UN Official Calls on US to Give Land Back to Native Americans

**Jimbo** · 10 May 12,, 14:12

AR, I see your point regarding sacred lands.

My thoughts are that the late 1800's were a time with a lot of bad things done by all sides. Nobody followed the 1851 Ft. Laramie Treaty. The Sioux broke it by attacking wagon trains on the Bozeman trail that was on land defined by the treaty to be Crow. The Crow allowed for the trail and traffic. The Crow allowed the Sioux to have seasonal use of the Bighorn Mountain Region for hunting; the Sioux had no say in who else had a right there. Also the treaty allowed for the US gov to build roads and military posts on lands. After the 1860's conflict the Sioux ended up receiving more land at the expense of the Crow. Here is a link to the 1851 treaty: INDIAN AFFAIRS: LAWS AND TREATIES. Vol. 2, Treaties

There was constant conflict between the various tribes before the Europeans and Americans arrived. Violence between the U.S. and the North American Indians was not the only reason for the treaties. Violence between the various tribes was another reason.

Going back and trying to give up land is just going to open up a can of worms and fix nothing while causing more problems. Rather fix the existing problems like institutional poverty brought on by gov handouts and a society that calls anyone going off the reservation for say college a traitor. (Sorry I have a friend from the North Cheyenne reservation that received continuous phone calls and letters calling her a traitor for going to school at the University of Wyoming.)

**USSWisconsin** · 10 May 12,, 15:41

It is a very sad, but closed chapter - the treaty that is - I agree emphasis should be on the present and improving things. I do beleive that tribal burial grounds shouldn't be mined - but there needs to be some clear definition there -it seems unreasonable to claim every square inch is off limits. It also appears to me that National parks and monuments are in keeping with the sacred grounds concept - from an American perspective - which is who the Native Americans are now (in addition to their tribal heritage).

**Aryajet** · 13 May 12,, 16:01

Monetary compensation is not possible either. Native Americans did not have any land ownership system which will make it impossible to calculate who gets what and how much. As many pointed out above just fix the present conditions, which I don't believe majority of Native Americans will agree with that either. It will be difficult to ask them to give up those lucrative gambling licenses.

Also IMV some people (with some degree from a hot shot school of course) will do or say any thing to get their name on the front page. I mean why U.S is being singled out here? Majority of land grabbing during 1700 and 1800s around the Globe were done by violence and are considered as recent history. Why not call all of them on giving up land and/or compensation?