Big Business in, Native peoples out!

Originally posted by scottsquared
Solutions? Nice thoughts, but can you name ONE Native American who has "made it big?"

Wes Studi for ONE

And by the way, I just found this website. Pretty interesting! All Native American actors!

www.nativecelebs.com...

Thanks for that!!! Of course, "making it big" can have different meanings. When a Native American has a successful career as an actor or an athlete, for example, that is a far cry from what I would call truely wealthy. I'll give you an example from actor/comedian Chris Rock: Shac is rich but Bill Gates is wealthy. The two are incomparable.

The example you give is excellent, Wes Studi has made/continues to make every effort to give back to his community. He remains a teacher and an activist. If only more people could share of themselves, give back to thier communities, the World would be a better place. Studi has also maintained his herritage, he has found a place in mainstream life, but he has not forgotten his roots. This is vital for the continued existance of his people. All too many people from disadvantaged upbringing forget thier roots as soon as they have made some success.

This just in: Department of Interior seeks to block investigations of malfeasance.
www.nytimes.com...
The travesty continues.

www.indiancountry.com...
This on the neo-con/Christian philosophy supporting the demise of Native land holdings.
Don't believe the administration's lip-service in affirming sovereignty at the Museum of the American Indian dedication cerimony. The Interior department feels itself to be sovereign from any decision/mandate from Judical.

When will the American people take a stand in defense of what is right?

[edit on 26-9-2004 by scottsquared]

[edit on 26-9-2004 by scottsquared]

Originally posted by scottsquared
Solutions? Nice thoughts, but can you name ONE Native American who has "made it big?"

Ohiyesa "Dr. Charles Eastman"...one of my best professors once wrote a book about Ohiyesa that we all read in class.

Although the list is short there are a few that have "made it big" so to say. Its completely terrible what not only our government, but others have been doing to Native people's. The Sioux are still waiting to get back the Black Hills region that was stolen from them when gold was discovered on their lands. The US has offered to purchase the Black Hills region from the Sioux and an amount of money that grows every year that now totals over a Billion dollars should they ever decide to sell it...will be their's. However, the Sioux refuse to sell their lands that were stolen from them (literally...through false pretenses and lies told to Natives that signed over the lands originally) because it is literally the "center of their world". According to the Sioux of the region they were "born" from the Black Hills. In 1868 Paha Sapa was granted to the Sioux forever, and in 1872 miners unlawfully invaded the region with the US later sending in troops in 1874 who included Custer that declared the hills were filled with gold.

This is just one event out of many that continue to this day.

It NOT really funny that this behavior continues to this day. Again, just another example that people will do anything just to make a little money even if it means destroying both nature and a fellow human being.

[edit on 26-9-2004 by Jazzerman]