I am an enrolled member of the federally recognized Stockbridge Munsee Community, a band of Mohican Indians, whose reservation is located in the north-west portion of Shawano County, Wisconsin. The Stockbridge Munsee, by majority vote, adopted an Indian Reorganization Act constitution of November 18, 1937, in accordance with Section 16 of the IRA. During 1938 the Tribe was issued a federal charter of Incorporation pursuant to Section 17 of the IRA. Membership in the Tribe in 1937 was less than 1,000. Enrollment currently is approximately 2,000.
The purpose of this letter is to voice my opposition to Federal Indian Policy which permits Tribal leaders to purchase fee patent lands which are contiguous to the current reservation lands. These newly purchased lands are then placed in trust, and become nontaxable land, owned once again by the federal government. How is this trust land of any benefit to the entire Tribal membership? Tribal members will not receive a deed, or title to this trust land, trust land may not become an inheritance to descendants, may not be sold, or mortgaged. Any member who builds a home on trust land may lose all equity at the whim of the next elected governing body. I believe that an investigation of past practices of land distribution would reveal that only a select few Indian people have received shares of allotted land.
In this new era of multi million dollar casinos on reservation land, isn't it about time to release the taxpayers (Indian/non-Indian) from the bonds of treaties signed centuries prior to the IRA constitutions which Indian leaders are neglecting to use today? Indian people are no longer victims living in abject poverty, we should not be dependents, or wards of the government. Taxpayers have paid for health, education and welfare for a small percentage of Natives who reside on reservations, while ignoring those Tribal people who have made every effort to become self sufficient. Native Americans should be ready to become first class citizens of the USA - Americans, who are contributors to the well being of the Nation.
I implore you to use your voice in Congress to do anything, and everything you can to stave off legislation that would continue this practice of many nations within our Nation. There are special interest organizations who are subject to Tribal law, and U.S. law, without access to the Bill of Rights, whose leaders do not abide by the National/Tribal constitution, all with the continued support of Congress. At the very least there must be total accountability of the tribes to the taxpayers who are providing for them. It is vital that the rights of all citizens of the United States should be made equal. The prospect of a future without the protection of equality is truly frightening.
Sincerely,
Eleanor R. Martin