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Race shouldn’t be brought into sheriff election

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Editor,

In a day where we have a black president I was hopeful that this country was finally able to move past our racial issues. I think a majority of the Americans have, but then we have a few like Mr. Bob Rew.

In his letter to the editor he talked a lot about the history of the American Indian, the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934 and our relationship with the US Congress, but he left out the real history part, the pain and suffering my ancestors went through. Mr. Rew seems to forget we were forced here from our original homeland in the Bitteroot, the Kootenai people were forced here also, like many other tribes were. 

Indian people were massacred off for the very land that everyday Americans of today live on. My ancestors were forced into boarding schools, had their hair cut, told they could not speak their native language, had Christianity forced upon them and told their cultural beliefs were evil. But through it all we are still here today and we thrive and it drives people like Mr. Rew crazy they couldn’t get rid of us before and still won’t be able to now. Countless American Indians died for the so-called benefits you think set me and you apart and make us not equal.

I say, “Shame on you Mr. Rew for throwing the race card into the sheriff’s campaign.” So I ask you Mr. Rew, are we truly equal what did you have to give up? There are always two sides to the story, but the important side usually gets left out. Indian people lost a lot. We were forced here on the reservation. You weren’t Mr. Rew. If you don’t like it, move. We have tribal members in the military now fighting for your freedom Mr. Rew, if they can protect America and fight for it, don’t you think one could be a sheriff and do it right? 

The Flathead Reservation is in a cross-jurisdictional agreement with Lake County; where non-tribal officers can cite a tribal member or vise versa where a tribal officer can cite a non-member. This was left out of your so called history lesson. All the tribal traffic citations are reported to the state and will go on one’s driving record. Lake County handles tribal member felonies. 

I’d say our legal systems are quite similar. Your last words were can Doyle serve two matters, you separated yourself, Mr. Rew, from the tribal people. Jay Doyle didn’t. You’re the one who is already segregating. You have done nothing but show your ignorant view towards Indian people.

Basically what Mr. Rew wants all of us to believe is an Indian won’t protect a non-Indian just for the fact he’s an Indian, and we are not capable of it because we are Indians. Does this make sense? 

I’m not even a Republican, I vote Democrat and I probably will vote for Dan Yonkin, but when a line has been crossed one has to speak up. I am proud member of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes.

Amelia Adams
Pablo

 

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