Native American tribes in Canada and United States have been through more hardships and oppression than they care to remember. Assimilation into the general society of the colonialists was pursued by many government and church officials and accepted by few aboriginal people. The issues of then reflect the problems today, despite the progress towards the freedom and recognizing the rights of indigenous people. Tribes have been successful with casinos, businesses, natural resources, etc. These successful tribes have been able to distribute per capita money to the membership, intentions are for good purposes, but this decision has allowed for many negative impacts. I believe dis-enrollment, substance abuse, gang violence are supported by tribal per capita. I believe tribal governments have become responsible for killing their own people. Indian people are like any other population, as a whole they are likely to make bad decisions based on the individual's needs. Not to slander anyone, much of the money given to the members is used for good things: rent, food, transportation, etc. I only wish to say that the profits of individual tribes should be given equally to all tribes, not to the people, but they should invest in what we are all struggling with, salmon restoration, ecology and not economy. Native people have opportunity to restore life, like before colonization.

Joshua R. Olsen

Deming