Plight of the Urban Indian
Thursday, 9. July 2009
The Southern California Indian Center has been providing the American Indian Community in Orange, Riverside and Los Angeles Counties with services for over 40 years. As a non-profit organization we are not able to create revenue in the same a for profit business would. The service that we provide are made possible from grants and donations that we receive.
With the prevailing economic conditions in America it has had a negative impact on our financial position with regard to our programs and events including the cancelling our 41st Annual Pow Wow. This gathering has become the Southern California American Indian Community's continuity for the last 40 years. Our Culture and Traditions give us a voice and vision to hand down to our next generation. To have the matter dictated by the economy is a lot like paying for the right to speak American English in America. If you run out of money or run short you can always stop talking or learn a different language.
I feel that the majority of the population in America is under the impression that the American Indian gets everything for free and they don't have to pay taxes or work because they all get a monthly check for being an Indian. And what about all that Casino money? Well I wished I was a member of that Tribe! About 70% of all Federally recognized Tribal members live off the Reservation and do not receive the services that they are entitled. The Urban Indian represents the largest Federally Unrecognized tribal group in America.
The Southern California Indian Center does NOT receive annual Casino revenue. Some of the annual grants have been eliminated and the rest have been reduced. The majority of our Urban American Indian Clients lose Treaty Rights once they leave the Reservation. That means, no Tribal Housing, Tribal Healthcare or Education Scholarships. And yes they pay State and Federal Taxes, Social Security, Retirement, Workers Comp, just like everybody else. Only 5% of the Federally enrolled Tribal member receive Casino royalties and that is after the Federal Govt. and State, receives their cut of the total annual revenue and then the Tribe allocates the majority of what is left into the local infrastructure.
