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TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 2003

"Lloyd Omdahl, as my mother would say, certainly put his foot in his mouth this time. I am talking about Omdahls' Herald column, "Time for a Native billionaire".

Omdahl says Native people should "shake off the shackles of paranoia" and "victimization" - stop whining, in other words. Don't focus on the grievances of the past. Join all the other minority races who are looking ahead. Stop depriving yourselves, the tribe, state and nation of your talents. Where are the Native American billionaires? Omdahl asks.

Where Omdahl and I differ is in our views of whether billions of dollars should be a measure of how one contributes to society. Oprah Winfrey and, I would guess, people such as billionaire Ralph Engelstad are his role models. My heroes are Native American men and women who contribute significantly to society by giving of themselves every day, year after year. The money they earn isn't accumulated, but goes easily into the community - for them, "investment" means "helping each other."

Many Native people live simple lives. Isn't that a life style taught in the Christian theology? Isn't there a quote in the Bible about a rich man, a camel and a needle?"

Get the Story:
COLUMNIST DORREEN YELLOW BIRD: Natives already are billionaires -- in spirit (The Grand Forks Herald 4/1)

Lloyd Omdahl Column:
Opinion: Don't confine Indian youth to reservation (3/31)

More Dorreen Yellow Bird:
Yellow Bird: Events help teach about Native culture (3/31)
Yellow Bird: Native people are never unpatriotic (3/25)
Yellow Bird: All is still not equal for women (03/17)
Yellow Bird: Enough of the cold already! (3/11)
Yellow Bird: Don't cut funds for the elderly (3/10)
Yellow Bird: Mister Rogers was like an elder (3/3)
Yellow Bird: Worries have changed in U.S. capitol (2/25)
Yellow Bird: Great-grandfather Little Sioux (2/24)
Yellow Bird: Unity needed in journalism too (2/18)
Yellow Bird: Finding peace in uncertain times (2/17)
Yellow Bird: Astronauts were elite, courageous (02/04)
Yellow Bird: Through diversity comes unity (2/3)
Yellow Bird: We're cold and proud of it (1/28)
Yellow Bird: It could have been anyone (01/14)
Yellow Bird: Deer encounters, Part 2 (1/13)
Yellow Bird: Listen up roaming deer! (1/7)
Yellow Bird: Looking past stereotypes (1/6)
Yellow Bird: We can learn from TIME report (12/23)
Yellow Bird: Happy Birthday, Mom (12/17)
Yellow Bird: Grandmother Moon (12/16)
Yellow Bird: Include Natives in plan (12/10)
Yellow Bird: Walking a different path (12/9)
Yellow Bird: An Indian Martha Stewart (11/18)
Yellow Bird: The dangers of smoking (11/12)
Yellow Bird: Worry about GOP control (11/11)
Yellow Bird: It's cold but it's home (11/5)
Yellow Bird: Gangs in Indian Country (11/4)
Yellow Bird: Wellstone will be missed (10/29)
Yellow Bird: Making the final journey (10/22)
Yellow Bird: No McDonald's in Mongolia (10/21)
Yellow Bird: Next stop, ESPN Sportszone (10/18)
Yellow Bird: Keeping traditions alive (10/08)
Yellow Bird: Burgers, chips and fries oh my (10/1)
Yellow Bird: The smallpox threat (9/30)
Yellow Bird: Oops, I did it again... (9/24)
Yellow Bird: Reservation elections (9/17)
Yellow Bird: Learning from 9-11 (9/16)
Yellow Bird: Remembering 9-11 (9/10)
Yellow Bird: Protecting the Badlands (9/9)
Yellow Bird: My secret nickname (9/2)
Yellow Bird: Appreciating art (8/28)
Yellow Bird: An unsung hero (8/26)
Yellow Bird: I say Sakakawea (8/20)
Yellow Bird: Changing views on rape (8/19)