Failure™ Magazine

Indian Summer

The quiet revival of native America.

Written by Jason Zasky   Filed under History

But the tribes are not passive. They are very active and when a Supreme Court case goes against them they try to find another way to reach their objective. They are very flexible, nimble and wise in their determination to hold onto their homelands and make them the places they want them to be. My belief is that Indian people are keenly aware of the threats to their sovereignty, to their land and to their special rights. As far as the future is concerned, the Supreme Court is an issue, continuing to work well with Congress is an issue, but continuing with institution building in Indian country is most important. My premise is that Indians will continue with the kind of energy and creativity and determination they’ve shown in recent times.

Are there any other factors holding the tribes back from making further strides?
Financial capital is one. But you are starting to see infrastructure emerge on reservations. It used to be you couldn’t get a motel room, or a bite to eat or a tank of gas, but that is gradually changing.

Another thing that holds them back is the very different worldview in Indian country. It’s a much more measured pace that doesn’t fit very well in the go-go, alarm clock, capitalist world. Yet it has its beauty and it’s something they want to preserve.

Can you summarize what Indian people have accomplished in the past fifty years?
Looking at the record, Indian people have established one of the most important social and economic movements in America since World War II. It is comparable in many ways to the civil rights movement, the environmental movement and the women’s movement. All movements are incomplete, and the proponents—because they care so much—grieve at the work that still has to be done. But I believe what has been done needs to be honored and celebrated, recognized for what it is and built upon in the future.

Page 5 of 5 pages « First < 3 4 5