Gang Violence Grows on an Indian Reservation

[Richard]

Meanwhile, we've still got troubles right here in River City...

And so it goes...

Richard's $.02

Gang Violence Grows on an Indian Reservation
Erik Eckholm, NYT, 13 Dec 2009

Mr. Wilson is one of 5,000 young men from the Oglala Sioux tribe involved with at least 39 gangs on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. The gangs are being blamed for an increase in vandalism, theft, violence and fear that is altering the texture of life here and in other parts of American Indian territory.

<snip>

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/14/us...er=rss&emc=rss

[LarryW]

The recent award of $$ to pay back the American Indian for treaty violations since the 1890's will do very little to relieve the problem on reservations. There's also a lot of corruption at the tribal level that keeps the people in poverty. The revival of Indian culture is a hope, but there's going to have to be some kind of resource (public or private) to relieve the unemployment and abysmal standard of living regardless of the language spoken on the res. The challenge is compounded by the fact that too much of law enforcement is (by treaty) vested in the feds, vice local consatbularies. Tribal police are seriously out numbered. I don't see this getting better any time soon. Is the situation developing a kind of Afghanistan inside America?

[LarryW]

This link discusses more of the plight that Pine Ridge is suffering. This perspective from 2007 isn't flattering of Pres. Bush, but if were written now it wouldn't compliment BHO either.

http://www.newswithviews.com/public_...mmentary46.htm

[mojaveman]

Speaking of gangs and Indian tribes...

A couple of the tribes that run Casinos here in Southern California have been under investigation by local and federal officals for affiliating themselves with the Mexican Mafia.

Bad poop.

[GratefulCitizen]

Originally Posted by mojaveman

Speaking of gangs and Indian tribes...

A couple of the tribes that run Casinos here in Southern California have been under investigation by local and federal officals for affiliating themselves with the Mexican Mafia.

Bad poop.

A former coworker was with the Navajo PD.
He related some stories about Mexican Mafia activities in Tuba City (this is in northern Ariz. on the Navajo reservation).

Users known to welch on drug debts were found bound, shot, and buried in shallow graves.
PD knew who ran the show, but couldn't directly tie him to anything.

US Hwy 89 is a major pipeline north.