1989 - American Indian Activist Russell Means testifies at Senate Hearing
Summary
TLDRThe transcript features an impassioned speech by an Oglala Lakota representative addressing U.S. senators. The speaker highlights the historical and ongoing struggles faced by Native Americans, emphasizing the systemic issues of oppression, loss of sovereignty, and economic hardship caused by federal policies. They discuss the detrimental effects of laws like the Indian Reorganization Act, corruption within the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the exploitation of resources on tribal lands. The speaker calls for American Indian self-determination, restoration of property rights, and the abolishment of the BIA to allow tribal nations to regain control over their destinies.
Takeaways
- 🌍 The speaker introduces themselves with a traditional Lakota greeting, explaining their Oglala Lakota heritage and connection to the sacred Black Hills.
- 🗣️ American Indians face systemic challenges in the United States that prevent them from fully identifying as American Indians, despite being citizens and contributors to society.
- 📉 Historical injustices have consistently undermined Native American economic self-sufficiency, particularly through land allotments, livestock reductions, and forced reliance on flawed tribal governments.
- 🎰 The success of Native American-run gaming operations has been undermined by government intervention, despite proving highly successful for generating revenue for local and state governments.
- 💼 Corruption within the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and tribal governments has hindered economic development on reservations, with mismanagement and exploitation of land leases being common issues.
- 🏚️ The speaker highlights the BIA's failure to enforce trust responsibilities, leading to dangerous infrastructure and corruption on reservations.
- 🎓 Education systems on reservations fail to teach positive values from Native or non-Native cultures, contributing to widespread social issues like child abuse.
- ⚖️ Legal services for American Indians have been restricted, limiting the ability to hold tribal governments accountable and fight for individual rights.
- 🇺🇸 Dual citizenship for Native Americans (U.S. and tribal) complicates sovereignty and self-determination, creating obstacles for both individuals and tribes.
- 🚫 The speaker advocates for the abolition of the BIA and restoration of Native American property rights, emphasizing the need for self-determination and full sovereignty for Native American nations.
Q & A
What is the traditional greeting mentioned in the speech, and what is its significance?
-The traditional greeting is a short version of the speaker's Oglala Lakota language greeting, which involves introducing oneself by stating their clan, family lineage, and sacred land without mentioning their name. It is an essential cultural practice to show respect to others and one’s heritage.
What issue does the speaker highlight about the identity of American Indians in the United States?
-The speaker emphasizes that, despite being citizens of the United States, American Indians are often denied the ability to fully embrace their identity as American Indians due to laws and policies that were designed to marginalize them.
What historical event does the speaker reference regarding the economic recovery of American Indians after being confined to reservations?
-The speaker refers to the period after American Indians were forcibly confined to reservations, explaining that they became economically viable within one generation, despite reductions in livestock and land allotments. However, successive government interventions, such as the Indian Reorganization Act (IRA), hindered their recovery.
How does the speaker describe the impact of the Indian Reorganization Act (IRA) on tribal governments?
-The speaker criticizes the IRA for institutionalizing tribal governments that were foreign to American Indians and led to long-lasting economic difficulties. The IRA created a government structure that many American Indians did not identify with or benefit from.
What success have American Indian tribes experienced in the gaming industry, and how has the U.S. government responded?
-The speaker points out that American Indian tribes achieved significant success in the gaming industry, particularly with bingo and casinos, with an 85% success rate. However, the U.S. government, through Congress, intervened to regulate the industry, despite its proven success.
What are some of the challenges the speaker identifies with government contracting on Indian reservations?
-The speaker highlights corruption in government contracting on Indian reservations, where Indian front contractors receive contracts but deliver substandard infrastructure projects. The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) is blamed for perpetuating this corruption.
What problems does the speaker associate with dual citizenship for American Indians?
-The speaker argues that dual citizenship (U.S. and tribal citizenship) hinders the self-determination of American Indians, likening it to policies under Hitler’s regime. This dual citizenship limits both individual and tribal sovereignty.
How does the speaker describe the state of traditional American Indian populations?
-The speaker laments that the traditional American Indian population has been in decline since 1900, with fewer than 50,000 traditional people remaining. This decline is attributed to various policies and societal pressures, leading to the erosion of their cultural values.
What social issues does the speaker raise regarding American Indian communities?
-The speaker raises concerns about the high rates of women and child abuse, particularly child sexual abuse, on Indian reservations. They link this issue to the failures of the educational systems on reservations and the denigration of traditional American Indian values.
What solutions does the speaker propose for improving the self-determination of American Indians?
-The speaker proposes several solutions, including the right of American Indians to choose their citizenship, the restoration of property rights, the abolition of the BIA, and holding those responsible for damaging reservation lands accountable. They also advocate for sovereign rights and freedom from government interference in their self-determination.
Outlines
👋 Traditional Lakota Greeting and Identity
The speaker begins with a traditional greeting in the Oglala Lakota language, explaining that it is customary to introduce oneself by describing one’s ancestry, clan, and place of origin rather than by name. The speaker mentions their connection to the Black Hills, the War Eagle clan, and the Crazy Horse clan. They express the significance of this greeting and emphasize the importance of prayers for U.S. leaders. The introduction transitions into a critique, noting that while American Indians have contributed to the country, they are systematically denied their identity and rights under current laws.
🎲 Gaming Industry Success and Government Intervention
This section discusses the success of Indian-run gaming operations, such as bingo and casinos, on reservations. These ventures have largely succeeded, with a 85% success rate, benefiting both Native American communities and government revenues. Despite this success, the U.S. government, through Congress, has stepped in to regulate the industry, repeating a historical pattern of intervention that disrupts Native American economic success. The speaker stresses that such interference goes against the fundamental principles of capitalism and argues that American Indians are being unfairly regulated, despite their positive contributions.
💼 Corruption and Mismanagement in Tribal and Federal Governance
The speaker describes the corruption and inefficiency plaguing both tribal governments and the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA). They provide examples of poorly managed land leases, shoddy construction projects, and widespread graft within tribal contracting. Attempts to bring economic development to reservations are often hindered by these issues, leading to failed projects. Tribal governments are portrayed as being resistant to development unless it involves corrupt practices, and the BIA is criticized for not fulfilling its trust responsibilities to Native American communities.
🛑 Systemic Failures and Solutions for Self-Determination
The speaker continues to highlight the systemic problems facing Native American communities, particularly around leadership and governance. They discuss the stagnation of American Indian socio-economic conditions since World War II and the steady decline in Native populations and traditional values. Problems such as child abuse, poor education, and the erosion of culture are attributed to failures in both federal and tribal systems. The speaker calls for the right to self-determination, including the abolition of the BIA, restoration of property rights, and the restructuring of governance to allow for true sovereignty and economic independence for Native American nations.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Oglala Lakota
💡Black Hills
💡Indian Reorganization Act (IRA)
💡Tribal Government
💡Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)
💡Self-Determination
💡Sovereignty
💡Economic Development
💡Dual Citizenship
💡Genocide
Highlights
Traditional Oglala Lakota greeting presented, emphasizing the importance of heritage and culture.
The speaker's personal identity is tied to the sacred land of the Black Hills, with connections to the War Eagle and Crazy Horse clans.
American Indians face legal and structural challenges, making it difficult to fully embrace their identity as American Indians, despite contributing to U.S. society.
Historical hardships faced by American Indians post-reservation confinement, including reduced land allotments and forced economic adjustments.
Despite obstacles, American Indians have consistently recovered and regained economic viability, particularly highlighted during the Great Depression.
The Indian Reorganization Act of 1934 (IRA) institutionalized foreign tribal governments that remain unrepresentative of traditional values.
Success of Indian-sponsored gaming operations, with a better-than-average success rate of over 85% despite challenges posed by external regulations.
Mismanagement, corruption, and exploitation persist in BIA (Bureau of Indian Affairs) contracting on reservations, leading to shoddy infrastructure.
Economic development efforts on Indian reservations are hindered by political and bureaucratic obstacles, deterring legitimate investment.
A lack of leadership and a patronage system on reservations contributes to the ongoing issues of poverty, mismanagement, and lack of progress.
Dual citizenship (U.S. and tribal) imposed on American Indians is a significant barrier to sovereignty and self-determination.
Traditional values and cultural systems are under threat due to lack of education in schools and systemic disregard for Indian traditions.
Women and child abuse, including child sexual abuse, is epidemic on reservations, with little action taken to address it.
The American Indian Religious Freedom Act of 1978 has failed to secure true religious freedom for Native people, with all cases reaching the Supreme Court resulting in losses.
The speaker calls for a return of property rights, self-determination, and the abolition of the BIA, proposing tribal communities should have the right to decide their governance.
Transcripts
Hammet aqua pay me OMA Lakota a magenta
ha Makino's eto spy kill a case a
Lillee walk on maitake a art a
Tonka with coke to spy mitakuye inna
wombly zoo you too your spy this is
traditional greeting of my people that I
am bound to give I'll be it it's a short
version what I said in my own language
translated into English thusly hello my
relatives I have an Oglala Lakota and I
come from our very sacred holy land the
Black Hills where yellow thunder village
is my mother is from the War Eagle clan
and my father's family is from the Crazy
Horse clan this greeting is to this day
the way all Indians throughout the
nation still greet one another those
that still know their culture this is
the only way we present ourselves to one
another that is acceptable we tell you
who we are where we are from who we are
from our clans and we do this without
ever saying our name anything less would
be an insult to you and to my people
senators my morning prayers to the great
mystery always include you and your
colleagues in Congress as well as
leaders in all governments it is an
honor to come before you as a spokesman
for my people the American Indians of
the United States of America in these
United States of America this great
country of ours we American Indians we
can be anything we want to be except
American Indians
and that is created by the laws of this
nation and condoned by its subsidiaries
the so called tribal government and
designed for the Indian to fail to be
expendable to be eliminated I take you
back in your history after the American
Indian hostiles had been subdued and
forcibly confined to Indian reservations
it took approximately thirty years one
generation for us to adjust and become
economically viable contrary to what the
anthropologists say and what we even
ourselves are taught as Indian people
however allotments were made smaller our
romantic remaining lands were open to
homesteading and we were forced into
reducing our livestock nevertheless we
made the adjustment again in less than
half the aforementioned time fifteen
years have become economically
self-sufficient again but once again the
American Indian was forced into reducing
our livestock the boss farmer concept
was instituted we were told what when
where how much and how little we could
grow thus applied to agriculture and our
livestock again we recovered in a time
span of approximately fifteen years we
were so successful in our third recovery
that the American Indians enjoyed the
finest of economic times while the rest
of the industrialized world was
wallowing in the Great Depression it was
then that President Roosevelt introduced
the Howard wheeler Act better known as
the Indian Reorganization Act the IRA
which institutionalized the so called
tribal governments which are not one of
our institutions and it is still foreign
to us this very day we have yet to
recover forty five years later the IRA
Indian tribal governments on their own
initiative began renewed efforts at
re-establishing their sovereignty
focused on the oldest profession
of American Indians that's gambling
bingo and other gaming operations has
been without exception a proven initial
success failure through mismanagement
politics or litigation has been less
than 15% showing a better than 85
percent success rate the new Indian
sponsored gaming industry on
reservations dwarfed success ratios of
any and all other non non-indian
industries in America gaming operations
have proven to benefit the revenue
gathering of all governments with a
County State or Indian Reservation with
regulation of bingo and Gaming by the
Congress we are experiencing repetition
of history one shouldn't remedy success
the results the United States government
through Congress once again intervenes
to regulate a proven success in
violation of all basic and fundamental
rules of economics and totally contrary
to all laws of capitalism American
Indians are human beings we are supposed
to be citizens of the United States of
America we fought in your Wars and other
countries our Navajo Nation code talker
served and saved this nation in World
War two we have the in area below joint
venture with whom we choose as long as
we do not harm nor commit fraud upon
anyone there is no piece of evidence
anywhere that proves Indians ever
conspired with criminal elements to
establish Bingle the Bureau of Indian
Affairs the infamous Colonial Office of
the Department of Interior and the
initiator of sleaze in government has
been regulating contracting on Indian
reservations
since nineteen since 1824 this fact
alone should convince and teach every
student of government that regulation of
Commerce and enterprise does not work in
fact it only produces the opposite
result
graft and corruption is rampant to the
contracting auspices of the BI and a
sergei tribal government Indian front
contractors bid for and receive
government contracts only to proceed to
build shoddy dangerous bridges buildings
schools roads and dams the Indian is the
scapegoat when there is a failure and is
always the one indicted contracting on
reservations has proven historically to
breed in feed corruption within the BIA
and now the tribal governments within
the past two years I personally have
attempted to assist seven Indian
reservations located in the southwest
the Northwest and the northern plains to
no avail the investors I represented
were from various groups interested in
establishing banks resorts Indian owned
Public Relation firms factories fishing
ports and international trade I now know
that tribal governments do not want
economic development unless graft is a
major ingredient the BIA is a major
player in land leases being sold by
petty bureaucrats for as meager
an amount as $40
there is a scandal of monstrous
proportions occurring in at least two
Indian agencies the BIS branch of land
operations and the branch of realty I
challenge this investigation is
committing to intricately go into the
branches of realty and land operations
the BIA does not enforce its trust with
trust responsibilities quite to the
contrary in September of nineteen
nineteen eighty-seven I moved from the
poorest County in America the Pine Ridge
Indian Reservation to the richest area
in the country the Navajo Indian
Reservation
there is no difference I paraphrase the
former Secretary of the Department of
the Interior James
what if you want to see an example of
fail socialism go to an Indian
Reservation the poorest and richest
reservations in our nation suffer from
identical problems mismanagement a
bloated patronage system no checks and
balances and tribal governments waiver
of sovereignty in order to initiate debt
this is not anything new this is an
everyday occurrence in all tribal
governments problem is leadership in
this case it is the lack of leadership
ironically everyone including you
senators refer to the allegedly elected
tribal officials as leaders leaders are
supposed to work for a better quality of
life for their constituents it is an
insult to my heritage my ancestors and
my dignity as an Oglala Lakota to have
the term used loosely many of the tribal
officials are honest and insincere men
and women who have good hearts
nevertheless a vast majority of the
tribal officials parasite on the
incestuous world of tribal politics not
as our forefathers who are the best
providers protectors defenders
advocators and Friends the game of who
is the most important rules it's
embarrassing
at the turn of the century American
Indians numbered about two hundred and
thirty thousand all traditional with
each succeeding generation we lose a
population base and our spirit as once
proud peoples the American Indian
statistics of deprivation have remained
constant since the end of World War two
all other groups of citizens fortunes
rise and fall with the gross national
product the GMP
the American Indian statistical lines of
deprivation remains constant a straight
line with the blatant genocide of our
traditional people we have less than
50,000 in America today we are averaging
a loss of 1000 a year since 1900 we are
losing a value system as distinct people
that sets us apart from the
industrialized world these facts surface
in our tribal statistics and no one
attempts to do anything about it except
for a few social workers and reservation
police this new statistical horror is
women and child abuse child sexual abuse
is epidemic on Indian reservations and
all you hear are whispers this abuse can
be directly a turtle attributable to the
schools on the reservations education in
the BIA public the contract and
missionary schools do not teach positive
values from non-indian culture and in
collusion with the BIA certainly do not
allow Indian culture and values to be
taught the fact is educators continually
denigrate American Indian traditional
lifestyle as primitive dirty and without
any redeemable virtues and the tribal
councils condone it
needless to say every time the US
government has interfered with American
Indian lifestyles it has been proven to
be disastrous in the 1960s legal
services were implemented on Indian
reservations it was a boon for the
people tribal of officials all of a
sudden were held accountable legal
services stepped in and lo and behold
tribal courts had power to the power of
attorney for the people the result an
edict from Washington DC is handed down
and legal services can no longer
represent people against the tribal
government and they can no longer
represent class-action lawsuits against
any government presently legal sir
are not much more than a MILF or divorce
lawyer trainees Congress passed the
American Indian Religious Freedom Act in
1978 to date six cases concerning our
freedom of religion has reached the
Supreme Court we lost every one of them
we do not win lawsuits state governments
lose the only time we allegedly win a
lawsuit it is in reality the federal
government winning out over the
sovereign rights of a state once again
the American Indians are the pawn now
the major factor is presenting American
Indian people with his existing rights
to self-determination American Indians
suffer under a system of dual
citizenship that is US citizenship and
tribal citizenship maintained by the BIA
only Hitler did that the dual
citizenship is a major obstacle in the
free exercise of individual and tribal
sovereignty the continuing loss and
nutrition of existing lands through
various federal state and local laws and
or regulations is a hindrance the
abridgement of sovereign rights to
remaining lands and the arbitrary
monetary policies of settlement of these
rights whenever they are recognized
another major factor preventing Indian
people from self-determination
subjugation of the American Indian
individual to the laws of
government-sponsored tribal governments
and the continuing arbitration of the BI
rules and regulations which have the
force of law yet are not repeatable
solutions
the American Indian people's right to
self-determination is recognized and
will be implemented through the
following policies the American Indian
individual shall have the right to
choose his or her citizenship and
American Indian nations have the right
to choose their level of citizenship and
autonomy up to absolute independence the
American Indian will have their just
property rights restored which include
rights of easement access hunting
fishing prayer and water
the BIA will be abolished with the
American Indian tribal members deciding
the extent and nature of their
governments if any negotiations will be
undertaken to exchange otherwise
unclaimed and unknown federal property
for any and all government obligations
to the American Indian nations and to
fully and to hold fully liable those
responsible for any and all damages
which have resulted from the resource
development on or near reservation lands
included including damages done by
careless and inexcusable disposal of
uranium mill tailings and other mineral
and toxic wastes I want to thank you
gentlemen
for inviting me here it's been a high
honor especially since I'm the only one
invited here today to testify that
doesn't receive money from the federal
government also I want to make I was
introduced as a former founder and
leader in American any movement to the
tribal chairwoman that you have here are
former associates of the American Indian
Movement back in the days when we were
gross militants and so I just wanted to
let you in on that at the American
Indian Movement is a very proud
continuing part of American Indian
society Thank You mr. means thank you
you certainly have left us with many
provoking thoughts about the problems
facing Indian American Indians today
and you were kind enough and wise enough
to also make some suggestions I think
that is what this committee is looking
for we may agree we may not agree with
them but it is important to have some
thought-provoking ideas of where we
should go from the standpoint of the
relationship between the federal
government and the American natives
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