M3 Resources Review

The resource for Module 3 that I decided to do my review on was the United South & Eastern Tribes website.  This website is the home of the United South & Eastern Tribes, INC. which was established in 1968.  The mission of this group appears to be for the greater good and continued growth of the Native American culture through the unity of the Native American community.  The mission statement on the website reads, "United South and Eastern Tribes, Inc. is dedicated to enhancing the development of federally recognized Indian Tribes, to improving the capabilities of Tribal governments, and assisting the USET Members and their governments in dealing effectively with public policy issues and in serving the broad needs of Indian people."  The different resources that are included for this course and especially this Module are chosen over others because of the overall message as well as the information that is included in each resource.  The website for United South & Eastern Tribes, INC. for example highlights many different issues going on within the Native community today.  But with using the other resources as well as the readings throughout the course it is easy to make a connection and see the journey on all different subjects that Native Americans have gone through.  The current events side of things also shows that Native Americans have came along way but are still striving to go further and in some ways continue to fight issues that are centuries old.  A line within their Trust Reformpolicy section goes along directly with the issues that we have been covering in Module 3. "USET continues to take the position that stronger Nation to Nation relations with the United States will only result from a drastically improved federal trust model."  I do believe that the resource I chose to review for this Module can be considered an academic website.  For the reasons of current events and their unique stand point on issues going on in the Native American community I very much consider it use full for academic purposes.  It also makes seeing the overall picture of some major issues much easier to see and respect, when there's a resource that shows not only a standpoint on the issue but also a group of people still fighting passionately for the well-being of their people.  My outlook on Native communities has continued to grow from starting Module 1 more than it has changed overall.  I just continually find myself giving Native communities more and more respect because of the passion and love they have for their culture and where they came from.  Native Americans seem to have an all together mentality and stress the importance of respect for traditions and rituals.  That is why groups such as United South & Eastern Tribes, INC. can convey their message so well and be successful.  They want all Natives to come together to find a greater good themselves as a whole.  The major theme and quote on their website pertains to just that thought        and it is even on the banner of their website, it reads"Because there is strength in unity".  I think there is no better way to show how much the Native communities respect themselves and strive to keep their traditions alive and well.



South, U., & Tribes, E. (2016, July 18). Home. Retrieved from http://www.usetinc.org

M3 Website Resource

The website reference I reviewed and found most helpful was the frequently asked questions about tribal law in relation to US federal law on the US Department of the Interior Indian Affairs.

www.bia.gov/FAOs/index.htm

The source is that of the US government, but is regarding law and legal responsibilities of the US as well as individual tribal rights so there is little bias that could be appreciated.

The first question that was of interest discusses the federal Indian trust responsibility. This is where the “United States has charges itself with moral obligations of the highest responsibility and trust toward Indian tribes (FAQ, n.d.). This represents the obligation that the US Government has assumed in protecting tribal treaty rights, lands, assets and the relationship between federally recognized tribes (FAQ, n.d.). The portion that caught my attention was the moral obligation to the Indian tribes. As we read through Peter Nabokov’s Native American Testimony there are countless moments in history in which the US Government took lands belonging to Native Americans disregarding any moral duty. The picture of the Hidatsa Indian leader George Gillette crying as land that had belonged to the North Dakota tribes for thousands of years was signed away for a dam project in the 1930s does not appear to represent the moral commitment to the Indian people (Nabokov, 1991).

The description of Indian reservations versus allotted lands references the Indian Reorganization act of 1934 and attempts to make the differentiation understandable. The Allotted land is actually lands that are held in trust by the federal government (FAQ, n.d.).

It is interesting to know that the US no longer makes treaties with Indian tribes since 1871 (FAQ, n.d.). The treaty and relationship is now between the Indian group and Congressional acts, Executive Orders and Executive Agreements (FAQ, n.d.).

There are many questions that address Tribal Government rights and enforcement powers as well as the ability of the US Government to uphold Federal Law.

Of importance to my paper, I learned that American Indians and Alaskan natives can access education, health, welfare and social services if eligible, as well as receive services from the Bureau of Indian Affairs (FAQ, n.d.).

The questions and answers are clear, but bring up many more questions such as: Why would the Federal Government need to hold any of the Indian lands in trust? Does the government still have control of those lands? Does this include Reservations? Could the Federal Government decide that they want parts of these lands for any reason?

Frequently Asked Questions. (n.d.). Retrieved July 20, 2016, from http://www.bia.gov/

Nabokov, P. (1991). Native American testimony: A chronicle of Indian-white relations from prophecy to the present, 1492-1992. New York, NY: Viking.

M3: Tribal Consultation with Federal Governments

I chose Tribal Consultation with Federal Governments due to the fact I work with GSA quite often in my job. I work in a DOD fire department, which would sound like we would have nothing to do with GSA (general services administration). But GSA is charged with most things that are influential in the government including real estate property, government buildings, and what we use them for; procurement and policies and regulations that are intertwined with purchasing. In order to keep things ethical (sounds strange considering all the trouble GSA has gotten into), they have regulations and policies that have to be abided by all government workers in order to stay “in their lane” to accomplish tasks (buying pencils, to purchasing properties). In these policies they have a section just to clarify their role (legal and political) to the relationship with Indian tribes. These relationships broaden to the federal government’s significant protection activities, by mandating that there is federal consultation with Native American tribes; and that they will be meaningful, in good faith, and entered into on a government-to-government basis. So for part of the discussion topic on blood quantum in module 3 (or Indianness); GSA would be using these categories or percentages to help with GSA vehicle sales, or even property donations from the U.S. Government. But for the most part, GSA is using these policies to make sure they are following the already passed treaties and practicing cultural sensitivity to try to accomplish their goals, at the same time without diminishing tribal government relations.

Section 106 & Tribal Consultation. (n.d.). Retrieved July 21, 2016, from http://www.gsa.gov/portal/content/101901 

Czombel M3 Academic Journal Blog Assignment

For Module 3’s Academic Journal Blog I chose the Online Reference United South & Eastern Tribes, Inc. (USET) established in 1969, located at http://www.usetinc.org/ as I hail from Western New York and was interested in learning more about the tribes in my geographic area. This site is dedicated to promoting Indian leadership, improving the quality of life for American Indians, and protecting Indian rights and resources on Tribal lands collectively, on a regional an national level.

            It is interesting to note that there is a calendar of several conferences scheduled in 2016 and 2017, and many of the agenda topics covered or will cover various health issues that you here in the news on a regular basis: High blood pressure, AIDS, childhood weight control, glycemic control, tobacco cessation, legalization of cannabis, diabetes and nutrition.

I had the pleasure of viewing the 45 minute USET’s 26 Tribal Nations Video, which explains the development of the organization occurred on October, 4^th, 1968 in Cherokee, North Carolina by four tribes, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida, and the Seminole Tribe of Florida. The current headquarters are centrally located within the twelve represented states in Nashville, Tennessee, and the standing President since 2006 is Brian Patterson, from the Oneida Nation.

Their motto? Strength in Unity. This is especially relevant in this day and age with all the unrest in the country related to racial and police brutality issues, including the mass shooting in Orlando and the attack on Dallas police this past week during a peaceful Black Lives Matter protest.

               

                                                                         Photo courtesy of http://www.usetinc.org/

 

The video describes the backgrounds and futures of the four tribes, starting with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians that date back over 11,000 years, before the Inca, Mayans, Greek and Egyptian empires. Key concepts presented were that this tribe developed agriculture, practiced democracy, where all adults met on important issues. Each village had a Peace Chief, a War Chief, and a Spiritual Leader, and The Three Sisters were honored, corn, beans and squash.

                          

    Photo courtesy of https://kbagdanov.wordpress.com/tag/three-sisters-garden/

 

The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians value their culture, which includes colorful dress making, traditional dancing, swamp cane baskets, stick ball and intricate bead work. Their creation story or point of origin centers around the Nanih Wayia Mound, or Mother Mound, pictured below.

                          

   Photo courtesy of http://gritsandsoul.blogspot.com/2010/08/happy-nanih-waiya-day.html

 

The Mississippi Choctaws are economically successful with the help of their democratically elected tribal chief, and seventeen-member tribal council. Development successes include those in high technology fields, resorts, casinos, hotels, golf club and theme park.

The Miccosukee Tribe of Florida focus on family values and look to nature to provide all the necessary resources to not only cultivate and sustain life, but also provide healing benefits.  They take pride in learning from their elders through oral tradition, and use this technique to articulate their philosophy and convey their way of life to their descendants. The Miccosukee’s colorful black, red and yellow striped flag symbolizes the circle of life, pictured below.

                            

     Photo courtesy of http://etc.usf.edu/clippix/picture/miccosukee-tribe-of-indians-flag-2.html

 

 The Seminole Tribe of Florida was a collection of refugees from various tribes in the Carolinas, Georgia, and Alabama.  By the 1950’s they managed to evade all government termination efforts and the tribe’s constitution was ratified in 1957, officially recognized by U.S. Congress.  Although they had constant challenges and setbacks, they managed a modest tribal economy through trading and craftsmanship. This included patchwork clothes, delicate sweet grass baskets, and dolls made from Palmetto fronds.  The led the way for gaming entrepreneurship in the United States, and take pride in the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino.  Tribal Council meeting were held under the legendary Council Oak, pictured below. 

                              

                Photo courtesy of http://www.monon.monon.org/sobend/counciloak.html