Remember the past for a better future!(My Native view!)

The Native history is littered with many horrible events that have taken place,we remember the past and hope for a better future.Even now in this day and age,the Native people still have a difficult time with many things,hate being one of the biggest,starvation,below poverty level status,children and elders passing for the simple reason that they couldn't afford to keep themselves warm in a harsh winter!All this and more is what has been going on and still goes on in this country that prides itself on compassion!
WE ARE STILL WARDS OF THIS COUNTRY!
That is how this country has always looked at us!WE are suppose to be a sovereign people,but have never been treated as such!We have been the first to sign up for battles and the last to be allowed to vote!
We were never thought of as humanbeings until after 1971,even dogs had more status then our people!
Through out history,many ways of who we are have been taken so that we will suffer and succumb to the ways of the others,this happened to the blacks when they were stolen from their land as well,but because we refuse to serve them like slaves,they took much by force even at the expense of a childs life!Why is it that a place like Pine Ridge and other reservations be in the state that they are in!?Because of one word that has haunted the people all along since the occupation began,ASSIMILATION!
We have been force to give up much and still they want us to give up more,more land,more people,more ways,more cultures,this reminds me of how they train an elephant!
It starts of with a chain fastened to a huge stake so it can't break free,first you break it's free spirit,as time goes on,you adjust the size of the bindings until all you have to do is tie it up with a piece of string!All the elephant has to feel is that little bit of stopping when the string is taught and it will stop all together!But there is one that will not stop and they call it a rogue!
Much of the people are now finding out that all that has held them to their place was a little string attached to their ankle and not the chain anymore!
The string called assimilation!
But now as we look at our people like an elephant to it's herd,we see all of the others tied to a stake with a string and they don't even know it!
There is nothing in writing saying that we cannot live like we use to!Except that little string tied to our ankle!
DO NOT FORGET THE PAST,USE IT TO MAKE A BETTER FUTURE FOR THE PEOPLE,FOR THE CHILDREN,YOUR CHILDREN AND MINE!!