Trump's shutdown: Navajo Nation residents trapped in their homes as federal snowplows stop running

camille70

Newbie
Supporter
Mar 4, 2007
3,656
3,536
Ohio
Visit site
✟597,074.00
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Single
Politics
US-Others
SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. — For one tribe of Chippewa Indians in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, the government shutdown comes with a price tag: about $100,000, every day, of federal money that does not arrive to keep health clinics staffed, food pantry shelves full and employees paid.

The tribe is using its own funds to cover the shortfalls for now. But if the standoff in Washington continues much longer, that stopgap money will be depleted. Later this month, workers could be furloughed and health services could be pared back. “Everything,” said Aaron Payment, the chairman of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe, “is on the table.”

~~~~~~~~~~~


A blanket of snow has covered the region, but roads are unplowed because federal maintenance has stopped. Many people are now trapped in their homes, unable to make the 20- or 50-mile journey to buy water, groceries and medicine, said Mr. Begaye.

The Interior Department’s Indian Affairs bureau provides basic services to about 1.9 million American Indians and Alaska Natives, often by funneling funds to the tribes to administer the services themselves or by employing federal workers to run the programs. This means that services from law enforcement to tribal courts, disaster relief and road maintenance are often completed by tribal employees whose salaries rely on federal funding — or by federal workers, some of whom are tribal citizens.

Shutdown Leaves Food, Medicine and Pay in Doubt in Indian Country

Trump's shutdown: Navajo Nation residents trapped in their homes as federal snowplows stop running


Of course if they vote democrat, I'm sure Trump doesn't care...
 

Nithavela

our world is happy and mundane
Apr 14, 2007
27,998
19,441
Comb. Pizza Hut and Taco Bell/Jamaica Avenue.
✟488,914.00
Country
Germany
Faith
Other Religion
Marital Status
Single
Upvote 0

Nithavela

our world is happy and mundane
Apr 14, 2007
27,998
19,441
Comb. Pizza Hut and Taco Bell/Jamaica Avenue.
✟488,914.00
Country
Germany
Faith
Other Religion
Marital Status
Single
I think I read that the government would not shut down essential services. So, this is an issue of choice making, not necessarily which politicians are doing what.
I am sure that the well being of native americans is on the list of what is essential and what isnt.

Apparently, the latter part.
 
Upvote 0

com7fy8

Well-Known Member
May 22, 2013
13,648
6,107
Massachusetts
✟583,317.00
Country
United States
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Single
I am sure that the well being of native americans is on the list of what is essential and what isnt.

Apparently, the latter part.
There is a treaty, I think. There is no option to not keep this treaty. Whoever does not keep this treaty, and who is responsible for keeping it, will be in major trouble, maybe, if the Native Americans are not taken care of. Whoever decides their care is not essential could be held liable, if they decide not to take care of them however the treaty or maybe another agreement has guaranteed.
 
Upvote 0

USincognito

a post by Alan Smithee
Supporter
Dec 25, 2003
42,058
16,810
Dallas
✟870,741.00
Country
United States
Faith
Atheist
Marital Status
Private
SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. — For one tribe of Chippewa Indians in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, the government shutdown comes with a price tag: about $100,000, every day, of federal money that does not arrive to keep health clinics staffed, food pantry shelves full and employees paid.

The tribe is using its own funds to cover the shortfalls for now. But if the standoff in Washington continues much longer, that stopgap money will be depleted. Later this month, workers could be furloughed and health services could be pared back. “Everything,” said Aaron Payment, the chairman of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe, “is on the table.”

~~~~~~~~~~~


A blanket of snow has covered the region, but roads are unplowed because federal maintenance has stopped. Many people are now trapped in their homes, unable to make the 20- or 50-mile journey to buy water, groceries and medicine, said Mr. Begaye.

The Interior Department’s Indian Affairs bureau provides basic services to about 1.9 million American Indians and Alaska Natives, often by funneling funds to the tribes to administer the services themselves or by employing federal workers to run the programs. This means that services from law enforcement to tribal courts, disaster relief and road maintenance are often completed by tribal employees whose salaries rely on federal funding — or by federal workers, some of whom are tribal citizens.

Shutdown Leaves Food, Medicine and Pay in Doubt in Indian Country

Trump's shutdown: Navajo Nation residents trapped in their homes as federal snowplows stop running


Of course if they vote democrat, I'm sure Trump doesn't care...
Disgusting.
 
Upvote 0

com7fy8

Well-Known Member
May 22, 2013
13,648
6,107
Massachusetts
✟583,317.00
Country
United States
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Single
I'm pretty sure that there is no such treaty.
When the United States took over Native American lands, there were treaties signed which guaranteed how the American government would treat the tribes. Also, there were other sorts of legally binding agreements.

But a number of tribes have their own sovereign lands within the bounds of the United States. Maybe my wording is not exactly correct, but they have self-governing situations which can be more or less independent of the governments of the states where they live on what might be called reservations.

But there are legally binding agreements about how the American government will help these tribes.
 
Upvote 0
This site stays free and accessible to all because of donations from people like you.
Consider making a one-time or monthly donation. We appreciate your support!
- Dan Doughty and Team Christian Forums

Shiloh Raven

Well-Known Member
May 14, 2016
12,509
11,495
Texas
✟228,180.00
Country
United States
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Married
There is a treaty, I think. There is no option to not keep this treaty. Whoever does not keep this treaty, and who is responsible for keeping it, will be in major trouble, maybe, if the Native Americans are not taken care of. Whoever decides their care is not essential could be held liable, if they decide not to take care of them however the treaty or maybe another agreement has guaranteed.

When the United States took over Native American lands, there were treaties signed which guaranteed how the American government would treat the tribes. Also, there were other sorts of legally binding agreements.

But a number of tribes have their own sovereign lands within the bounds of the United States. Maybe my wording is not exactly correct, but they have self-governing situations which can be more or less independent of the governments of the states where they live on what might be called reservations.

But there are legally binding agreements about how the American government will help these tribes.

Are you at all familiar with the hundreds of treaties that the U.S. government has systematically violated and broke since its very own inception? The naive belief that the United States government will honor the treaty it signed with the Chippewa is truly laughable. Trump and his Republican cronies in his administration don't give a rat's behind about the tribes and what's happening to them.
 
Last edited:
Upvote 0

Nithavela

our world is happy and mundane
Apr 14, 2007
27,998
19,441
Comb. Pizza Hut and Taco Bell/Jamaica Avenue.
✟488,914.00
Country
Germany
Faith
Other Religion
Marital Status
Single
There is a treaty, I think. There is no option to not keep this treaty.
Oh please, tell me about the current government of the USA and their treatment of treaties.
 
Upvote 0

Shiloh Raven

Well-Known Member
May 14, 2016
12,509
11,495
Texas
✟228,180.00
Country
United States
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Married
There is a treaty, I think. There is no option to not keep this treaty. Whoever does not keep this treaty, and who is responsible for keeping it, will be in major trouble, maybe, if the Native Americans are not taken care of. Whoever decides their care is not essential could be held liable, if they decide not to take care of them however the treaty or maybe another agreement has guaranteed.

For your information, you will find a short list of treaties the United States government violated after it signed them with the Chippewa (the Ojibwe Bands) here. The treaties not listed in the linked article: the 1805 Treaty of Fort Industry, the 1855 Treaty of Washington, the 1863 & 1864: Treaties with the Chippewa Red Lake & Pembina Bands, and the 1867 Treaty with the Chippewa of the Mississippi.
 
  • Informative
Reactions: USincognito
Upvote 0
This site stays free and accessible to all because of donations from people like you.
Consider making a one-time or monthly donation. We appreciate your support!
- Dan Doughty and Team Christian Forums

Nithavela

our world is happy and mundane
Apr 14, 2007
27,998
19,441
Comb. Pizza Hut and Taco Bell/Jamaica Avenue.
✟488,914.00
Country
Germany
Faith
Other Religion
Marital Status
Single
It's not just the current government of the United States and their treatment of treaties.
Surely, but the old governments at least kept treaties with other nations and only broke its word when dealing with the truly powerless like the native americans.
 
Upvote 0

Radagast

comes and goes
Supporter
Dec 10, 2003
23,821
9,817
✟312,047.00
Country
Australia
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Single
The naive belief that the United States government will honor the treaty it signed with the Chippewa is truly laughable.

What treaty would that be, exactly? If you're talking about the 1836 treaty that the tribal website points to, the only permanent provision seems to be "Three hundred dollars per annum for vaccine matter, medicines, and the services of physicians, to be continued while the Indians remain on their reservations."
 
Upvote 0

Sparagmos

Well-Known Member
Oct 19, 2018
8,632
7,319
52
Portland, Oregon
✟278,062.00
Country
United States
Faith
Non-Denom
Marital Status
Married
There is a treaty, I think. There is no option to not keep this treaty. Whoever does not keep this treaty, and who is responsible for keeping it, will be in major trouble, maybe, if the Native Americans are not taken care of. Whoever decides their care is not essential could be held liable, if they decide not to take care of them however the treaty or maybe another agreement has guaranteed.
Our president thinks he is a king and I doubt he cares about that treaty. He thinks he can “shut down the border” to force people to do what he wants, that says it all.
 
Upvote 0
This site stays free and accessible to all because of donations from people like you.
Consider making a one-time or monthly donation. We appreciate your support!
- Dan Doughty and Team Christian Forums

Shiloh Raven

Well-Known Member
May 14, 2016
12,509
11,495
Texas
✟228,180.00
Country
United States
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Married
Surely, but the old governments at least kept treaties with other nations and only broke its word when dealing with the truly powerless like the native americans.

Your statement reminded me of this news commentary by Lawrence O'Donnell. I shared this video in another thread earlier today because Native Americans seems to be a popular thread subject today.

 
Upvote 0