
I agree with Grizz.
I have a fairly high % of Shawnee blood in my ancestry, but somewhere back along the line my ancestors decided it would be wiser to forget the ways of war to remain on our lands, and simply conform to the new ways of living being introduced by the people invading our lands (European settlers). Some of my ancestors who resisted too forcefully were moved to reservations, but others just simply and quietly joined in with the new trend of claiming a "homestead" and working like the other "settlers" occupying the land. For several generations we have been American Citizens now. We (I) still know and practice some of the beliefs of my ancestors before colonization, but I also practice being an American citizen, too. I have served my country's armed forces in time of war, I have paid taxes, I have also taken advantage of my citizenship by reaping the few benefits I've needed such as unemployment, veteran's education benefits, veteran's health care, etc.
I love to hunt, fish, and live off the land as much as possible. I will continue to work for a living, pay taxes (I do reserve the right to grumble while paying), and hunt and fish for a part of my dietary needs. I will not ask special favors, nor do I need them. I am a hunter! My father, and his father, and his father, and so it was for as long as there is a memory were hunters. I need no special treatment to harvest my share of the game that the land provides. I will obey the game laws and regulations because they are implemented to assure my son will have a chance to continue our tradition of hunting.
I guess what I'm saying is that I am no different than any other American Citizen. I have the right to hunt, but my neighbors also have the same right. If we wish to preserve enough game and wildlife to continue the tradition, then we all have to play by the same rules. If I want to live a normal lifestyle as most Americans live, then I have to follow the same rules. If I want to have special conditions, then I need to call the BIA, surrender, move to a reservation, and let some government official tell me how to live.
Come to think of it, it may be those taxes that finally defeat us. If the government doesn't learn to manage money I may still have to surrender and let the rest of you pay more taxes to support me!


