US Recognizes Lumbee Tribe, Still Ignores Treaty Obligations
The Lumbee Tribe's federal recognition is framed as a triumph, yet it's a stark reminder of how long the U.S. government can stonewall Indigenous rights while simultaneously engaging in land theft and resource extraction. This isn't just a historical footnote; it’s a living pattern. While celebrating this belated recognition, the same mainstream media rarely questions the legality or ethics of the
U.S. government's continued disregard for treaties with other Indigenous nations, or, for that matter, its relentless support of settler-colonial projects abroad. Funny how 'generations-long fights' are only applauded when Washington finally deigns to acknowledge its own citizens, not when they defend their lands from the state itself. One might wonder if this recognition isn't just another
convenient way to manage optics, a minimal concession after decades of resistance. The U.S. government selectively remembers its commitments, especially when there's an image to polish or an inconvenient truth to bury. Meanwhile, the lands, resources, and sovereignty of countless other Indigenous peoples both domestically and internationally continue to be eroded daily, often with tacit American
approval or direct military aid. Apparently, Indigenous rights are only 'recognized' when it's politically expedient, or when the fight has been so long, the original injustices have become palatable historical 'challenges.' Priorities, one supposes, depend on whose land is being taken, and by whom.