Last week, I wrote about the issue of tribal sovereignty in light of recent comments made by County Supervisor Peter Adam, and I invited readers to let me know their thoughts on the subject.
I must admit that I was surprised by the responses I received.
One writer from Orcutt emailed me to say, “I agree with your questioning of the whole concept of tribal lands, federally recognized sovereignty, and fee-to-trust issues.
“The descendants of the American Indian tribes should have to live by the same laws as the rest of the county and state in which they now reside.
“These current residents of our tribal lands should not be allowed to disregard the policies, guidelines, and laws that were enacted to provide for all of our ‘common good’ as citizens of our county, state, and nation, simply because of a law enacted in 1778, to make amends for what was admittedly an egregious wrong inflicted on their ancestors.
“The tribes should meet the same standards as the community as a whole, and not receive special dispensation for land use, zoning, construction mitigations, etc.”
A writer from Lompoc emailed to say, “Our 4th District Santa Barbara County Supervisor Peter Adam’s comments regarding the fee-to-trust issue are supported by we constituents here in Lompoc.
“The whole system of sovereign Indian reservations is archaic and out of keeping with a modern society. All of us were badly treated at some point in history. This is not a cause for eternal retribution as the liberal 1st District supervisor, Salud Carbajal, would have us believe. The Indians are actually slaves of the Bureau of Indian Affairs in the Department of the Interior. As such, Mr. Peter Adam’s concerns cannot be considered at the county level. They are federal issues.
“It is another ‘third rail’ issue.
“The reservations should be dissolved and the Indians given their fair share of land and trust funds and then they would become full-status American citizens with equal rights to pay taxes like all of us have to, and come under all state laws.
“They would also become among the richest people in America. It is their land and mining profit funds being held by the Bureau.”
Sorry to burst anyone’s bubbles, but saying we should maybe revisit an issue from time to time doesn’t mean I disagree with the current system—and I now have a better idea of how my words came across. I hope Supervisor Adam does too.
I certainly disagree with comparing the atrocities that led to the system of reservations to misfortunes that befall everyone at one time or another in our lives. To say “all of us were badly treated at some point in history” trivializes what is obviously already a more than sensitive subject.
In fact, despite how my column may have sounded—as was made apparent to me by the responses I got—my beliefs more closely align with Tribal Chairman of the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians Vincent Armenta, who said in a press release about Adam’s words, “This type of ignorant comment shows what our tribe is up against when we try to work with the county of Santa Barbara, and it shows why these officials refuse to recognize our tribe as a government.”
That quote, to me, shows that, yes, there are problems with the system when one governmental body can effectively ignore the status of another. And that, perhaps, is a better thing to question, especially in an environment in which the letters I got in response to my call for opinions were universally critical.
Here, then, is another email I received:
“Sovereignty is one of the greatest gifts for the Native American people. This enables them to run their own reservation. But when sovereignty is used to disregard the laws that protect the people who are employed by them, then it becomes questionable. Let’s talk about ADA laws for the disabled. Apparently these laws are dismissed. What does sovereignty mean; (The right to govern without outside interference from the government). No one will confront the tribes due to the fact that they are protected and allowed to do as they will even if it is wrong.
“My tribe takes care of their old and their sick. They have the compassion that instills respect and loyalty. This generation of Native Americans have let the past rule their thoughts. They dwell on the injustice that their ancestors had to endure, and use this fact to justify their actions.
“If you think about it, the tribes were at war which each other before anyone else invaded the Americas. Their plights were also over land and unjust practices. Yes they were violated by invaders and cruel practices, but what nationality wasn’t? You cannot rule out that our higher power said go forth and multiply and did not say go forth and hold grudges against everyone but your own kind.
“As long as outsiders come in and run the businesses of the Native American people they risk the misuse of their sovereignty. Remember the Trail of Tears and how our ancestors were so trusting? Although these non-native people are making money for the tribe, the tribe turns its head to what is a misuse of their governing power.
“I believe that no matter who you are or what you are, we all bleed red, breathe the same air, and learn from our past. I urge all tribes to protect their sovereignty by involving themselves and find out how their trusted overseers are truly running their lives and not just rely on the fact that money is being made in the name of (it’s just business).”
The Canary is now interested to see how this column will be received. Send comments or ideas to canary@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Feb 5-12, 2015.
