Most recently, I'm disappointed and irritated by the establishment of a new federal organization and its pathetically crafted first meeting.
I have an interest in Native American issues and activities. It's not necessary, here and now, to get into the reasons for that interest. In the past, I was somewhat actively involved in my immediate geographic area, at the time; no longer. But, I do follow some things as I learn about them.
In June of this year, the President, by Executive Order, established the White House Council on Native American Affairs. This was done in response to a focus and request by tribal leaders.
Section 1. Policy. "The United States recognizes a government-to-government relationship, as well as a unique legal and political relationship, with federally recognized tribes."
Unfortunately, the entire rest of the Executive Order does nothing but establish yet another bureaucratic organization without membership or defined participation by the parties affected and recognized in its establishment: the Native Americans who requested this involvement.
Clearly, the United States government does NOT recognize a government-to-government relationship, but rather an apparent patriarchal, overseer relationship.
This is a huge disappointment. More so, I'm sure for the tribal leaders who had such high hopes than for someone like myself watching from the sidelines.
The convening of the first "meeting" of said council demonstrates so obviously that: "The Secretary of Interior has NO clue how to include constituents, NO clue about the relationship between Native people and their leaders and the United States government. She is NOT qualified, therefore, to be in her position nor to conduct this and any future meeting of this kind." -- from my email to the White House.
As someone who has spent a career in public service and in management and as someone who has been mostly unemployed for over 2 years and who recently lost my house because of my inability to pay the mortgage, I am very irritated by this embarrassing and insulting "meeting". This is nothing more than a token gesture. This is NOT, I'm sure, what tribal leaders wanted nor intended in their requests.
As a citizen, I would like to see my government making efforts to do substantive work in all areas, not just convening pointless meetings to have more discussions, excluding the very people from whom they need to be seeking input.
Many of us have outgrown this kind of government. We are not children asking for "guidance from above". We are, many of us, intelligent, capable, creative individuals with a high degree of vision about our own lives and the future of our country and our world. And, our Constitution defines our right, outside the purview of any of our various governments, to conduct our lives as we see fit. So, while treaties define the relationship between the Native Nations of this continent, our Native cousins can also be seen as having those same rights and capabilities to conduct their own lives and business. They have simply asked for a single arena in which to conduct their business with our federal government rather than the multitude of agencies with which they currently have to deal; as I understand it.
I include a photo of the two-row wampum belt which was made as the document of the treaty between the Dutch government in New York State and the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Nations in 1613 as the beginning of the conceptual relationship between the Native People of this continent and the government of the United States. The rows of purple beads signify the path of two vessels, that of the Haudenosaunee dugout canoe and that of the Dutch ship, traveling parallel paths down the river of life but never touching; the understanding that neither interferes with the path of the other. This is the relationship desired by the Native people of our country and it is my understanding that this is the relationship defined in many treaties but not adhered to.
I do, however, think that the expectations of the People (Native People), in view of the entirety of the Executive Order, were not going to be met and, perhaps, the outcome might have been foreseen, given the language of the text and the history of the relationship. There is nothing in the Executive Order describing or defining input from tribal leaders, or input of any kind from outside the various, and numerous, representatives of the various and myriad (there's a literary phrase that escapes me...) government departments and agencies.
I suspect that the requests and discussions of tribal leaders with the President, the Executive Branch and various agencies, were more politic than clearly defined and assertive in their expectations. In my experience, while words similar to: "You say that you are our Father and I am your Son. We say 'We will not be like Father and Son, but like Brothers." (no source cited - Wikipedia) have been spoken by my Native cousins, many actions I've witnessed have belied these thoughts. I imagine that the desire to maintain peace has, generally, tempered most discussions and demands. While I understand that the actual relationship is not as agreed to: separate and equal, I don't believe that anything will change unless and until Native leaders stop behaving as if the historically defined relationship is what exists. I don't believe that protesting the lie, or fighting about the difference between agreement and reality works either. Like many relationships, what is spoken of is often a lie, a fantasy. Still, if the defined relationship is what is desired, there are steps that one party can take to move toward the desired end without discussion, without agreement (the relationship is already defined, the actuality is simply ignoring the definition). Much has been done in gaining independence and self-determination. Much more is needed and is possible. There will be mistakes. There will be sacrifices. There will be conflicts. The Native Nations of this continent DO NOT NEED THE PERMISSION OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT to conduct their business, to provide for their people, to create a future for their nations that they desire. That's the desirable end, from where I stand.
Just my opinion.
