My Grandfather is half Eskimo and because of that I get free health care. It always seems a little crazy to me when I go to the doctor and its just FREE. For those of you that don't know, Alaska doesn't have reservations. The Alaska Native Land Claims Settlement Act was created in the 70's and turned geographic areas of Alaska into corporations. Some of these corporations have been very successful and pay out huge dividends. Russians and other non-natives were grandfathered in.

Alaskan natives are definitely treated as second class citizens. Sometimes it seems well deserved. Many of the tribe leaders were corrupt and made tons of money during the building of the pipeline. We have some of the highest rates of rape, alcoholism and violence in the villages. The dark, cold winters and booze arent a great combo for natives.

Native problems are long and often really complex. Yea, I have to admit there is a ton of alcoholism, drug, domestic violence and other problems. And the corruption amoungst leaders is as thick as it comes.

But it has been proven time and time again. That when natives are given control and they work with traditional elders. Things get a hell of alot better very quickly.

I can't explain it and I won't even try. There is something deeply part of most natives that cries out for their culture. When it's lost or made into nothing more than a tourist attraction. We get really fucked up really fast. Somehow we don't fully fit in a european world.

I have never done any drugs in my life and I have never been drunk. (Ok, very tipsy but not drunk)

But I've always done everything I can to keep the customs and be close to my roots. Even when I'm living thousands of kilometres away.

what is really funny about us Americans is that most are so ignorant they cannot see the effects of their own damage

theese people are this way because history has made them this way

they have been raped,,,,murdered and tortured all for trying to help the white man

they were foolish but they did not know that theese people were such of evil blood

the long term of effect on the indians is the same as it was on blacks and most any othe race touched by the violent ways of the cauca european

total devastation of culture

instead of downing them and talking shit about them drinking etc.....

understand why they are in this position in the first place

definitely not by any fault of their own