After 100 years, the Indian nations are still struggling to rise above the devastating effects of a federal government that didn’t know best. They have come a long way from the days when Indian children were sent away to boarding schools and stripped of their customs and culture. Their freedom of religion has been restored, and this has had a powerful, positive effect on their society.

As I contemplated the history and stories I heard in Browning, I found eerie similarities in how our government has been acting toward our whole society in recent decades. Take away our religion. Break our bonds with our children. Take away land-based livelihoods. Make more and more people dependent on government. The trends are not good.

It is my sincere hope that all people would return to what is good and wise for our families. That we teach our children that it is wrong to lie or cheat or steal. That we set a good example for them, and for others, and that rather than criticize, we encourage each other to do our best.

The government has a legitimate role in limited areas, but it’s not up to the government to strengthen our lives; it is up to each of us. The more we do for ourselves, the fewer reasons the government will find to intervene in our freedom.