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Peace
circles will not change landowners' key concerns
Feb. 22, 2000
By
SUSAN GALBRAITH
Observer-Dispatch
Guest Columnist
The
people of Central New York should not tolerate a self-proclaimed
"foreign nation" in their midst. The "Oneida
Nation" does not follow the U.S. Constitution, the
Iroquois Constitution, or any other written constitution.
Should "tribal self-determination" be unlimited?
Must we allow dictatorships within the boundaries of the
United States if their leaders promise to wear ethnic costumes?
Every Election Day we have a chance to replace our leaders.
When is Ray Halbritter up for re-election?
May we see the inspection records of the tribal agencies
that supposedly monitor the casino restaurants and Sav-Ons?
When
will the tribal police open their blotters and stop their
surveillance of dissidents and non-Indians?
How
would non-Indian residents of a future Oneida reservation
be represented in the tribal government? Would they be subjected
to taxation without representation?
Before anyone starts assembling "peace circles,"
the Oneida tribal government should prove that it deserves
the trust of its neighbors. Some suggestions:
1. If the Oneidas have no desire to claim private land,
they should amend the December 1998 filing to remove their
threat against private landowners. The goal of forcing a
return to negotiations was met long ago.
2. More than 10,000 acres of land have transferred into
tribal ownership in the past year. A moratorium on land
purchases, or at minimum a moratorium on refusing to pay
property taxes, would do much to reduce tension.
3. Reservation land is not exempt from federal regulations.
Many state laws also apply. If the Oneidas wanted to make
peace they would stop claiming exemption from laws that,
according to the U.S. Supreme Court, DO apply to them.
The moral bankruptcy of the Halbritter government is obvious.
What else can explain the persistent poverty of so many
Oneida Indians when "their" casino grosses at
least $200,000 per tribe member each year? Or the classification
of non-Indian critics as racists, a tactic that stifles
rational debate?
Or the use of propaganda to foster guilt among all non-Indians,
even people whose ancestors were still in Europe, Asia,
or Africa when the Oneidas sold their land?
While the Oneida "Nation" wages economic war against
taxpaying businesses, our leaders make concessions in the
name of settlement. The tribe doesn't like the state sales
tax laws? Don't enforce them. They want unlicensed alcohol
at the casino? Tell the troopers to stand by while the bartenders
pour.
Mahatma Gandhi condemned passivity as strongly as he advocated
non-violence. He said injustice must be resisted. "No
doubt the non-violent way is always the best, but where
that does not come naturally the violent way is both necessary
and honorable. Inaction is rank cowardice and unmanly. It
must be shunned at all cost."
Upstate Citizens for Equality offers the people of Central
New York a non-violent outlet to express their outrage at
this intolerable situation. We advocate working within our
country's legal and legislative processes to change federal
Indian policy and bring an end to undemocratic, unconstitutional
tribal "governments" that deny civil rights to
both Indian and non-Indian residents of reservations.
I hope with all my heart that violence can be avoided. But
I cannot advocate capitulation in the face of evil. And
I fear that the "peace circles" will be used to
sugar coat the poisonous pill of Indian sovereignty.
Susan Galbraith is managing editor of The Upstate Citizen,
the newspaper of Upstate Citizens for Equality. She is also
a member of the board of directors and head of the media
committee. Upstate Citizens for Equality’s web site
is www.madisoncountyny.com/uce. To join UCE, write to:UCE,
P.O.Box 65, Wampsville, NY 13163
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