Not everyone is covered by the constitution of the United States

@TriciaW (2441)
United States
March 23, 2007 11:48am CST
I am a resident of a small town on a Indian reservation and I am shocked to learn I am not covered by the constitution. First before I tell this please no one jump on me about being against another race because I have family and friends both of which are native american. I am non native yet I and everyone in my community have to follow Native Tribal Council. The most recent is a law that was passed stating that any business selling l iquor has to pay a fee of $2500.00 plus 10 percent of all sells. Now this is not 10 percent of net profit but off the top for each item. This was passed without our right to taxation representation. We are not allowed to go to tribal council meetings and not allowed to vote for who is on the council because we are non native. Our land was purchased back in 1906 from the tribe so we all own our own land so there is no land in trust. In my community we have 3 businesses and 2 sell l iquor. Any business owner knows that if you are raising your price 3 percent and have to give 10 percent you would be paying people to shop or buy from you by 7 percent. This is not the only law on the horizan there is a water tax, land tax and for farmers there will be a tax on grain sold as well as a tax per head of livestock. These taxes will destroy anyone trying to make a living or those that own homes in our community so soon our town will be gone if this continues. I can tell you that our community does not receive any funding from the tribe and we do not have a school because our children have to go to another town which is in another county and not on the reservation so we receive no education funds from the tribe either. The above was mandated in the 1834 treaty. I have to say those natives we have here in town are just as upset as I am over what is going on because this means they too will have to not only pay state taxes for their land but taxes to the tribe. Not to mention they too will be losing the businesses we just for food and entertainment. Let me also explain that the tribe was declared US citizens so they receive all the benefits I do through the US Government. Yet if the Tribal Council decides to do something that does not follow the US Constitution I have no rights to fight it. I am not allowed to go to their hospital even if I am injured which means we have to travel an extra 25 miles for emergency cases. I have to say if I had known all of this I would have never bought a home here but that is a bit too late. I just do not know what to do about this. I have contacted my Senator and The Department of Interior yet neither could help me. I asked the Department of Interior since their mission statements states they are here to serve and protect all communities who is protecting my community. They told me they could not answer that. So what does someone do that is not protected by our Constitution?
1 person likes this
2 responses
@mfpsassy (2827)
• United States
23 Mar 07
Wow that is a tangled mess. Maybe you could get some members of the community together and hire a lawyer from outside the area to help untangle some of the mess. Basically what you decribe sounds like we have two countries here which IS unconstitutional. Other than that I guess you will have to sell your home and move somewhere that is not on a reservation. I know that is not easy in it's self. But if nothing can be done legally that seems to be about your only option
2 people like this
@TriciaW (2441)
• United States
23 Mar 07
I am trying to get help with a lawyer for the community. That takes a great deal of money but we are working on that. The bad thing about selling is that there were two houses for sale when we were looking and we bought one of them. This house had already sat empty for 2 years and the other is still empty. It is very difficult to sell here but I do understand what you are saying.
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@mfpsassy (2827)
• United States
23 Mar 07
2 years ugh....... I am so sorry. There has got to be something that can be done. But as you said it takes a lot of money. Have you contacted a local or national news network? T.V., news paper or something, sometimes you can get pretty good results doing that.
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@TriciaW (2441)
• United States
23 Mar 07
The paper has run one story on it but really didn't have the facts so it wasn't the best. Since I am on the Betterment Committee myself and the Mayor are writing up a letter to send to the newspaper and the TV.
2 people like this
@SplitZip (1488)
• Portugal
23 Mar 07
What would happen if you refused to pay the tax?
1 person likes this
@SplitZip (1488)
• Portugal
23 Mar 07
Has there been any press interest about this? That's one difficult situation. I didn't really know tribal councils could set taxes in the US.
@TriciaW (2441)
• United States
23 Mar 07
They are saying if it is not paid they will come in and close the place down or take away whatever it is next they tax. Last night at a meeting the sheriff did say that until he sees something with United States Government on it he will not allow anyone to close anything down. With that said the town next to us who really is in the same boat has lost many of it's buildings to out of no where fires that get started. Not one person has ever been arrested for these fires and they have lost 7 buildings and businesses this way. So it is kind of scary to think about.
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