizona, parts of Utah, and on into New Mexico. They are likely the best, well to do of all tribes. I am not a native myself but have lived and worked with the natives for many years. I lived in Cortez Colorado for many years after retiring from work. Our nearest tribe was called the Ute Mountain Utes and their lands were just about 10 miles south of Cortez. After driving through their area to the Colorado, New Mexico state border you enter into Navajo lands. Today I am in Cortez but tomorrow I will drive to our home in southern Arizona. That drive takes me through the Ute Mountain Ute territory toward the 'four corners area, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado, share a common point. I will leave the Ute Mountain Ute area and enter the Navajo Nation. I will stop in Kayenta for a rest stop and again in Tuba for another rest stop and will only leave the Navajo Nation near Flagstaff Arizona. If you can bring up a map of the US you will see that is a long drive, all in the Navajo nation. I do have a Navajo family that we have known for many years as we met in Longmont Colorado back in 1980 days. They now live in Tucson Arizona. We still visit with them on occasion.
The Navajo are the largest group of natives. The Utes are many but their settlements are scattered and have different names. Some groups are so small they have no lands set aside for them to claim. Some tribes are quite poor and have little they can do to make money so they depend on the US help for schools, medical, law enforcement, etc.
I am traveling right now and can not do much on the PC till I get back to our home in Arizona. Then I hope to find links to some nice informational publications about Navajo lives and activities. I will send them on this forum as soon as I can.
The Navajo are the largest group of natives. The Utes are many but their settlements are scattered and have different names. Some groups are so small they have no lands set aside for them to claim. Some tribes are quite poor and have little they can do to make money so they depend on the US help for schools, medical, law enforcement, etc.
I am traveling right now and can not do much on the PC till I get back to our home in Arizona. Then I hope to find links to some nice informational publications about Navajo lives and activities. I will send them on this forum as soon as I can.
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Falcon
DV8
- Location
- So. California
Thanks to Chris Columbus, some of us are still calling our Native Americans "INDIANS".
Debby
Well-known Member
- Location
- East coast of Canada
Well that was very interesting and thanks Bob. I only started paying more attention to First Nation issues in Canada a couple years ago much to my shame. I grew up always hearing about 'issues with land claims' but never really paid much attention. We have a couple of bands at least that are doing very well, great business acumen in their leaders and good people, but like the US we have some that are desperately poor. Our current government is often accused of not caring enough to help those who need the help.
And I don't think the First Nations people 'own' the minerals/oil/diamonds that are taken from the land that is supposed to be theirs, as the Navajo do. I think the Canadian government allows corporations to take the stuff out, and they have to pay royalties to the government and a portion goes to the FN people plus whatever jobs they can get working for the corporations. I'm not positive on that, probably something I should look up before I go yakking about it.
Anyway, safe travels Bob.
Here are a few more links for you to save or dismiss as you choose. These are the more improved groups. I have also visited in some South Dakota locations, not quite as successful but they were working to make things better for themselves. The tribes do get a lot of help from the governments, US, state, and local.
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Navajo Nation government site.
http://www.navajo-nsn.gov/
….................
A magazine I would be able to give to visitors to our visitor center in Cortez Colorado. We volunteers would work half days two or three times a week to greet visitors and suggest where to look depending on their wants.
http://www.discovernavajo.com/
…..................
Ute Mountain Utes are just south of Cortez Colorado and are doing quite well these days. The have a construction company, a large hotel and casino setup, and they are also caretakers of the southern part of Mesa Verde area.
http://www.utemountainutetribe.com/
….................
Another of several Ute locations. This one east and south of Cortez Colorado. The wife and I have visited their location a couple times.
https://www.southernute-nsn.gov/
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These are just a few of places near where I live and have visited. There are others but today my older laptop died and I can not find and print what I had put tegether on several other native groups. I think that this will give you a good idea of how our native groups are operating and attempting to be self sufficient and also maintian their history and heritage. The last one I don't remember visiting but it is a good example of another larger group and their achievements.
http://www.cherokee.org/AboutTheNation/Maps.aspx
….....................
...............
Navajo Nation government site.
http://www.navajo-nsn.gov/
….................
A magazine I would be able to give to visitors to our visitor center in Cortez Colorado. We volunteers would work half days two or three times a week to greet visitors and suggest where to look depending on their wants.
http://www.discovernavajo.com/
…..................
Ute Mountain Utes are just south of Cortez Colorado and are doing quite well these days. The have a construction company, a large hotel and casino setup, and they are also caretakers of the southern part of Mesa Verde area.
http://www.utemountainutetribe.com/
….................
Another of several Ute locations. This one east and south of Cortez Colorado. The wife and I have visited their location a couple times.
https://www.southernute-nsn.gov/
…..................
These are just a few of places near where I live and have visited. There are others but today my older laptop died and I can not find and print what I had put tegether on several other native groups. I think that this will give you a good idea of how our native groups are operating and attempting to be self sufficient and also maintian their history and heritage. The last one I don't remember visiting but it is a good example of another larger group and their achievements.
http://www.cherokee.org/AboutTheNation/Maps.aspx
….....................
Debby
Well-known Member
- Location
- East coast of Canada
Took a look at your links Bob and the one thing that popped into my mind is pride of self. From what I could see there, the people, the Navajo and the Ute have a personal pride that has translated into a desire to work 'within the system' and the result is that they are succeeding in this modern world. Wonderful to see.
Here in Canada, there is still a huge gap between the average Canadian (non-native) and the First Nations people and a lack of understanding between the two groups. The result seems to be a lack of 'will' on the part of too many First Nations tribes to succeed within the system which results in the rest of Canadians feeling justified in feelings of some level of superiority and a certain attitude of 'I told you so'. I can't remember what we were talking about exactly but my own mother made the remark about First Nations 'they should have either assimilated or died out'. I was quite taken aback at that one!
There is the ever prevalent image (and I beg your forgiveness on this one)in the minds of too many, the 'drunken Indians'. Is it possible that that image also weighs down the hearts and souls of FN people who have to live in our society with that too prevalent stereotype robbing them of direction and strength of purpose? It's possible I guess because I know if you tell a child long enough that he is a loser, too often he grows up to become one. A parent can weigh down a kids future with their own negativity. Has white society done that to FN's in Canada via labelling, residential schools and faulty education?
One thing that I think would improve the publics perception of FN people is if media started doing more pieces on the success stories. I have rarely seen anything like that in Canada's media and it seems that one has to look for those successes via the Internet. I decided to do a Google search: successful First Nations bands in Canada and I came up with the following:
http://globalnews.ca/news/955666/economic-success-for-two-saskatchewan-first-nations/
http://www.osoyoostimes.com/first-n...boom-in-canadian-history-says-oib-boss-louie/
http://www.bcabic.ca/stories
This link gave me an interesting thought: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/canada/top-first-nations-success-to-be-studied-102047333.html
If you read through it, you will notice this paragraph: "....[FONT=arial, helvetica, sans-serif]Then he will prepare a report providing advice to the department on best practices and advise INAC how to proceed with modernizing reserve land management....." INAC is the government office known as Indian and Northern Affairs Committee. It seems to me that if a government consistently underfunds FN schools by 1/3 (that of non-native schools), perhaps it would be more effective if they started bringing the education system, standards and funding up to the same level as non-native schools and then the various bands would be better able to learn to manage their own land resources without continued government interference.
Random thoughts and maybe no basis in reality but I'm self educating on this so it is what it is. Again, thanks for the links and hope you have a nice day Bob.[/FONT]
Here in Canada, there is still a huge gap between the average Canadian (non-native) and the First Nations people and a lack of understanding between the two groups. The result seems to be a lack of 'will' on the part of too many First Nations tribes to succeed within the system which results in the rest of Canadians feeling justified in feelings of some level of superiority and a certain attitude of 'I told you so'. I can't remember what we were talking about exactly but my own mother made the remark about First Nations 'they should have either assimilated or died out'. I was quite taken aback at that one!
There is the ever prevalent image (and I beg your forgiveness on this one)in the minds of too many, the 'drunken Indians'. Is it possible that that image also weighs down the hearts and souls of FN people who have to live in our society with that too prevalent stereotype robbing them of direction and strength of purpose? It's possible I guess because I know if you tell a child long enough that he is a loser, too often he grows up to become one. A parent can weigh down a kids future with their own negativity. Has white society done that to FN's in Canada via labelling, residential schools and faulty education?
One thing that I think would improve the publics perception of FN people is if media started doing more pieces on the success stories. I have rarely seen anything like that in Canada's media and it seems that one has to look for those successes via the Internet. I decided to do a Google search: successful First Nations bands in Canada and I came up with the following:
http://globalnews.ca/news/955666/economic-success-for-two-saskatchewan-first-nations/
http://www.osoyoostimes.com/first-n...boom-in-canadian-history-says-oib-boss-louie/
http://www.bcabic.ca/stories
This link gave me an interesting thought: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/canada/top-first-nations-success-to-be-studied-102047333.html
If you read through it, you will notice this paragraph: "....[FONT=arial, helvetica, sans-serif]Then he will prepare a report providing advice to the department on best practices and advise INAC how to proceed with modernizing reserve land management....." INAC is the government office known as Indian and Northern Affairs Committee. It seems to me that if a government consistently underfunds FN schools by 1/3 (that of non-native schools), perhaps it would be more effective if they started bringing the education system, standards and funding up to the same level as non-native schools and then the various bands would be better able to learn to manage their own land resources without continued government interference.
Random thoughts and maybe no basis in reality but I'm self educating on this so it is what it is. Again, thanks for the links and hope you have a nice day Bob.[/FONT]
In the US we also have the drunken Indians. Not many, but the few we have often are found dead in one of the city parks, or behind a building, as they sometimes freeze to death. They should go to a shelter but at times don't know what they should do.
I believe that their own governments deny the sale and use of alcohol on the reservations. Maybe it is the federal rules, I just don't know, but alcohol is not available as I remember. I should look that up. I did read the articles you posted for me. It seems there is some forward movement in you native locations as in the US. Right now the US sends moneys to the various groups. Not sure if that is some sort of permanent support or if it is something that can be ended if the groups end up doing quite well for many years.
I remember back a few years, during your year of the Olympics, your native groups had a large part in the general openings and closing ceremonies. Also remember one lady that gave a short speech was introduced as part of your government, Federal or Province I don't remember. I remember her as being attractive and articulate when she was speaking. So some of your natives are doing quite well. In the US we have also had some very good government positions held by Native Americans. One was a Senator and I believe he represented Colorado at the time.
The older I get the weaker my memory is so I can not leave names.
I believe that their own governments deny the sale and use of alcohol on the reservations. Maybe it is the federal rules, I just don't know, but alcohol is not available as I remember. I should look that up. I did read the articles you posted for me. It seems there is some forward movement in you native locations as in the US. Right now the US sends moneys to the various groups. Not sure if that is some sort of permanent support or if it is something that can be ended if the groups end up doing quite well for many years.
I remember back a few years, during your year of the Olympics, your native groups had a large part in the general openings and closing ceremonies. Also remember one lady that gave a short speech was introduced as part of your government, Federal or Province I don't remember. I remember her as being attractive and articulate when she was speaking. So some of your natives are doing quite well. In the US we have also had some very good government positions held by Native Americans. One was a Senator and I believe he represented Colorado at the time.
The older I get the weaker my memory is so I can not leave names.
Debby
Well-known Member
- Location
- East coast of Canada
The woman that you are thinking of is probably Leona Aglukakk who is the Minister of Environment (ha!) in our current government who seem to be only too happy to sell our environment to corporations and other countries. Irony or insanity? Not sure but in all likelihood, this government will be gone next year at the election.
Yes there are a few of our FN folks who are figuring out very ably how to thrive in this world, but there are also many, many bands who are living in horrendous conditions. So much so, that the UN last year (or the year before perhaps) did a report on Canada's treatment of our indigenous people and we didn't exactly shine in it sorry to say. There are a few members of the party that will probably make up the next government that sound like they are of the mind to make changes and 'fix' things.
And I totally get what you said about the memory! From the kitchen to the door into the hallway, I can forget why I started out. Aging! Quite the experience.
Yes there are a few of our FN folks who are figuring out very ably how to thrive in this world, but there are also many, many bands who are living in horrendous conditions. So much so, that the UN last year (or the year before perhaps) did a report on Canada's treatment of our indigenous people and we didn't exactly shine in it sorry to say. There are a few members of the party that will probably make up the next government that sound like they are of the mind to make changes and 'fix' things.
And I totally get what you said about the memory! From the kitchen to the door into the hallway, I can forget why I started out. Aging! Quite the experience.