A subject dear to my heart!!!!

[BearBio]

My maternal great-grandfather was James Joseph Brady, half Cherokee and half-Irish, and my great-grandmother was Almira Kelly, half-Chickasaw and half Irish. My grandmother, Ruth Thelma Brady, was registered in both tribes and is listed on the Dawes Roll of Native Americans (official US Census). When she was a child, they moved to Los Angeles and became "city Indians". Her parents separated and my grandmother disappeared and she was eventually found on the "Rez". While there, they were hidden (Her brother and her) in a root cellar. Since US authorities had no jurisdiction on the "Rez", the Tribal Police had to come and "rescue" her. She was returned and grew up in L.A.

My paternal grandfather was born in Pendleton, OR and had a "typical" rancher's prejudice against Indians (I'm one so I can call them that!). He was ranting one day and my dad quietly informed that his daughter-in-law was an "Indian"! He shut up!!!!! But, we were no longer his favorite grandkids!

Anyway, did you know:"

• Homicide is roughly the third leading cause of death among Indigenous women ages 10-24.
• 56.1% have experienced sexual violence, 55.5% have experienced physical violence by an intimate partner, and 48.8% have experienced stalking.
• The Federal Bureau of Investigation reported that there were 10,248 missing Indigenous persons reports in 2024. 5,614 were women, and 4,626 were men. Most women reported missing were under the age of 18.
• 64 percent of human trafficking victims in Hawaii identified as at least part Native Hawaiian.
• The 10 states with the highest rates of American Indian/Alaska Native missing persons cases in 2025 were AK, AZ, OK, WA, NM, CA, MT, NC, SD, and TX.
• 95 percent of cases identified by the Urban Indian Health Institute had not been covered by the mainstream media.
• Because of limited data, there is no reliable nationwide count of how many Native women go missing or are murdered each year."

This subject has been covered recently in the mainstream media in such movies as "Wind River", series such as "Joe Pickett" and the series "Alaska Daily"and documentaries as "Highway of Tears", "Murder in Bighorn", "Taken" (Aboriginal Peoples Television Network), &"Finding Dawn".

• Please support: https://www.niwrc.org/policy-center/mmiwr
• https://www.bia.gov/service/mmu/missing-and-murdered-indigenous-people-crisis
• https://wernative.npaihb.org/articles/what-is-the-mmiw-movement

My Rig:

Thanks for reading!!!!

 

[Hilldweller]

Nice read Bear. Seen the subject of missing/murdered indigenous youth touched on in “True Detective: Night Country” and “Marshalls” as well. I’m sure there are others but my TV time is limited. Definitely a sad state of affairs.

 

[VancMike]

Thanks for this. I'm not sure how much the situation has improved in the last, say, 20 years, thanks to improved finances due to Native American casino profits. I recall downtown Seattle in the 60's-70's, where it was common to see "drunk Indians" on the streets.

Increased funding has helped with reservation social services, but, of course, there is so much more to do.

A local issue is the federal recognition of the Chinook Indian Nation https://chinooknation.org . Recognition was given by the Clinton Administration, then taken away by the Bush Administration. Inter-tribal "warfare" had much to do with it: the Cowlitz tribe was also seeking recognition at the time and opposed Chinook efforts.
As a history buff, Chinook peoples are mentioned repeatedly in various chronicles and Chinook jargon was used in trade by natives, Anglo, French and Spanish traders and explorers. It is an injustice that is too long-lasting.

 

[BearBio]

Thanks for this. I'm not sure how much the situation has improved in the last, say, 20 years, thanks to improved finances due to Native American casino profits. I recall downtown Seattle in the 60's-70's, where it was common to see "drunk Indians" on the streets.

Increased funding has helped with reservation social services, but, of course, there is so much more to do.

A local issue is the federal recognition of the Chinook Indian Nation https://chinooknation.org . Recognition was given by the Clinton Administration, then taken away by the Bush Administration. Inter-tribal "warfare" had much to do with it: the Cowlitz tribe was also seeking recognition at the time and opposed Chinook efforts.
As a history buff, Chinook peoples are mentioned repeatedly in various chronicles and Chinook jargon was used in trade by natives, Anglo, French and Spanish traders and explorers. It is an injustice that is too long-lasting.

Unfortunately, Tribes may operate the casinos but much of the financing is provided my non-Tribal sources. Often, little or no money makes it way to the actual Tribal members who really need it! The Muckleshoots will pay for a junior college education for any qualified Tribal youth.

" Inter-tribal "warfare" had much to do with it: the Cowlitz tribe was also seeking recognition at the time and opposed Chinook efforts."
One of the programs I supervised as a Branch Chief for USFWS was hydropower licensing. My Hydropower Biologist complained so many times that the difficulties of getting multiple tribes to meet together and agree to agreements. Yakamas were disliked by everyone except one branch of the Wenatchees and maybe the Wanapums; the Warm Springs would not sit down the Yakamas for negotiation; the Yakamas would not deal with the BIA or the Colvilles (and vice-versa), the Chinooks and Salish didn't want to deal with anyone but the BIA.

My daughter grew up in Flagstaff. I had a bank customer when I worked in real estate who was half-Cherokee (She got us interested in "adopting" a Navajo family @ X Mas). Between visiting Rachel and spending time on the Navajo & Hopi "Rezes", we heard a lot. Sunday morning Navajo ("DINEH") radio from the Rez would list the disappearances and deaths (more than a few drunks hit on AZ Hwy 89). Part of the problem is that many "Indians" do not want to surrender the "old ways". Prejudices exist even today on the Yakama Rez. My Salish buddy there has been trying to start a Native American restaurant and faces all sorts of hurdles because he is not a Yakama.

Just since we moved to the PNW in mid-2002, I remember reading about 2 Nez Perce boys who got drunk before school, passed out in a field and froze to death!

 

[VancMike]

My brother lived in Farmington, NM for about 10 years. "Interesting" community. Almost half of the population was White and was divided... really divided... into Mormon, blue collar (mostly oil rig workers and some retail) and professional/government. Mormons and non-Mormon didn't mix. Professional mostly commuted from Durango and other Colorado communities.

The large (20% +/-?) Hispanic population was retail, farming, construction, etc. My brother, who was not professional, nor Mormon nor blue collar, fraternized mostly with Hispanics, many of whom had lived in the area for generations, predating Whites.
An even larger demographic is the Navajo Nation, part of which takes up much of NW New Mexico. They fraternized with none of the above. But, if asked, would point out they predate all the others.

My brother, who was a specialty carpenter, finally got tired of navigating in such a class-conscience society and moved back to the PNW. "Yeah," he says, "we have our class and income issues here. But we hide it better!"

 

[Unshaven2897]

This is a tough conversation.. My wife had a high GS position before she retired in fisheries. One of her specialties was tribal relations and she was 'regarded' and respected by the various tribes. But even the leadership is lacking in the various tribes and bands. It's like Trump negotiating with Iran because no one knows who holds the reigns. But there is SOMEONE who knows about the money coming in... the tribal accountant.

You can tell all kinds of stories but unless you have dealt first hand with tribal relations you don't know squat. We have a major thing now with several RE projects. ALL of them SUDDENENLY have traditional roots and shoots, essential to life. It's not the land, it is yet more money for a pay off.

Silly people who think the 'Indians' right's are stompt on - AArgrge. It's the worst mess anyone could ever think! They were ripped off. They were the first welfare state. Their culture was destroyed. But now they wield crazy power over places that are not even their land. It has a specific name but in private ownership and Tribal set aside....

This is complex issue. Those who don't know can only have 'opinions'. It messes with federal, state, county and local issues.

 

[BearBio]

This is a tough conversation.. My wife had a high GS position before she retired in fisheries. One of her specialties was tribal relations and she was 'regarded' and respected by the various tribes. But even the leadership is lacking in the various tribes and bands. It's like Trump negotiating with Iran because no one knows who holds the reigns. But there is SOMEONE who knows about the money coming in... the tribal accountant.

You can tell all kinds of stories but unless you have dealt first hand with tribal relations you don't know squat. We have a major thing now with several RE projects. ALL of them SUDDENENLY have traditional roots and shoots, essential to life. It's not the land, it is yet more money for a pay off.

Silly people who think the 'Indians' right's are stompt on - AArgrge. It's the worst mess anyone could ever think! They were ripped off. They were the first welfare state. Their culture was destroyed. But now they wield crazy power over places that are not even their land. It has a specific name but in private ownership and Tribal set aside....

This is complex issue. Those who don't know can only have 'opinions'. It messes with federal, state, county and local issues.

As a Project Manager administering wildlife grants, I had first hand experience with many of the problems you state, mostly with Yakamas, who are particularly arrogant. I had several courses in Intertribal Relations (FEMA, training by the Regional Tribal Coordinator [A friend from my first days with USFWS] ). I was a GS-12 but PO'd my Field Supervisor. She couldn't give me bad reviews but kept me from moving to a GS-13; so I retired as a GS-12, Step 10. Which meant I remained a Biologist and not a political toy!

I got along well with individual Tribal members: the keys were respect and actually listening to their POV!

 

[Unshaven2897]

The current tribal conflict we have is not related to anything mentioned so far. It is related to one 80 acre and one much larger parcel that are tribal (Yakima) set aside per the Bureau of Indian Affairs. One is uncomfortably close and the 80 is adjacent. To our knowledge no tribal member has ever stepped foot on 'their' part of any allotment. The entirety of these parcels is a mess being the worst managed of any raw land around. The DNR and F&W parcels etc are just about as bad. WA is happy to send someone to our place to discuss the reduction of wildfire risk but they do NOTHING on their own land nor do the BIA/tribal folk. They are full of dead and diseased trees and an understory that defies walking. I am constantly cutting downfall that blocks the only way in and out per easement on the trail which is all private.

I am sure that if some wind turbines, solar panels or the like were to be planned that all of a sudden this whole area would have traditional and customary things critical to tribal members' survival. It's sickening to us. The VFD keeps a very close eye on this canyon and for good reason as it's a disaster in waiting.

 

[Unshaven2897]

It's like Trump negotiating with Iran because no one knows who holds the reigns.

I hate to quote my own post but I'll add one another thing: There are a few family tribal names across tribal members that always rise to the top. They are the ones with the beautiful houses and manicured landscape while many others live in squalor with fallen structures and vehicles of passed days junked out around the place.

Is it not much different in white man's land., is it?

Anyone have a quick fix? It is not more welfare to lift them up.

 

[VancMike]

No quick fix, but I do understand alcoholism/drug abuse is a big factor in Native American societal issues.

That was my first thought.

Then I thought about the issues alcoholism/drug abuse has in the rest of society.

Never mind....

 

[BearBio]

I hate to quote my own post but I'll add one another thing: There are a few family tribal names across tribal members that always rise to the top. They are the ones with the beautiful houses and manicured landscape while many others live in squalor with fallen structures and vehicles of passed days junked out around the place.

Is it not much different in white man's land., is it?

Anyone have a quick fix? It is not more welfare to lift them up.

TRUE!!!!