Harsh realities of reservation life

While many people are sympathetic to the needs and misfortunes of others, it is often hard to comprehend the extent of the difficulties some people on Indian reservations can face. For most people who live in the dominant culture, almost everyone has the potential to find a job and the money or the resources needed to clothe their children, feed their elders, and repair their homes. It is often almost beyond our ability to comprehend that these are privileges which can be so hard to come by for many people who live on remote Indian reservations. With unemployment on the reservations reaching as high as 85%, with 45% of the children living below the poverty level and with a life expectancy of only 45 years for Native people living on reservations, its clear to see that America is not always a place of liberty and justice for all.

While there are programs such as Habitat for Humanity and others, they can only build or repair a few homes a year while the needs far outweigh available housing. And it’s important to realize how limited the resources are on some of the reservations. Tools and lumber all cost money and the economy on most of the reservations is limited to small shops and the sales of crafts. Business owners face political hardships and are often shunned by investors. And while some reservations do better than others with their casinos, but its important to realize that very little of that money ever reaches the people who are most in need. We are used to seeing the faces of poverty overseas but in fact, there are many faces right here at home that can use your help.

America waged war against the Indians for hundreds of years and in some ways that war continues. In South Dakota, where businesses are encouraged to invest in the bigger cities and tourism is kept to the areas where the dominant population can profit, it is time for all of us to take a stand and come to the aid of our Native brothers and sisters and alleviate some of the suffering inflicted by an unyeilding political situation.

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Today in history -

1660: Wamsetta, a WAMPANOAG, and his younger brother, Metacomet (various spellings), have requested "English" names from the Plymouth court. Today, their names will be officially be changed to Alexander and Philip Pokanoket. Philip would eventually be called "King Philip."

1715: As a part of the YAMASSEE war, today, South Carolina militia, led by George Chicken, battle coastal indians. The fight, which took place near the ponds on Goose Creek, resulted in a defeat for the Indians. The Indians sustained forty fatalities. Many of the coastal Indians would withdraw their support for the war after this defeat.

Ponca Tribe seeks independence

In many ways, the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska's rise from near extinction to restoration began with a question from Fred Leroy's daughter."

She asked why there was nothing in the history books about the Ponca Tribe," said Leroy, 57, of Omaha, a member of the Ponca Tribal Council.

For Leroy and others, the question triggered the movement to rebuild the Ponca Tribe from heirloom to provider of homes, health care and other services for its more than 2,500 members.

On Monday, the tribe hosted more than 60 people at an open house in its new Sioux City office at 119 Sixth St. The office staff hopes to guide more than 80 of the city's tribal members to its educational, social and cultural services.

It's the sixth field office for the tribe, with an Iowa location in Carter Lake and Nebraska stops in Lincoln, Niobrara, Norfolk and Omaha. As part of the restoration agreement, the tribe does not have a reservation and the offices are central locations for tribal members spread throughout the region, Leroy said.

The Poncas lost their traditional land holdings in northeast Nebraska in 1966 when the tribe lost federal recognition and all the benefits that went with it. Starting in 1945, the federal government began removing American Indians and their land from federal trust in order to withdraw federal services and money that had been provided to Indian people through treaties.

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Making history: The Warriors of AniKituhwa

CHEROKEE, N.C. - The Warriors of AniKituhwa, a Cherokee dance group, have been making history by recreating Cherokee dances described in 1762, including the War Dance and the Eagle Tail Dance. They are revitalizing Cherokee dance by bringing back other dances from the past, doing research and offering dance workshops for their community. In the past, they have danced at the National Museum of the American Indian, Colonial Williamsburg and at events in North Carolina, Tennessee and Georgia.

''I'm proud of our young men who have taken the initiative to dance traditional Cherokee dances. It's assurance that our people will keep dancing and keep alive our authentic dances,'' said Marie Junaluska, tribal council member from Painttown and one of the founders of the group.

Designated as official cultural ambassadors by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, the original dancers include John Grant Jr., Daniel Sonny Ledford, John Bullet Standingdeer, Bo Taylor, Daniel Tramper, Robert Tramper and Will Tuska. Their singer is Walker Calhoun, respected Cherokee elder and recipient of many awards for his role in preserving Cherokee music and dance. The Museum of the Cherokee Indian is their official sponsor. Men who have joined the group in 2005 include Ty Oocumma, David Owle and Jeremy Sequoyah.

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