The tribeofhumanbeings.org salutes Elouise Cobell, one of the most tenacious Indian warriors of all time. Elouise Cobell is a member of the Blackfoot Tribe. She is the super lawyer that initiated and won a decades long court battle to recover from the U. S. Government, some of the billions of dollars swindled and mismanaged from the Indian Trust Lands.
The settlement of 3.5 billion dollars, while seemingly very large, is likely far short of what is actually due to the benefactors. Commenting on the amount of the settlement, Ms. Cobell suggested that it was no where near what is due to the benefactors, but compassion for the dwindling elder population has made the agreement necessary now. With 25,000 or more Native American citizens living in Third-World poverty it became essential to gain access to the funds now; as opposed to continuing the long and tedious courtroom battles.
“… Ms. Cobell is a recipient of the 1997 “Genius Grant” from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation Fellowship Program. In 2005 she received a “Cultural Freedom Fellowship” from the Lannan Foundation, an award that cited her persistence in bringing to light the government’s “more than a century of government malfeasance and dishonesty” with the Indian Trust. In 2007 she was one of ten people given the AARP Impact Award (for making the world a better place) and in 2004 The National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development presented her with the Jay Silverheels Achievement Award….” (From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)
The historical record, of the government’s mismanagement and chicanery, does not seem to warrant an extension of their control over Indian Trust Lands. The tribeofhumanbeings.org cannot comprehend why these lands still remain under the control of the government. There is no reason existing to continue to subject the tribal lands to the BIA, HUD, or any other government bureaucracy.
Our sense is that most citizens, Indian or non Indian, would like to see the property from the Indian Trust Lands awarded to the Indians to manage and control. In fact, we are certain it is long past the time, for all other cultures to reach out to the reservation communities; embrace them, and welcome them into the mainstream of the times.
The laws of nature and civilized society both, require we all walk as equals upon Mother Earth.
It is a primary law of nature that all human cultures must evolve into the present; or they will ultimately perish and die. The idea that any prior culture was somehow preferable to the culture of their descendants is not possible. No culture can remain stagnant and timeless. Even though we have wrapped up the Native Americans, in isolated racist compounds, they have not remained stagnant. They have continued to evolve a unique culture to the times in which they are living. It has just been made more difficult for them; from the draconian, antebellum, racist policies of the government, having been sustained for far too long.
We really did not develop reservations to reserve or preserve Native American culture; we did it to grow ours unimpeded by theirs. It has never been a humane way to treat our fellow human beings. The Bureau of Indian Affairs was born of racism and has been a disgrace to the citizens of the United States for two centuries. It has now become a disgrace to all mankind. A racist institution does not become better with age. It simply becomes more grotesque and burdensome to decent people.
Ms. Cobell’s herculean effort to obtain a portion of the mishandled funds from the Indian Trust Lands clearly demonstrates that it is long past the time for Indian communities to be given title of their lands and control of their own affairs.
Thank You Elouise Cobell: A great Indian warrior and an even greater American leader! You have done your people and your country a great service.