Native American Sovereignty

[Chewbacca]

Curious in this day and age of terrorists, serial murders, and child abductors the state of Rhode Island can spare 20 state troopers to harrass native americans for selling tobacco. I wonder how many people got away driving dangerously fast while this was going on?

Anyway, should this tribe and others have the right to sell goods free from state tax, as autonomous nations? I say yes indeed.

Smoke Shop Raid

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — The Narragansett Indian Tribe sued the state Tuesday, claiming their rights were violated during a tumultuous state police raid on the tribe's new tax-free tobacco shop. The Narragansetts also asked the U.S. District Court (search) to reaffirm that the tribe is a sovereign nation and declare that the state police acted illegally when they arrested eight tribe officials Monday and confiscated tobacco products and $900 from the tribe's smoke shop, which opened Saturday on tribal land. The suit also seeks a declaration from the court that the tribe has authority to sell cigarette products free of state taxes. The governor "said (the smoke shop) violates state law. We said, 'Look, let's let the federal courts decide,"' Narragansett Chief Sachem Matthew Thomas said outside federal court Tuesday. The lawsuit names as defendants the state, the state police, Gov. Don Carcieri, Attorney General Patrick Lynch, state police Superintendent Steven Pare, the town of Charlestown, the Charlestown Police Department (search), and the justices of the Rhode Island District and Superior courts. The tribe also planned to file for a temporary restraining order that would prevent the state from shutting down the tobacco shop again. Thomas said he would contact the state's congressional delegation to ask for federal law enforcement protection on the reservation. Meanwhile, the state is preparing to go to state Superior Court over the matter. Carcieri told WPRO-AM that he'll launch a full independent investigation into the raid and conduct of the state police. He accused the Narragansetts of staging the riot and said it looked like the tribe's resistance was orchestrated. About 20 state troopers arrived at the Narragansetts' tobacco shop Monday to execute a warrant for search and seizure. Videotape showed state police troopers walking in a line toward the smoke shop and forcibly opening its doors. Several tribal members who resisted were wrestled to the ground and handcuffed. Pare, head of the state police, said plainclothes officers entered the tobacco store first and served the warrant. The line of troopers followed only after tribal leaders indicated they would not honor the warrant, he said. But members of the tribe criticized the state's conduct. "I'm disgusted in the way this was handled," said Randy Noka, the tribe's first councilman. "This is over cigarettes." The Narragansett Indians, who have been federally recognized since 1983, began Saturday to sell cigarettes without sales tax or the cigarette tax, in an effort to make money. By law, Indian sales to Indians aren't subject to government sales taxes, but tribal businesses are supposed to collect taxes on sales to non-Indians. Carcieri said the tribe was told the shop was illegal, and continued their "flagrant violation of state law." "This is all about the leadership of a tribe that is so frustrated that it did not get a casino," Carcieri said Monday. The tribe has been trying to build a casino more than a decade. A bill that would have put the casino question to voters failed to win legislative approval during the recently concluded session. Following his release from police custody Monday night, Thomas said the tribe was standing up for its rights. "The Narragansett Indian Tribe did what it's always done -- it stood to protect its land," said Thomas, who had two bandages on his left arm and a swollen right wrist. "It's unfortunate because it's 2003." The video shows Thomas with his arms wrapped around a state trooper at the top of the shop's front steps, while one tribal member appears to have his hand on the trooper's throat. Shortly afterward, two troopers pull a man down the steps, and then pull Thomas after him. Lynch said Thomas not only violated the law by obstructing police, but also incited others. Thomas said the tribe was resisting an illegal incursion onto its property. The state police have said one person was injured in the melee. But Paulla Dove, a member of the tribe's council, said between eight and 10 people complained of injuries and Thomas said one person broke an ankle.

[Arvon]

If their a sovereign Nation then why are we paying them welfare and other subsidies?

[Rokenn]

Originally posted by Arvon: If their a sovereign Nation then why are we paying them welfare and other subsidies?

Because we slaughtered them as part of 'Manifest Destiny'. Then through systematic governmental policies tried to wipe out their culture.

[Ar-Cunin]

Originally posted by Rokenn: quote: Originally posted by Arvon: If their a sovereign Nation then why are we paying them welfare and other subsidies?

Because we slaughtered them as part of 'Manifest Destiny'. Then through systematic governmental policies tried to wipe out their culture. [/QUOTE]And giving them a tax-exemption makes it alright? Or does it just make everyone feel better?

[Chewbacca]

Originally posted by Ar-Cunin: quote: Originally posted by Rokenn: quote: Originally posted by Arvon: If their a sovereign Nation then why are we paying them welfare and other subsidies?

Because we slaughtered them as part of 'Manifest Destiny'. Then through systematic governmental policies tried to wipe out their culture. [/QUOTE]And giving them a tax-exemption makes it alright? Or does it just make everyone feel better? [/QUOTE]No, nothing can make right taking someone children away from them, punishing them when they spoke their own language and forcing them to covert to christianity. Nothing can make right taking away their fertile land and moving them to desolate wastelands to eek out existence under the goverments watchful eye. Nothing can make right those crimes.

[Rokenn]

Originally posted by Ar-Cunin: And giving them a tax-exemption makes it alright? Or does it just make everyone feel better?

It's a start. If you truly wanted to repay them for atrocities like the Trail of Tears you would kick all the emigrants off their land and give it back to them as a true sovereign nation. Forgoing that the government balances the issues as best they can.

If you want a fuller sampling of the horrors visited on the Native population during the ethnic cleansing of north america try reading Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee: An Indian History of the American West and try not to weep.

[ 07-15-2003, 04:14 PM: Message edited by: Rokenn ]

[Timber Loftis]

Tax-free Casinos on Indian land were just the beginning. It's nice, IMO, to see the Indians screwing the government for a change. As the tax-free store trend continues, however, I fear the government will come up with a reason why it can tax on Indian land.

I say they should enjoy it while they can -- and rightfully so. If they aren't allowed to scalp arrogant white a-holes, at least they can screw 'em a little bit by denying the gov't a few tax dollars.

[Animal]

We've got the same issues here in Canada.

Natives do not pay tax as long as the goods are purchased on band land. It's their land, let them do as they wish.

As for the subsidies, and social assistance that's a whole different ball game.

[khazadman]

Tell me if I'm wrong here Timber, but isn't indian land federal land? And so doesn't that make what the Governor did illegal? Nothing would make me happier than to see the state humiliated in this.

Aaaawww. Why don't you just cry me a handful Rokenn. What happened to the indians in this country is exactly what happened all over the world when primitive people were invaded by a technologically superior people. And crying about the past will never help them. And this coming from someone who had ancesters who walked the Trail of Tears.

[Rokenn]

Originally posted by khazadman: Tell me if I'm wrong here Timber, but isn't indian land federal land? And so doesn't that make what the Governor did illegal? Nothing would make me happier than to see the state humiliated in this. Aaaawww. Why don't you just cry me a handful Rokenn. What happened to the indians in this country is exactly what happened all over the world when primitive people were invaded by a technologically superior people. And crying about the past will never help them. And this coming from someone who had ancesters who walked the Trail of Tears.

Keep your patronizing bullshit to yourself khaz. I was merely pointing out the fact that the VAST mojority of Americans do not know what really happened in the Indian wars. And if you can read the book I linked to without shedding a tear then I am sad for you, as you have no heart and are most likely not even human.