Have you ever heard of someone getting extradited to native prison? What happens when you don't show up for native court and uphold the sixth amendment on U.S. soil? If your not on native land, what jurisdiction is there to force a law that does not pertain to you in your country? I am sure there are formalities here, but the point is that you were not afforded assistance of council before your rights were violated (granted they will say you were without your rights when you entered a reservation and the federal government will likely back that) you still have the ability to not be physically present and force the issue. File suit, etc. I myself would most certainly not find a comp'ed room adequate compensation for having been disrespected and removed of legal medication. I would however, like you, feel it important to let others know that your rights as a citizen of the United States and protected under the constitution are not upheld on native lands. That the "community" surrounding this reservation is being "destroyed" by cannabis and that it is important not to be part of the corruption, so by avoiding the casino that does not support your state rights or amended constitutionally afforded rights, you can do just that.
Thank you for your time and explanation of how you were treated. I myself, the father of a Native child, am appalled any time I hear of something like this. It leads me to believe that Native leaders in charge, are not standing up for their own beliefs under pressure of federal law and regulation in order to maintain relations. Granted this is simply my own opinion of what goes on, I do have reasons to believe...
I agree and understand the sarcasm in a previous comment made about allowing "their own" to consume alcohol despite the obvious problems with alcoholism in native populations, and the implications made about protecting their interests with alcohol by prohibiting cannabis. Sadly, dry villages work no better than prohibition ever did (believe me I have lived in them) so its not a fluke that it did not worn in our history alone. And when native law is trying to control a population that is also controlled by a western law, it conflicts and contradicts and you see what we have as a result... In my opinion formulated through life's experiences, it is not helping the Native people to take bribes from the federal or state governments in order to operate casinos now, any better than taking bribes of warm blankets and fun little camps did in the deadly past. Now, you don't literally see people being killed or taken advantage of or from any more as you could have in the past, but at the time our government was screwing populations of natives at large by doing so, it was simply viewed as normal and part of the gig much like what is going on today is viewed. And lastly, don't feel like Native leaders cannot become corrupt and take advantage of their own people for self gain any different than any other ethnicity. Corruption happens in all walks of life, but uniquely so in populations of people that have openly been assaulted and abused by our governments in the past. I view it kind of like how kids who have been abused can grow up to carry on the same behaviors that lead to them being mistreated. It does not make sense at first, how could if you have been abused, you then carry on and do the same to someone else? It happens, and there is more to it than meets the eye. Bottom line, "rights" are someones interpretation of what you should be afforded. Protect yourself with knowledge and gain wisdom by excepting lessons though lifes experience. When you have a chance, DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
Thanks for the rant, sorry for the spew.
Again, thanks for the info and doing something about your experience. You saved me from going down the same road and I hope you know that your action made a difference. I will not be visiting as a group of us were planning to.
Woodsmantoker~
P.S. I often feel like Kevin Costner in Dances with Wolfs, trying to save my son from my own people and government... Damn White Men
