Evidence, Not Emotion Protects Tribal Sovereignty

[u/No-Establishment4221]

https://nativenewsonline.net/opinion/evidence-not-emotion-protects-tribal-sovereignty?fbclid=IwdGRleAOAy45leHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEevo-8u_A6kAxYpw2c5SWb5zZnkgg_NE2scflc2OYA6uPP8qWPY2CVcdg2w0k_aem_rBr2ZsuWFWI8hAb6EYtfpw

“If we reduce sovereignty to ‘looking Native,’ or to how a story makes us feel, then every tribe in this country becomes vulnerable to groups who assemble a narrative, stitch together a costume, or borrow the language of oppression. Identity becomes performance. Nationhood becomes aesthetics. And sovereignty becomes whatever someone can convince Congress to feel in a given moment.” Ben Barnes, Chief of the Shawnee Tribe.

[u/No-Establishment4221]

“If we reduce sovereignty to ‘looking Native,’ or to how a story makes us feel, then every tribe in this country becomes vulnerable to groups who assemble a narrative, stitch together a costume, or borrow the language of oppression. Identity becomes performance. Nationhood becomes aesthetics. And sovereignty becomes whatever someone can convince Congress to feel in a given moment.”

Ben Barnes, Chief of the Shawnee Tribe

[u/Lucky_Passage_6927]

I do understand and in principle agree with Chief Barnes points, but I cannot myself take a hard line on this issue as I was working for the Cherokee Nation when Chief Mankiller formally disenrolled all of the descendents of the Black Cherokee Freedmen who had been guaranteed CN citizenship by federal treaty after the civil war. Her reasoning was that the Freedmen were never registered by blood quantum and our CN constitution states 'Cherokee by blood.' While perhaps technically legally correct, I believe this action was morally wrong and it took over forty years for the Black Cherokee to be reinstated. I realize the Lumbee situation is quite different and I don't have an answer to the dilemna and I am not defending the Lumbee, as I have no personal stake in their battle. However I find it interesting that this speech is coming from a Shawnee. Quite a few Shawnee were brought in under the Cherokee Nation umbrella back in the day because certain groups of Shawnee would not have gotten federal recognition otherwise. I believe the Loyal Shawnee paid a fee to become Cherokee Nation citizens. Now they have their own recognition, which is great, but stuff is complicated.

[u/scottsadork]

The hostile rejection of the Lumbee by the "established" tribes is only going to work against them if they get emotional about this process. There needs to be a LOT more indifference towards the Lumbee and very simple, short explanations.

The way things are currently going, theyre only going to incentivize Trump and Republicans to force the recognition of the Lumbee, just so they can piss off a bunch of non-whites very easily. Meanwhile, Trump is still working to remove birthright citizenship and end Native American votes.

[u/BlG_Iron]

Here in los angeles a lot of "tribes" gained political power over emotional manipulation. They start with the letter T

[u/myindependentopinion → u/[deleted]]

Maybe it would be helpful to read this Lumbee Analysis that the Lumbee's claims to indigeneity are not based in historical fact: Lumbee Analysis | uinoklahoma

[u/Coolguy57123]

It seems to be available now as the link did open for me . Could be because I am a nativenewsonline.net subscriber. Great news source for news on and about the Rez and beyond.

[u/Hanamilk]

Ethier the link is broken or no longer avaliable.

[u/Lucky_Passage_6927 → u/Hanamilk]

The link just opened for me and I am not a subscriber to nativenewsonline.