We American Indians ARE the 1%
Brothers and sisters of American Indian tribes, we are the 1%. Don’t let the dominant culture fool you. We were here first; we became the 1% first before anyone else even thought of using a percentage. Not only did we occupy these lands first, we were the epitome of a percentage long long before any of the so called occupy movements started.
First we were a percentage of the undesirable population of the world. Indigenous peoples lay in the front of “civilization” on most every continent of the world. The so called discoverers and settlers wanted the resources and land the indigenous occupied. They called us savages and branded us as evil because our forefathers fought against their mechanics to displace our people. Who were the real savages, those who were fighting to keep what was rightfully theirs or those whom were scalping, killing, skinning, spreading disease and pitting tribes against each other for personal gain? Many have asked how the occupy movement can occupy lands that have been occupied since time began. Yet few cities have taken notice of the fact that indigenous peoples had communities, families, crops and hunting grounds long before being discovered and civilized by anyone.
Then once “civilized”; our blood was quantified in a means that would create more division amongst our nations, the blood quantum which is also a percentage methodology as many of you well know. With the advent of blood quantum those with a higher degree of Indian blood were more savage and less able to manage their own affairs. Those with a lower blood quantum had more control over their own lands and property. Some tribes encouraged the intermarrying with non-Indians back then to increase their control over their own. When in reality the whole concept of percentage of Indian blood was invented so that Indians could breed themselves out of existence in the eyes of the US Government. But presently we define ourselves and who is ours, not them anymore but the percentage of Indian blood is still in use and still a part of American Indian ancestry.
Next our blood became a means to measure land percentage, the more Indian blood we had, the higher amount of allotment acreage we got from the US Government. This of course was a catch 22. Because with a higher blood quantum the greater the chances the land is considered “restricted” and resources thereupon managed by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. And with the allotment process came the opening of thousands and thousands of acres of “free” land to the settlers who staked claims to what was previously supposed to be Indian Territory forever. Each time an allotment occurred, the American Indians’ percentage of land shrunk and shrunk and shrunk to a point where our lands are but a very small percentage of what was promised to us way back when. The greatest amount allotted here in Oklahoma was 160 acres which is of course laughable considering that one allottee’s descendants now may own a minute percentage of that land today.
And now, we American Indians are the 1% of the total US population. Some may live in rural settings, some in urban settings, some are Christianized, some are considered traditional, yet we all together comprise a whole. Our 1% must stand together in order to be heard, for without unity that 1% becomes too small to even care about. Our total population is but a very small portion of those who have dominated and controlled this country and yes this world. But our 1% is survivors. Our 1% is the ones who have lived through pestilence, disease, wars, attempts at genocide, forced sterilizations, unknown sterilizations, shoddy health care, broken treaties, mismanaged funds, and broken trust. Our 1% is still nurturing a proud history of culture, language, and independence. Our 1% is mighty but strong. Our 1% is the cream of the crop, its all in the way you look at it.
The dominant society views the 1% as having all the riches in the US while the 99% suffer, but we American Indians know suffering and we know living. We have chosen to live and we have chosen to survive. So brothers and sisters let us pull this 1% together and let us collectively never let anyone forget where we have come from and who we are - for we are the 1% now and forever. Mvto
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