Don't believe all the buffalo stories

Editor,

You know, I just can't help it. But when I read a letter or see a sign on the street and see misspelled words I want to correct it. I straighten crooked pictures on the wall that aren't mine. Also when I read opinions that are exactly that but are put across as fact, I take issue with that too.

For instance, the opinion that because someone is of Indian descent makes them inherently an expert on managing buffalo herds is ludicrous. That is like saying a German is automatically able to make sauerkraut or a Polack knows everything about blood sausage. Or if you are from Vienna you can write classical music.

The fact is tribes in the past did not "manage" buffalo herds. If anything, the herds managed them. Where the herd went, that is where the tribe went, if a herd was in the area. There were many accounts of tribes near starvation and praying that a herd would come by. The Indians didn't drive 50,000 head at a time to better grazing lands. The only selective harvesting they did was kill cows because it was easier, the hides were better to work with for shelters and clothes.

The fact is the herds were being decimated in advance of the white buffalo hunters because of the Indian practices, and they helped the white hunters, too, because the price was good. Even today a cow is better eating than a bull. When they would drive herds over cliffs they didn't sort out the bulls first and only kill bulls.

The fact is, it is outrageous to even consider that Indians are more primal than whites. It is funny in this country how every Indian is a kin to the buffalo even if you were a coastal tribe, or a tribe in southern Florida or upstate New York. It is documented when the first buffalo were brought here. They are not indigenous to this area and neither are the elk.

To say that just because you are Indian makes you a better steward of bison is a lie. The tribe already in the past had a herd started and killed them off through abuse or neglect. Is it any wonder that we that own the Bison Range were or are a little concerned?

Self-governance or determination means you can stand on your own and determine your own destiny. I don't think that handing over a well established fully functioning taxpayer supported game reserve to the tribe is going to solve their problems or make them self-supportive.

If you want to impress me, to be self-governed and determine your future; do it without federal non-tribal tax dollars and government handouts. Until you can survive on your own without outside money from the very people you are trying to kick off the "rez"ervation, I suggest you walk away with your hat in your hand and say thank you.

Jim Pettit

Ronan