To whom ever wrote this article ["Yet another showdown between state and Senecas," Oct. 11 editorial]:
As a Native American who represents the Mohawk nation, I am extremely offended and pissed off at the ignorance displayed in the article that was written. The reason that the Seneca Nation considers itself "separate from the state" is because it is a sovereign nation. Google tribal sovereignty and you can read all about it and how many other Native American tribes enjoy those "special treaty rights." Most American's do not honor or understand those treaties, but cuturally, treaties are very important and an unspeakable offense if broken. I do not understand why diplomats that go to Asian countries can honor their culture of bowing to another person out of respect, or taking off their shoes when entering a home, but will laugh in the face of Native American treaties.
Part of the sovereignty promise and this goes for other sovereign states, that those sovereign states will receive aid (perhaps in the form of public schools), if the other country is able to put a road going through their land, instead of going AROUND that land. This way, the Seneca Nation DOES have a right to block that road. It is the responsibility of the non-sovereign country to maintain that road. Many reservations have their own schools up until a certain age, and then send their children to a public school, due to lack of teachers. Also, many sovereign nations require outside police enforcement to have permission to enter the reservation, because sovereign nations often have their own judicial and police force of some sort. Sovereign nations, as you report in your article, are not entirely self-sufficient.
Imagine that you are living comfortable in your home and community, and some weird-looking outsiders come and destroy your car, burn down your home, rape and kill your family and give you horrific diseases you have never seen – all in the name of "I am better than you because you have different color skin than me." That would suck, right?
Then imagine that they give you a piece of your land back and make you these promises that they will not tax you or bother you in some way, and these things are called treaties.
Imagine then if they broke those treaties.
You would be pretty pissed off too, right?
So, no, the Seneca's do not need to "come around and negotiate with the state," because the State has constantly not held up their end of the bargain. We cannot keep exploiting people just to make up for the State's messes.
Stop being ignorant and get your facts straight.
Sincerely,
Kristie Martin
School of Nursing, Class of 2011
Acker Scholar
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
