Life on many of our Indian reservations is tough. It always has been. Reservations generally do not include land that is suitable for prosperity and a lively existence. The land that was allotted to the various nomadic tribes was small portions of land that the people had once lived on and called home. The tribes were given sovereignty over their land and expected to live and establish their livelihood. Many tribes have been successful in managing their timber, and others have constructed quality resorts. And with the state of Oregon’s gaming policy — “one tribe, one casino, on reservation land” — some tribes have been quite successful in the operation of reservation casinos. Life is tough and life is not always fair, but successful people evaluate what they have been given and make it work.

Warm Springs does not have it any tougher than any of the other Oregon tribes and should therefore begin to develop plans to bring prosperity back to their people within the spirit of the law and in cooperation and respect for their Indian brother.

Dan Parazoo

Bend