From the Bemidji Pioneer newspaper
Published June 06, 2012, 12:00 AM
Event will examine American Indian issues that are linked to poverty
The first of many events that concern various issues within Indian country that result from or are symptoms of poverty is scheduled June 23 at the People’s Church, 825 America Ave. NW, Bemidji.The first of many events that concern various issues within Indian country that result from or are symptoms of poverty is scheduled June 23 at the People’s Church, 825 America Ave. NW, Bemidji.
The event, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., is open to all, because these issues involve or affect us all. Registration starts at 9:30 a.m.
Yes, there are many groups and organizations supposedly dedicated to help alleviate miseries due to societal failures of responsibility.
And yes, these groups are often endorsed, or represented, by so-called prestigious persons of the community that is appreciated by the sophisticated powers that be for all their dedication and hard work.
But there is little to no progress for these upstanding individuals or organizations to take comfort in, little to no accomplishments to stand upon. And if there was any progress, they allowed it to be overwhelmed by their lack of conviction in seeing progress through long ago.
They have become accustomed to this broken thinking that causes more harm than help. Indoctrinated and conditioned into the broken system they once perhaps were inspired to challenge and change for the better of all.
Another unfortunate and disturbing realization we are forced to endure is the failures of these organizations supposedly created in our honor to assist us out of the perpetuating injustices and inequalities. The paralysis of analysis has set in, creating an acquiescent, myopic, apathetic, bureaucratic sense of duty to upholding status quo jobbery rather than creating progress, solutions or change.
These have become meaningless words in the mouths of those abusing them to create this illusion of worth to those they exploit to maintain funding of their organizations that most times only serve as fronts for deep-rooted systematic and normalized corruption. A lot of these compromised individuals representing these organizations that have allowed treachery to be conditioned into their services try to posture themselves against any aspiring solution that threatens their state of complacency.
So this is an invitation to join us in discussing genuine issues, for genuine solutions, with genuine people. An empirical discussion, to articulate and genuinely enunciate our situations into realistic actions. No longer should we be told what our needs are by those out of touch, out of step, nothing invested, or that have lost sight of us due to their own self aggrandizing.
Curtis Buckanaga
Bemidji