Essay: Genevieve Schaefer Essay:
ESSAY: GENEVIEVE SCHAEFER NATIVE AMERICAN POVERTY Native Americans have faced hardship in many forms since they first came into contact with Europeans in the 15th century. Despite treaties signed between the US and Native leaders in the 19th century, Natives were forcefully relocated from their homeland to western land. This land was of poor quality, and the government rationed out resources to Natives, which thrust them into a deep poverty that lasts to this day. In 1831, Chief Justice John Marshall established the federal trust doctrine, which proclaimed that the federal government would become the trustee of Indian affairs while owning and managing their lands. Essentially, as Marshall put it, the relationship between Native Americans and the U.S. government would be that of a “ward to his guardian” (Regan). This doctrine still holds true; today, the government still manages Indian land for “the benefit of all Indians.” By owning the land in trust, the federal government controls all economic development on reservations. Although tribes have had their own personal governments and legal systems, they are often inefficient and don’t have much real power. Natives cannot sell their shares of land or mortgage their assets for loans, and all development projects must be approved through a long and complex process. Because of this, starting businesses or developing is nearly impossible, leading to a disproportionately high poverty rate among Natives; 26.2%, and their low median annual income of $23,000 (Redbird). Many reservations are “comparable to the Third World.” There is mass unemployment, a low education rate, under housing and overcrowding, high disease rates and poor utilities, services, and poor infrastructure. All of these problems stem from their lack of personal rights and the federal government’s involvement in tribal affairs. There are 5.2 million Native Americans living in the United States, 22% of which live on a reservation. These reservations have some of the most valuable land and resources in the country; their value is estimated around $1.5 trillion, with 15 million acres of untapped energy reserves and mineral resources. Only 2.1 million acres of land are currently being developed, but 30% of the western US’s coal reserves, 50% of its uranium deposits, and 20% of its oil and gas reserves lie on a reservation (Yeagley). The government has imposed a long and complicated permitting process to be able to develop land. To approve an energy development permit on Indian land, private companies, whether Native-owned or not, must go through at least 4 different agencies and 49 steps. This authorization can take years, and the government agency can require more information or halt the project at any time they choose. In contrast, off-reservation it only takes 4 steps and a few months to get an energy permit (Regan). A title search on a reservation can take years, whereas off-reservation it takes a few days. Because of the burdens on companies attempting to develop, most investors completely avoid Indian land. The government agencies collect royalties throughout the development process, which are supposed to be distributed back out to Natives, but oftentimes they mismanage or lose the money. In fact, the government
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