Understanding the circumstances of how and why Native American peoples live under the conditions they do is at the heart of advocating for their civil rights, for their justice. After years of being persecuted with genocide, their lands stolen and all rights taken from them by putting them in concentration camps we put the fancy name of Reservation on–they are still struggling. The system was set up to do just that, to deal the final blow, a revenge for their defiance toward the white hoards who invaded the Americas. Once welcome, the whites quickly devised a plan to eradicate or ‘whiten’ the native. They defied, because humanity cannot be caged, cannot be denied it’s free expression, its literal freedom. And, why should it have to be subdued to conform to some idea a few Europeans decided was the only way to live?

Often, I am met with flack for my decision to advocate for a people I am not genetically related to in anyway. The flack comes from other whites claiming I am a racist against my own kind. “They slaughtered my ancestors, and they’re not good people, like you like to think,” is the usual response. But, I defy anyone not to fight back when their homes are being destroyed. What did your ancestors, what do you expect someone to do when you invade their home? I mean, seriously? To put it into perspective: my family is coming to your house and taking everything, including your financials. It’s now ours. Fuck you. It’s ours and you need to go to a camp of my designation where I can subdue and impoverish you in such a way that you cannot ever reclaim what is now mine. You’re damn right they fought back, and the not so nice people were your ancestors who STOLE and then murdered other people with no cause but that they wanted what these other people had and viewed them as unworthy of life.

“Immediately it is possible to think of many reasons why tribal members are often focused on economic survival. The high unemployment rate on many reservations does not provide a stable economic base. Most reservation people either work at low paying jobs or receive some government assistance. Since a significant portion of tribal members are supported by government resources, they often have time, but few funds.”

That is an economic plan that has been in place since reservations, all focused on control and cull policy.

Read more: Living or Surviving on Native American Reservations – ICTMN.com