ICT - Opinion - Letters

Children are not ‘blank slates’

Sun, 21 Mar 2010 04:00:00 GMT

The article “A Life Filled With Scars” [Vol. 29, No. 41] about the life of Native-American adoptee Susan Harness described my experience as an adoptee with no known race.

No reason to be skeptical

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 13:09:57 GMT

As an American Indian or Alaska Native, you may be skeptical about government intrusions into your personal life. However, there is an upcoming monumental effort that needs the help of you and other American Indians and Alaska Natives: the 2010 Census.

Do more about domestic violence

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 04:00:00 GMT

Just about all victims of domestic violence struggle to find emergency and other services and supports, and that tends to be particularly difficult when the perpetrator is – or is connected to – a powerful leader. We need a serious investigation into the assault allegedly committed by New York State Governor Paterson’s top aide, David Johnson, and how Gov. Paterson may have intervened.

Cobell just tip of iceberg

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 04:00:00 GMT

Ten million acres of Indian allotments were stolen nationwide by the BIA land frauds. The Cobell case accounted for dollars missing from tribal and Individual Indian Money accounts, but it did not consider Indian allotments, oil wells and other Indian resources stolen prior to filing tribal and IIM claims. The IIM claim is extremely limited in its scope investigating BIA misconduct because it did not consider the pre-1966 Indian Money Damage claims or the loss of Indian title to speculators or loss of tribal sovereignty to states.

Health reform is suicide prevention

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 05:00:00 GMT

No one can say for sure what is stealing the spirits of our youth. I don’t think at any other point in the history of indigenous people did we see so many attempts and completions of youth taking their own lives. What is it about today’s world that makes many blind to hope? Native Americans have been through some crap and yet it has never affected us as tragically as it does now.

Don’t shoot the messenger

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 05:00:00 GMT

We live in a nation that has a black president. His election was made possible due to a large number of white voters who chose to vote for him. In fact, without the white vote, Obama could not have been elected. This should have put to rest the constant cries of racism in America. But it hasn’t. If we disagree with our president we are immediately labeled racist.

Corporations are not tribes

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 14:38:24 GMT

It is my understanding that corporations are legal fiction with no brains or morals. Tribes are families. Corporations have to put money above all else. Sometimes that just equals greed.

Ask Elouise – March 1, 2010

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 14:57:57 GMT

This is the third letter in a series of open letters I’m sending to Indian country to answer questions that you have asked me about settlement of the Cobell class action lawsuit. Prior Ask Elouise letters can be found on the settlement Web site.

Health care lies

Fri, 26 Feb 2010 15:10:16 GMT

‘The real parallel’

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 13:59:55 GMT

This is in response to Eliot Kalman’s letter, “Remember who the real victims are,” Feb. 12 [Vol. 29, No. 37].