What do Indians Want?

Thanks, Zenman.

From my own experiences and from what I have read, many of today's Indian wish the same opportunities as are provided to the non-Indian. Being the first people/the first inhabitants of this great country, this is not really too much to ask. Truly having the equal opportunites in law, health care, education, housing, employment, and social support which others enjoy, if not take for granted. An Indian mother should not have to make a choice between having toothpaste or breakfast for her children. An Indian elder shouldn't have to choose between having a medication for a heart condition or having food for an evening meal or having a warm coat. A young Indian man/boy shouldn't need to make a choice between selling meth or having a legitimate job...as a means to acquire equal opportunity for employment in order to ensure an income. A young Indian woman/girl shouldn't need to choose between reporting her own rape or staying silent about it because the current reservation laws allow the practice of non-Indian non-reservation rapists to go scott free when they commit them. An Indian man should not have to make a choice between freezing to death in the winter or commiting a crime in order to ensure a warm jail cell in order to survive. An Indian man or woman shouldn't need to choose between living in a shack without electricity/plumbing or living in a broken down car...and calling it home. An Indian family shouldn't need to make a choice between traveling 100-400 miles to obtain adequate health care or to just stay home and deal with it the best they can when a significant health care issue/emergency presents itself. An Indian family shouldn't have to choose between consistant heat for the winter or having consistant family medical care or consistant food on the table. Currently, for many Indian in our poverty stricken areas, the choices are very limited to them...much due to very poor access and availability of such services afforded to them. We really don't have to travel half way around the world to view third world conditions in order to assist a people...we have it right here in our own backyard...our own indigenous...our own people...who wish to have the same sense of parity that other citizens often have and benefit from. Also, since the Indian are a people of culture and are a people with a strong sense of history, they also wish to have their customs and traditions respected by others...just like any other people. This entails also the freedoms of their beliefs and religions without ridicule as well as enjoying a lifestyle that is free from any racial prejudice. Opportunities to date have been piecemeal or next to none at all. Many of the Indian are a proud people, who often do not ask for much assistance. They attempt to make do with what they have with the little they have. Begging is often not of their style or from their tradition...for they are a proud people of culture. But, they are a forgotten people...and they know it...which leads them further into their despair. At times, they may even feel angry about it. In this, I certainly cannot blame them.

Thank you for your question.

And I absolutely love your current avatar.

Thank you! This form is excellent and full of insight into the lives of the Natives and their needs. Thank you for this information.

Elsewhere I posted an article about the Australian gov't officially apologizing to the aborigine population for what was done to them. Some striking similarities between their story and the NAI story. I wonder what it would take for the US gov't to do something similar, or would it be too little too late.

I am city raised not rez raised. I would say that all the rez raised ndns I know would roll their eyes if the US government apoligized. No way would anyone I know beleive a word that floated out of some government official's mouth. I would also say some tribes would be more vocal then others. The Florida Seminoles and the Pequot tribes might say oh ok in public because they are economically doing very well while rolling their eyes in disgust in private. The Lakotas and others who more economically depressed would be probably openly sneer on this one. No way is anyone at Pine Ridge or Rosebud going to buy another "sorry about that" line from anyone. Anyways like I said just my opinion from the people I know how that one would spin.

This summer I met 2 Indian boys, both friends of my grandsons, who live in Wisconsin. One boy was respectful, interesting, motivated by life and his culture, and truly someone I was glad to meet. The other boy was something of a teenage jerk. Funny thing, I did not know these boys were Indians until they left and my grandson told me. He laughed when I told him the one was a jerk. He said yes, he is but he blames it on white people. I told my grandson not to fall for that line.

He said he didn't.

Why would anyone, no matter race, creed, or color want anything less than:

1. Respect

2. Educational opportunities

3. Economic opportunities

4. Adequate living accomandations

5. Adequate health care opportunities

6. The opportunity to take their place, good or bad in the human race.

This summer I met 2 Indian boys, both friends of my grandsons, who live in Wisconsin. One boy was respectful, interesting, motivated by life and his culture, and truly someone I was glad to meet. The other boy was something of a teenage jerk. Funny thing, I did not know these boys were Indians until they left and my grandson told me. He laughed when I told him the one was a jerk. He said yes, he is but he blames it on white people. I told my grandson not to fall for that line.

He said he didn't.

Why would anyone, no matter race, creed, or color want anything less than:

1. Respect

2. Educational opportunities

3. Economic opportunities

4. Adequate living accomandations

5. Adequate health care opportunities

6. The opportunity to take their place, good or bad in the human race.

You're right about not falling for that line. The kid in question is a brat and he'll grow up to be a taller brat who blames everything on everyone but himself. By the time he's grown he'll blame his tribe for "acting white" or "acting too traditional"

He needs to be sent to go live with some traditionals they'll work the jerk right out him and he won't even consider coming back with some retort with some older folks.

Your 6 suggestions are great for what any human should have. The singing group Ulali has a song that includes all of what you mentioned.

thanks Thunderwolf. You said it all.