Preservation Struggles of the North Cheyenne

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In this article, Winona LaDuke outlines in detail, the struggle and fight of the people of North Cheyenne against the subjugation of the white men (the veho), corporate bodies, economic expansion, and the United State Government. This struggle is simply for the preservation of their lands, beliefs, culture, heritage, health, families, and their future. LaDuke writes that for many decades, the North Cheyennes have constantly been in battle and it appears that the fight is not yet over, because till this day, the struggle is still very much in existence. LaDuke analyses in depth, the historical issues that have led to the current state of their land, and how it has contributed to degrade their social existence, cultural, economic, and even educational …show more content…

The Indians, who had fought tirelessly with the colonial masters, now found themselves in a different type of fight with the big energy companies and the United States government; a corporate fight which involved court battles, anti-permit hearings, and so on. LaDuke points out that Native Action, a grass root environmental justice organization, has been the saving grace of the North Cheyenne people. Led by Gail Small, Native Action has represented the Indians despite tough oppositions and has the unique advantage of understanding the community’s problem from inside, being Indians themselves who share the same heritage (LaDuke 1999, …show more content…

For example, the influx of mining corporations into the Indian reservations meant that the families of miners joined the community. The resultant effect was racism and even the educational system of the Indians was affected because they were directed to schools in the border towns. In Gail Small’s words, “I never experienced so much racism before and never heard some of those words before” (LaDuke 1999, 85). The white men did not like the Indians and so refused to hire them, thereby causing unemployment, and increasing poverty. LaDuke also discusses the issue of urban based environmental movements who seem so engrossed in the bigger struggles like climate change, that they do not give much thought to native struggles like that of the Northern Cheyennes (1999, 88). This brings up the issue of how potent grass root movements like Native Action can be because they share the same history, experience, culture, and struggles of the very same people they

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