"On any given day one has only to go to Indianz.com, probably the best Indian online media source, and read the daily screw ups of tribal leadership and governance.

On any Indian reservation in America, and probably in Canada where they are called reserves, the weeks leading up to an election, finds the Native politicians smiling, shaking hands, waving at prospective voters, and just being gracious and hospitable to all. Several weeks after they are elected their entire demeanor changes, and not for the good I might add.

Let me just say here that I am generalizing because to every rule there is an exception. But since I have been the editor of major Indian newspapers for more than 30 years I believe I have heard it all. Letter after letter from tribal members from as far away as California or as near as Nebraska, had driven home to me the discontent so many Indians have with their elected leadership.

Oh, it is without a doubt, the nature of the beast to have political dissent on most Indian reservations. For every ruling party there is a party of discontent. For nearly every elected tribal leader there is a challenger. But that does not explain the ongoing rumble of anger I have heard across the political spectrum of Indian country."

Get the Story:
Tim Giago: Traveling the road to 'cultural suicide' (The Native American Times 7/17)

More Tim Giago:
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Tim Giago: Deny gaming to newly recognized tribes (5/23)
Tim Giago: Congratulations to the class of '06 (5/16)
Tim Giago: Rich tribes should help poorer tribes (5/9)
Tim Giago: Fighting substance abuse at Pine Ridge (5/2)
Tim Giago: Censorship in the mainstream media (4/25)
Tim Giago: Brainwashing on Pine Ridge Reservation (4/18)
Tim Giago: The growing pains of tribal sovereignty (4/11)
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Tim Giago: Little attention for Native American Day (3/28)
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Tim Giago: The road to true tribal sovereignty (3/14)
Tim Giago: The basketball miracle of 1936 (3/7)
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Tim Giago: Yes, Virginia, Indians do pay taxes (2/14)
Tim Giago: Gas-guzzlers, Indian cars and the Big Three (2/7)
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Tim Giago: The Olympics of Indian basketball (12/20)
Tim Giago: BIA schools turned abused into abusers (12/13)
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Tim Giago: Della Warrior steps down from IAIA (11/29)
Tim Giago: Deloria gave Indian people a voice (11/22)
Tim Giago: Indians never forced religion on others (11/15)
Tim Giago: Exposing false medicine men (11/8)
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Tim Giago: Indian newspapers revise history (10/25)
Tim Giago: Two friends make journey to spirit world (10/18)
Tim Giago: Politicians need to know Indian law (10/11)
Tim Giago: Doors opening to Indians in South Dakota (10/4)
Tim Giago: 'Indian' myths and misconceptions (9/27)
Tim Giago: Lessons learned from Hurricane Katrina (9/20)
Tim Giago: NCAA loses its spine on mascot policy (9/13)
Tim Giago: The Indian 'scandal sheet' phenomenon (08/30)
Tim Giago: Indians became refugees in own land (8/23)
Tim Giago: Censor tribes for supporting mascots (8/17)
Tim Giago: New addiction takes over in Indian Country (08/02)
Tim Giago: Tribes trade sovereignty for dollars (7/26)
Giago: Seminole Tribe wrong on Indian mascots (7/19)
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Tim Giago: White lawyers growing fat off tribes (04/26)
Tim Giago: Gay marriage debate killed Democrats (4/19)
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Tim Giago: Wealthy tribes don't need federal funds (03/31)
Tim Giago: Gaming leads to addiction, crime (03/22)
Tim Giago: Discrimination in the media and advertising (03/08)
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Tim Giago: Bush probably still against Indian gaming (01/25)
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Tim Giago: Racism continues in South Dakota (11/30)
Tim Giago: Should we listen to Osama bin Laden? (11/23)
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Tim Giago: Eastern tribes are African-American (09/15)
Tim Giago: Indians have cause to fear Republicans (07/21)
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Tim Giago now plans to run for Senate as independent (03/31)
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Giago: Indian gaming erodes tribal sovereignty (01/07)
Giago: Gays were highly respected by Sioux Nation (09/22)
Tim Giago: I'm a fully recovered Catholic (09/11)
Giago: State should refund tax money first (08/06)
Giago: Oprah show changed minds on Indian mascots (07/31)