OpEdNews - Page 6 of Article: Fate of Lakotahs Highlights America's Failed Native American Policies

-- most Indians live on reservations that are supposed to be self-governing - in principle, that is; around 2% of Indians live under state jurisdiction.

Threatened Culture

-- only 14% of Lakotahs speak their native language;

-- it's not being taught inter-generationally; the average age of fluent Lakotah speakers is 65; thus the language is endangered and on the verge of extinction; and

-- the Lakotah language is forbidden to be taught in US government schools - a further indignity inflicted on the people.

A Final Comment

In September 2007, the UN General Assembly adopted the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. It passed 143 - 4 with only Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the US voting "no." Eleven nations abstained.

This document enumerates the "collective rights of the world's 370 million native peoples, calls for the maintenance and strengthening of their cultural identities, and emphasizes their right to pursue development in keeping with their own needs and aspirations."

The Declaration affirms the right of native peoples "to the recognition, observance and enforcement of treaties concluded with States or their successors. It also prohibits discrimination against indigenous peoples and promotes their full and effective participation in all matters that concern them."

This document concluded 25 years of "contentious negotiations over the rights of native people to protect their lands and resources, and to maintain their unique cultures and traditions." In that and the above stated respects, it's historic and important.

Nonetheless, America has its own "traditions" over and above those of others it disdains and abuses - the poor, non-whites, the disadvantaged, labor, non-Jews and Christians, virtually everyone outside its white supremacists elites, and clearly its Native peoples from the earliest settlers to the present day.

Nothing's changed from then to now - Broken Promises, Broken Laws, Broken Treaties, and Broken Hope for a Broken People suffering hugely in the United States of America - out of sight and mind and not an issue for the dominant news media. Very much one for people who care.

Stephen Lendman is a Research Associate of the Centre for Research on Globalization. He lives in Chicago and can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.

Also visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com and listen to The Global Research News Hour on RepublicBroadcasting.org Mondays from 11AM - 1PM US Central time for cutting-edge discussions on world and national topics with distinguished guests. All programs are archived for easy listening.

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