# Hot Blava

The national debate will always seep over into local politics and thus, events on the national stage will find their way into Hot Blava. We hope that Hot Blava will be an interesting mixture of national issues and issues that affect Utah, and particularly Utah County where we live. Mostly, it is great to write about issues you're thinking about as it solidifies your thinking... or exposes your own irrationality. You can decide which is which.

## Saturday, January 28, 2006

### Should We Eliminate the Indian Reservations?

I grew up next to the giant Navajo Indian Reservation. As a kid, I didn't hear a lot of positive things about "the res." I didn't fully understand then, nor do I understand now, the total picture of the legal status of the Reservations. I understand they are able to have their own police and their own laws. But they are able to take full advantage of US citizenship.
I understand that we have longstanding treaties with the various Indian tribes that promise certain benefits and give certain rights, though I don't fully understand what they are.
Here is what I see: the Reservation isn't good for the people that live there. Whatever lifestyle the reservations were supposed to preserve is long gone. It seems that the time for the reservations are past. Getting rid of the reservations is a problem fraught with sticky questions and consequences. How do you assign land owernership? What about the treaties? What happens to all those casinos?
In spite of having held the unresearched opinion for several years that we ought to get rid of the reservations, I didn't share that with many people because I didn't know how firm the logical footing of that position was. I'm still not totally sure, but finally I see someone approaching the question. Here is a piece on Opinion Journal.

#### 3 Comments:

At 8:38 PM, April 05, 2006, drevegas said...

  Just my thoughts . . . .well, I am actually 1/2 navajo but I grew up in the Northern Bay Area, CA. My mother always made it important to take us back to The Rez to make sure that we never forgot who we are or where we came from. I, like you, didn't always understand why there was The Rez and why there was The Rest of The U.S. But along the way after continuing to go back and learn more, I never found out as much culture, history, original stories, and traditions about the Navajo Nation, except for on The Rez. I guess the way I see it, if we broke up The Rez and "mixed it all up," the people would be no more. They would have nowhere to go back to and soon it'd only be something you read in books. Kinda like if you broke up other countries and made them all one whole just because theyre on the same land mass. Or like old buildings in the downtown part of cities, people try saving them from being turned into outlet stores or high-rise condos because theyre apart of history and it's apart of who we are. These are just my thoughts but nothing more, nothing less, just thoughts, Thanks! ; )

At 8:48 PM, April 05, 2006, Bradley said...

  Thanks so much for this thoughtful comment. I wonder if there is a good way to preserve the heritage and culture without all the legal baggage that comes along with the reservations. It seems the the economic conditions on the reservations are dragging more people down than lifting them up.

At 8:52 PM, April 17, 2006, drevegas said...

  Thats true! I have seen the conditions hit close to home and still feel helpless. Good thing we have Prayers! Hopefully someone else reading this will have greater solutions! Good thing we have Blogs! Keep up with the blogs! Thank You ; )

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