Situation Cries For Peacemakers
For a hundred years, Indian tribes in Idaho have struggled with a sense of despair that comes from political and social isolation. The white man’s government in Washington, D.C., finally gave the tribes a measure of autonomy in 1975 when it affirmed their right to self-determination.
Now, a group of officials representing 23 government agencies in north central Idaho is using tax dollars to try to destroy the Nez Perce Tribe’s legal authority to govern its own reservation. Members of the North Central Idaho Jurdisdictional Alliance say they’re not racist - they simply want to ensure that white folks who choose to live on the reservation don’t have to abide by Indian laws.
However, their rhetoric is unquestionably inflaming anti-Indian sentiment and should be toned down before it incites violence. Incredibly, many of the instigators are elected officials.
Where is the leadership on this issue? It’s certainly not coming from local elected officials. Indian leaders are wary of the alliance and refuse to meet with the group. The people who could have terrific influence over this volatile situation - Idaho Gov. Dirk Kempthorne, U.S. Sen. Larry Craig and U.S. Rep. Helen Chenoweth-Hage - have been no help.
A group of human rights activists met last week in Moscow to begin talking about the problem. Acknowledging that there is a problem is a positive first step. But the situation remains volatile.
Non-Indians make a strong point in complaining about buying multiple fishing licenses, and blindly complying with Indian-preference hiring policies. The imposition of tribal taxes and regulations are unpredictable, and non-Indians have no say in the government making those decisions. Alliance members are hoping for a U.S. Supreme Court decision that would take away all such power from the tribe.
Such a ruling is unlikely and would be unwise. And for now the point is moot - treaty rights are legal and should be observed. But that doesn’t address the immediate need for a more peaceful co-existence.
If the tribes want the cooperation and respect of local governments - and they surely must - they should be less secretive in their style of governance and go out of their way to educate younger generations about tribal rights. And there is a great opportunity for collaboration.
For instance, state and tribal hunting and fishing licenses could be sold together.
If local government officials want to make some progress in their negotiations with the tribe and avoid the “racist” label, they need to back away from their inflammatory rhetoric.
Right now, though, the two sides appear to be too far apart to work together. The situation cries out for a peacemaker.
Gov. Kempthorne and other politicians need to volunteer for that role. That’s what real leaders do.