While Native American activists successfully
lobbied the Obama administration to act against an NFL team accused of using a
derogatory name, recent reports show the federal government is responding with
its own – much more direct – insult.
Following publicized disputes over federal land grabs in states
including Nevada, Texas, and Utah, the Department of the Interior is reportedly
looking at Sioux tribal reservations in South Dakota as its next target.
According to a report by Global Research, the agency intends to transfer ownership of a significant area of Oglala and Lakota Sioux property into a Tribal National Park under the operation of the National Parks Service. Despite the name, however, those Native Americans being affected will have no control of or claim to the land being taken.
According to a report by Global Research, the agency intends to transfer ownership of a significant area of Oglala and Lakota Sioux property into a Tribal National Park under the operation of the National Parks Service. Despite the name, however, those Native Americans being affected will have no control of or claim to the land being taken.
Congress is now reportedly considering a bill that would allow
federal authorities to make an offer to both Native and non-Native American
landowners for the property. If residents refuse the deal, the government can
then declare eminent domain and simply take ownership of the land, the report
states.
Compounding the issue is the fact that the average income of
tribal residents in the area is just $8,000 per year; and if forced to leave
their property and lose what ability they do have to provide for their
families, the economic fallout could be disastrous.
Some in the community feel this is just the beginning of a
protracted battle between local and federal forces.
“There is a feeling of common cause between attached parties on
this issue,” tribal rancher Bud May said, “namely tribes and other
reservations. The bottom line is we’ll all be under dictatorial control if
something is not done quick.”
The ‘common cause’ May referred to even goes beyond coordinated
efforts by Native American tribes, according to radio host Lory Storm.
“The difference between this situation and the Bundy Ranch
conflict?” she asked. “It will be the first time in the history of our country
that the cowboys and Indians pose a united front against a federal government
that is used to winning battles by first dividing and then conquering.”
Source: http://www.westernjournalism.com/federal-governments-latest-land-seizure-hits-residents-state/#8Rky3RSsbJKT5Svz.99 Christopher Agee — July 2, 2014, Black Hill Badlands
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