Legislature should consider tribal economies
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Editor,
“American Indians are 4.6 percent of Montana’s families, but make up 43 percent of TANF active cases in Montana, 24 percent of Medicaid recipients, and 34 percent of SNAP recipients. If the cuts to these programs proceed, they will have potentially devastating effects on American Indians already struggling to get by.”
By the time this letter is published, the Montana Legislature may have already taken action on appropriations for the Department of Public Health and Human Services. The statement above was provided as an aid to tribal nations to prepare testimony to the House Subcommittee on Appropriations for Health and Human Services as it deliberated $147 million in cuts.
Tribes don’t need statistics, rates, or data; we live with them every day. We are fighting to keep our language, culture, religion, traditions and homeland intact. We carry on despite enormous obstacles. But we ask for nothing more than to be recognized as sovereign nations that are capable of making our own decisions and determining our own future.
While the state lauds its fiscal conservatism and economic-growth friendly climate, the Flathead Reservation suffers “only” 23.7 percent unemployment in 2005 (3.5 times the state’s total rate of 6.8 percent). “Only” is complimentary when compared to other reservations in Montana, which were overall 51.6 percent and as high as 69.6 percent (Fort Belknap Reservation) in 2005. These statistics are from the Montana Poverty Study 2010.
I’m not the governor nor am I a state legislator, or I would have to feel ashamed at this stark contrast, or at least ask why and explore solutions to Montana’s first inhabitants being at the bottom of every socio-economic level and statistically at the top of the worst social ills.
If the state legislature and the governor deem it appropriate to cut spending for social programs, so be it. Tribal nations can choose to react, negotiate, or settle for what is offered. I think a new direction is in order. Tribal nations must demand that the state lawmakers provide an opportunity to create meaningful growth in our reservation economies. These opportunities include significant changes in state law that prohibit or preclude economic growth and development. Tribal nations must demand this so that we can foster self-sufficiency and self-reliance and not be enslaved to social welfare systems, and these very systems are now on the chopping block so that Montana can balance its budget. The federal government will soon follow suit.
I now personally request my state legislator, Mr. Dan Salomon, HD 12, to provide one job-creating idea that will transpire after these budget cuts take place.
Ruth Swaney
St. Ignatius
