What is Coming?

A quote from the book WHAT JUST HAPPENED, which includes my interviews with John Trudell

By Trace Hentz, blog editor

I had emails right after the election (Trump won) and I was asked about how this could impact Indigenous Sovereign Tribal Nations here in the US.

Trump obviously doesn't know our history.  There is no sign that he cares, unless it can make him money or gain him prestige and power.

His first term was defined as SURREAL

So, yes, it could impact every one of us in some way - for good or for bad.   For one, tribal nations will not have a seat at the table, judging by Trump's last term.  (Sadly, the Department of the Interior will no longer have a Native (Secretary Deb Haaland) running it.)  Trump will not convene any Tribal Summits, even though we are sovereign and deserve a voice and a seat at the table.

How about his type of corruption?  His financial ties and connections to oil and gas industries in exchange for permits to DRILL DRILL DRILL could impact every state, especially Alaska!

“The policies enacted during President Trump’s first term played a crucial role in this growth and innovation. By reducing regulatory burdens, his administration allowed energy companies to focus on production and innovation rather than navigating an endless stream of rules from Washington bureaucrats. In contrast, the Biden-Harris administration has been far more aggressive than even the Obama administration in undermining domestic oil and gas production,” the alliance said. MORE HERE

BACKWARDS?  Yup, in reverse, we will be back to THE GREAT WHITE FATHER making new rules and breaking and bending treaties, again. 

(From Rex Tellerson, to Jeff Sessions, to Wilbur Ross, every Cabinet member he chose in his first term proved their incompetence or corruption.  Trump's choices first term: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_cabinet_of_Donald_Trump)

SCARY?

Another possibility is Trump would terminate tribes, like what happened over 40+ years ago.  I remember when I was editor of the Pequot Times that Trump played a part in the denial of federal recognition for the Eastern Pequot and the Schaghticoke tribes in Connecticut.  Both tribes had tried over many years to petition the federal government for recognition, and regain the land they deserved to be declared their reservations.  (At one point there were over 200 tribes in that situation, stuck in limbo and petitioning for federal recognition.) 

Remember that every treaty ever written was broken.

LINK: https://www.archives.gov/research/native-americans/bia/termination

Termination ended federal recognition of affected tribes and the federal aid and services that came with that recognition.  It also ended federal trust status for affected reservations and the protections granted by such status.  In many cases, termination meant the transfer of federal jurisdiction over criminal and civil matters on reservations to state authorities as well.   (REMEMBER: House Concurrent Resolution 108 called for termination “at the earliest possible time” of all American Indian tribes in California, Florida, New York, and Texas, as well as termination for specific tribes in other states, including “the Flathead Tribe of Montana, the Klamath Tribe of Oregon, the Menominee Tribe of Wisconsin, the Potowatamie Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska, and those members of the Chippewa Tribe who are on the Turtle Mountain Reservation, North Dakota.”)

It was devastating, beyond what anyone could have imagined. (Like the Dawes Act!)

It took the tribes like Grand Ronde in Oregon many years to be recognized again, to be regarded and treated as Sovereign - costing these tribes their time and money and untold tragedy. 

You see, it never ends. Domination never ends. Their demand for land and what is on the land, or under the land, never ends.

In 2020 I compiled a non-fiction book WHAT JUST HAPPENED concerning Trump's new presidency, because I had friends who were literally scared to death.  The instability of the man, the crime boss Mafia mentality he displayed, the pathological liar who was our new president, this new phenomena was called TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME, or TDS.  People were knocked off balance and literally in fear, scared.  For good reason. 

I know it's only one branch of government, yes, but in the past, almost all past presidents were a danger to us, and what is coming, has yet to be determined.  

As far as future adoptees, ICWA is still our federal law.  But sadly, even that could change!

NICWA Statement on the 2024 Election

By Native News Online Staff

November 07, 2024 | News

With the election of President Donald Trump to serve in his second term, the National Indian Child Welfare Association released the following statement:

As the 2024 election results are nearly complete, we recognize there is much at stake for our communities. At times, the campaign rhetoric was divisive and raised important questions about how a transition in leadership might impact our communities.  While leadership changes can often bring uncertainty and even anxiety, we have prepared for this and are already planning how we will organize, educate, and advocate for the needs and rights of Native children and families and the protection of tribal sovereignty.

NICWA has navigated national leadership changes going back to the 1980s, and we understand how to strategically and diligently advocate for the rights and protection of Native children and families in changing political environments.  During some of the most challenging times, we have found ways to protect and even advance resources and rights for Native children and families.  This included expanding our network of allies—both Native and non-Native—and finding new ways to communicate the importance of laws like the Indian Child Welfare Act, which are crucial to the well-being of our communities.

NICWA values seeking opportunities to work in a bipartisan manner and designing strategies that ensure support from both parties.  Our strength is the relationships we have within our communities, leadership, and each other.  We will continue our fight for the protection of Native children and families with you as our most valuable allies and partners.

 **

Hey!  We're SMART!

Let's keep watch.  Like Trudell told us many times in many ways: we are resilient, sacred and ancient.  We are not going anywhere.