Democratic Presidential nominee Kamala Harris has pledged to restore a half-million acres of Tribal Lands and other benefits to Native Americans
Let’s Breakdown what this really means and who will actually benefit. The land restoration and resources will go to “federally recognized tribes.” These Tribes were recognized in the late 1800s with the treaty of 1866. The treaty allotted land, benefits and resources to the Five civilized tribes; the Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Cree (Muscogee), and Seminole.
If you are a student of history, you are acutely aware that many Natives in the U.S were dark-skinned with African features, who do not resemble many of the Natives we see today. Ivan Van Sertima’s book They came before Columbus explains this in great detail.
The treaty of 1886 came five years after the abolishment of slavery and many freed slaves had Native American roots from marriage, blood, and even through servitude. When many of those Black Natives went to receive benefits from the treaties, the U.S implemented the “Quantum Blood Law,” which defined Native American identity by percentages of ancestry. Many Blacks, unfortunately, didn’t have the documentation sufficient to prove their Native ancestry; thus were reclassified as Black.
At the same time, Whites became aware of the resources and benefits being allocated to Native Americans, and they illegally paid $5 to be put on the Dawes Rolls. Those individuals on the Rolls were accepted as eligible for tribal membership in the “Five Civilized Tribes”. The term “$5 Indian” comes from this scheme. Many of the “Native Americans” that are getting free college education, tax breaks and access to casinos today. Are the descendants of the Whites that paid $5 in the late 1800s to be on the Dawes Rolls.
Dr Claud Anderson has also done extensive research on this and has filed lawsuits in federal court to have the true beneficiaries of these treaties-Black Natives- properly compensated.
Keep in mind that Kamala Harris has said on record, “I’m not gonna sit here and say I’m gonna do something that only benefits Black People. No”.
So when Kamala Harris Pledges to increase tangibles and resources to “Native Americans”, she is fully aware of who, and who will not benefit.