American Indians and reserves (Isle, Hills: how much, squatters, school)

[kandj48]

I live in AZ, and I can tell you Eurogal, American Indians are not particularly friendly towards Anglos. They are not overtly hostile, but can be somewhat uncommunicative and distant. I have worked with Native families for many years, and can say from experience, that they generally do not warm up to White people. They feel that they have been fighting terrorism since 1492, and quite honestly, they have reason to have this attitude. Don't be fooled by what you may see on the telly or in the cinema. The typical rez in AZ is festering in poverty, illness, and terrible sub abuse problems. Gaming has helped in generating revenue for many of the tribes, but many Indians have little education and can't seem to escape from the poverty cycle even if they are receiving checks.

Another thing is that powwows are not tourist traps. They are a way for Indian commmunities to gather and share their heritage. I go to 3 powwows a year here, and I don't think there is any one thing that I enjoy more. They are not tourist traps, and in fact, you hardly even see any Anglos at these events because I think White people get intimidated by being in the minority for a change. They seem to come out of curiosity, but leave after a while. I have very much noticed this, but I might be wrong in my observations. Maybe they just don't like to powwow. If you go to powwows, you will not be embraced for showing up. Even though most powwows are advertised as "open to everyone," AIs could care less if non-Natives don't show up. Should you decide to go(and I highly recommend it), make sure to do your research on powwow etiquette. It's very important to be respectful of tradition as you would do at any other cultural event. Actually, I would even say more so with NA events.

[Camden Northsider]

Originally Posted by Delaneyland

All the finances of the rez are produced by the Casino (just down the road from us) and whether you agree or disagree with the Native Gambling issue, it sure generates a lot of jobs and money for the Natives.

and, in most situations, it creates a lot of jobs, money, and tax revenues for non-natives as well.

[Camden Northsider]

Originally Posted by kandj48

I live in AZ, and I can tell you Eurogal, American Indians are not particularly friendly towards Anglos. They are not overtly hostile, but can be somewhat uncommunicative and distant. I have worked with Native families for many years, and can say from experience, that they generally do not warm up to White people. They feel that they have been fighting terrorism since 1492, and quite honestly, they have reason to have this attitude.

There are so many American Indian nations throughout all parts of the US that it really does a disservice to say that your experience with a specific tribe in a specific part of the nation is representative of Native persons throughout the US or North America. Just as most Americans wouldn't want a foreign persons' views of Texans to be used to describe all Americans....

Many of the reservations in the Midwest are still struggling to break free from poverty and health concerns, but the casinos have drastically improved the quality of life in a number of reservations (esp seen in MN). You won't notice a difference other than a sign on the highway to notice a reservation - Really most of them are just like any other small town in the Midwest and there would most likely be cultural events that you would be able to attend. I would suggest that if you would like to learn more about a culture different than your own and specifically american indian heritage - become active with a reservation or (if in the cities) an american-indian based organization by volunteering with them.

[TimtheGuy]

Originally Posted by Camden Northsider

and, in most situations, it creates a lot of jobs, money, and tax revenues for non-natives as well.

Actually here in MN the state doesn't receive a penny in tax revenue from the $billion+ taken in at the casinos. It is a terrible set-up.

[rcsteiner]

Originally Posted by kandj48

I live in AZ, and I can tell you Eurogal, American Indians are not particularly friendly towards Anglos.

Who cares about "Anglos"...? Most folks in MN are of German/Scandanavian heritage, not British.

[my54ford]

Originally Posted by MorningGlory

Yeah right. Apparently you missed American history 101.

Apparently stealing an entire nation and commiting centuries of genocide is not enough for some people!!!!

Thats what you get bringing a bow and arrow to a gun fight................

[Auntie Bob]

Originally Posted by TimtheGuy

Actually here in MN the state doesn't receive a penny in tax revenue from the $billion+ taken in at the casinos. It is a terrible set-up.

I'm not sure if the Indian Gaming Compacts actually include any fees going from the gaming to the state or not but, the casino here charges state sales tax on everything they sell..even though they aren't legally required to.
The tribes could easily be selling things like gas and cigarettes and not charging people taxes, meaning the State would be getting a lot less money.

Whether they pay taxes directly is rather a moot point, given the amount of revenue they generate both for the Reservation and the surrounding community though. Here, the Reservation/Casino is the largest employer in the county, bigger even than any of the mills which have always been the life blood of this community. Not to mention that they are willing to employ a lot of people that would have a hard time finding work anywhere else.

[Auntie Bob]

Originally Posted by my54ford

Thats what you get bringing a bow and arrow to a gun fight................

More like.....that's what you get for blindly trusting people to live up to their word.

[my54ford]

Originally Posted by Auntie Bob

More like.....that's what you get for blindly trusting people to live up to their word.

Come on now..... history is full of examples of one group being overrun by another. Being true to your word can't be done. Some day this little experiment in Democrecy will be replaced by something else. Nothing last forever! just ask Pax Romana, or the British Empire of the 19th Century, or Czar Peter. etc.etc.

[Auntie Bob]

Originally Posted by kandj48

I live in AZ, and I can tell you Eurogal, American Indians are not particularly friendly towards Anglos. They are not overtly hostile, but can be somewhat uncommunicative and distant. I have worked with Native families for many years, and can say from experience, that they generally do not warm up to White people. They feel that they have been fighting terrorism since 1492, and quite honestly, they have reason to have this attitude. Don't be fooled by what you may see on the telly or in the cinema. The typical rez in AZ is festering in poverty, illness, and terrible sub abuse problems. Gaming has helped in generating revenue for many of the tribes, but many Indians have little education and can't seem to escape from the poverty cycle even if they are receiving checks.

I've found that the differences in NA people across the US is vast. The Southwest tribes still seem to live a much more traditional life on the whole than those in the The Mid-west or north. Those on the East Coast are so different you surely wouldn't ever think they were all one people. Reservations across the US vary widely too. From the very poorest like the ones in South Dakota to the ones on the East Coast that have very little land or people left but, because of gambling, all the members of the tribe are millionaires.
It's rather mind boggling when you get into it. There are East Coast tribes that consist of less than 100 people. Then there's the ones in the Mid-West that have huge reservations and populations to match.
I do think that, for the most part, the Native Americans in the mid-west and north have integrated into white society much more than those of the southwest and Florida. Sometimes, that's been to their detriment as they are now fighting an uphill battle in preserving and restoring their language and customs. To their credit, they are working hard on it though.