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Issues And Controversies Of Life On Reservations

Hello everyone , I want to start of by saying that I am 25% cherokee and a member of an intertribal village here in Pennsylvania. My native name is Usti Yansi, or in english, little buffalo. One of the things that I have always thought very deeply about and still always desired more input on is the issues and controversies of living on reservations as compared to life outside of the reservation. Do not get me wrong that I am truly proud of my heritage, but I cant ignore the fact that there are things that go on in reservations that I simply cant ignore. To start off, 5 years ago when I was only 11 years old I went to a seneca reservation to a veterans powwow, and I remember off to the side was an old run down building that didn't even look fit to live in, I walked up to the building and asked a woman beside me if anyone lived in it, and she said " oh no, thats the elementary school". The elementary school, immediately from there I became puzzled, puzzled as to how it could be a proper environment to educate children, and another thing I've been researching is how Cherokee Nation Enterprises takes so much money from their own people when they are starving and without water, to describe this better look up Sorrow and poverty in the cherokee nation or something similar to that on youtube. And also the reports of severe alcohol, drug, and child abuse that is said to be an issue on several reservations. What I want to do is I want people to discuss on here their opinions of reservation life compared to outside reservation life, and issues and controversies with native americans in general. Perhaps I am wrong about my opinions, thats what I am here to learn.

Reservations Life Controversies Issues

That is so sad to read. Does the government give any money towards the development of these reservations or is it sort of fend for yourself sort of thing?

Issues And Controversies Of Life On Reservations History & Civil Business Politics

if I'm not mistaken a lot of reservation people will receive something similar to a welfare program, where they get a certain amount of food and maybe a little money. It would be nice if the government did more but I personally don't blame the government for their problems. It seems to me that they need to fix up their education system if they want the next generation to be able to get good jobs and earn money and maybe even boost the lifestyle on reservations.

Rather off topic, but...
First off Hello fair Maiden its nice to meet you . I am sorry it took so long to reply, this board has a rather strange rule where you can not reply for another 12 hours?

Reservations Life Controversies Issues

I was thinking more about actual investment in the reservation's infrastructure just like how its done in each state with allocations for roads, buildings and anything public really.

Rather off topic, but...
Hi there! There isn't such a thing. You should only get that message if you try to reply to your own post but if someone has posted after you it shouldn't matter but if I'm wrong go to your intro thread and tell them about it they'll fix it for you.

Reservations Life Controversies Issues

You know thats a really good question, to be honest with you I cant say for sure but I believe most reservation governments are responsible for anything public like roads etc, and believe me when I was on a reservation the roads were horrible! but that is something I will have to take a more in depth look at

Issues And Controversies Of Life On Reservations

Then how does the reservation government raise money if there is no taxation? They should receive some kind of assistance for infrastructure and things like that shouldn't they?

Issues Controversies Life Reservations

Well I tried to do a little more research on tax systems on reservations, and according to an online article called "Facts on Native American funding" it says

Sorrow and Poverty in the Cherokee Nation" on youtube, it says that millions of federal tax dollars go to their organization, yet it seems to me based on this video that the money they receive to pay or services like constructing community buildings and health and dental work doesn't go to causes like this and are used for other purposes. As it says they receive an annual revenue of 418 million dollars, yet supposedly only 30 million go to the people, if even that. Its a very interesting video and I would recommend looking it up , I am sorry I am unable to inform you much more on the subject of infrastructure as I myself am trying to learn as well.

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Persephone: Please look at how we use the Quote Tags here. When you do not use these tags source material that is not your own may appear to be yours when it is not. See our Constructive Posting Policy.

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What purposes could there be. If there is some kind of audit system then someone can be held accountable for the money they receive.