Current Events (analytical)

Native Americans are in a constant battle with the past and the present. The past being their traditions and beliefs along with the unjust mistreatment from the U.S. government. The present being their economic position (poverty)and ties with the U.S. government. Because of poverty, Native Americans are are seeking an escape, although the solution may lead to breaking traditions or beliefs. Native Americans are currently struggling with poverty and unemployment and are struggling to keep up with the vast changing world. Not only are Native Americans in a constant struggle with poverty, but with keeping their traditions alive as well. Reservations and traditions are the only things the Native peoples have left of their past. Seeking to escape poverty and unemployment, Native Americans have begun to sell their land or allow it to be strip-mined for coal. Doing this would allow them to earn money for the tribe while creating jobs. Also, by allowing mining, the Native Americans are going against their old tradition of preserving the land. The elders do not like the idea of giving up their ancient land and traditions, but because younger generations begin to make political decisions, times have changed. However, the struggle lives on."Elders like me are trying to keep our sacred traditions alive." Elders like Firecrow try to preserve and keep their old traditions, but change seems inevitable with unemployment at about fifty percent. Native Americans are looking for any way to escape the poverty they are curently in because it is a big problem.

Most Native American tribes resort to building casinos on their land in order to bring in profits and create jobs. Currently, the predicament is about whether or not the tribes should share the profits they make from their casinos with the government like any other business. As a way of helping the tribes sustain themselves and part repayment for the past, the government has decided that tribes may keep their casino profits. It is because of the past that the government is currently giving privileges to the Native American people. With casino profits, Native Americans can improve themselves as a people and work to keep traditions. They clean their reservations, improve education, and create more jobs giving the native people a better chance to make it in this working world. Yet still some government officials believe it is not fair for Native Americans not to pay. However, Native American tribes are in poverty and desperately need jobs. Gambling is not the best thing to introduce to a low income people because "gambling addiction is significantly higher among minorities and lower income individuals." Tribe members face the challenges of unemployment and poverty. In turn, they are very susceptible to addictions. It breaks up families and loses people jobs and money. The media changes the outlook on casinos and makes them look fun and everyone benefits from them. "What we don't get is the other side, the dark side- what's happening to the families, people addicted to it, the children." In reality, the casinos do create problems within tribal families and goes against certain traditions.

The world around Native Americans is changing fast and it is hard for them to keep up. They have been in poverty ever since they have been kicked of their land. To sustain itself, the tribe must modernize itself by industrialization. However, this may go against the Native American long time believes of preserving the land and keeping it clean. They are making a constant choice whether or not they want to move forward from the past and lose traditions, or move forward in the industrial world.