Stop Stealing What Is Left of Native Land

Target: Tracy Stone-Manning, Director of the Bureau of Land Management

Goal: Release federal stewardship of native land back to the original owners.

It is no secret the expansion and development of the United States has come with negative consequences for groups of people who inhabited the land before settlers. Those native to this continent managed the land and set often agreeable boundaries to the different tribes established coast to coast. However, when Europeans arrived on the coast, they began to overtake tribal ground there and, later, expanded westward.

Further restrictions on land once exclusively owned by natives continues today. According to Science.org, more than 99% of land originally held by those populating North America has been claimed by the federal government. Property currently held by native tribes does not come without a price, however. “Fee land” is property natives were forced to purchased back from the government and has no federal restrictions of use. “Trust land” is the majority type held by tribes, though the official title is still held by the federal government which heavily restricts use of its natural resources.

Natives of North America deserve having land returned to them. This land, as well as land already held, should be under their ownership and free of restrictions. Sign the petition below to urge Director Stone-Manning to develop and execute a plan to restore land rights for Native Americans.

PETITION LETTER:

Dear Director Stone-Manning,

While natives to North America once owned their land which enabled both their people and local ecosystems to thrive, the federal government gradually has assumed control over these millions of acres throughout generations. This aggressive takeover has left these stewards of the earth with dwindling room to sustain their communities and continue timeless traditions such as hunting and rituals honouring their people and the earth.

People who once responsibly lived off the land and its resources have been left with property of which they have minimal autonomy. This “Trust land” continues to give the federal government control over its natural resources, thus hindering those living there from truly enjoying the bountiful nature in the way their ancestors did. “Fee land” is a system that must also be re-evaluated as charging for ownership of land to people already once in possession of its boundaries is one of the many ways currently inflicting financial insecurity on Native Americans.

Restoring control of land for native people is the only way to begin correcting generations of wrongdoing against these populations. Please consider a way to restore land rights for Native Americans and stop stealing what is left of their property.

Sincerely,

[Your Name Here]

Photo credit: Grand Canyon National Park