Education

Re: 2007 House Bill 4666 (Repeal Indian tuition waiver )

GreenEyes — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 23:28:35 GMT

A lot of people believe, just because you are 1/4 or more Native American Indian that you receive the per capita monies from the casinos and all the ammenities from the tribe. This isn't so. If you are not a tribal member, you do not receive anything from the tribe. At one time just being a decendent you could get some help for medical and dental. A lot of Native American children and adults alike rely on this Michigan Indian Tuition Waiver. Because they need that help. Because the tribes say they look after there own people but in reality they don't unless you are a tribal member. I am the wife of an 1/2 degree blood quantum Indian, his father was full blooded. But his mother was white. He doesn't receive nothing from the tribe. He isn't a tribal member. Neither are his four sisters. His only brother passed away in 1984. I was married to him and had two children. I then married his brother and had two more children. The only thing our children had to look forward to was the Indian Tuition Waiver. Though we both always worked we never made enough to send them to college. Now the tribe is saying to get this I.T.W. you have to be a tribal member. Thats not right, the ones that are members can afford to pay for their college tuition with per capita monies. My oldest daughter was 4 months old when her father passed away and my son would have been 3 years old. My oldest daughter put herself through college and then her brother and her hired a lawyer to get to be tribal members, because their father had passed away before they had open enrollment. They have to pay this lawyer $500.00 each a week for five years just to be members of the tribe that their forefathers built. Its too bad that my husband and children are denied their heritage and now they are taking the Indian Tuition Waiver away too. Denying that they are Indian. My husband use to be proud to be Indian and of his heritage. His grandfather and greatgrandfather and greatgreatgrandfather were cheifs of that same tribe. Our youngest daughter is now going to Nursing school, working and trying her best to pay her tuition with the help from us. But it would be nice if she could get some help from the Indian Tuition Waiver, this way she wouldn't have to work so hard to pay for it and focus on her studies. What ever happened to " A Mind Is A Terrible Thing To Waste" Oh yeah, thats the Negro College Fund. Not the Indian Fund.

Response to "Given Enough"

Anonymous Citizen — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 16:14:50 GMT

American Indians have Sovereignty (Education included- Indian Self-Determination & Education Assistance Act of 1975) based on: what they have retained-not what has been "given". Nothing has been given to A.I. by the states or the federal government. Read a history book, might I suggest: "A People's History of the United States by: Howard Zinn. It would be a good place to start to educate yourself about a people that are the original, authentic first people of America. You belive too many myths and per-cap casino stories.

Nice to know....

Anonymous Citizen — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 16:23:01 GMT

That the college money I EARNED for MY children to go to college - you just STOLE (with molefaces help) from me. Thank you very much Michigan.......!!!!! They now attend FL colleges as I have moved so no more of MY MONEY going to the Peoples Republic Of Michistian. God, what a bunch of commies........You;ll get what you deserve.

Members do graduate from college....

Anonymous Citizen — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 20:13:44 GMT

We are proud members of the Wyandot of Anderdon and are behind our Chief Steven Gronda 100%. He is a great and wise man with much to offer. Our daughter Stephanie is going to graduate from Wayne State University this year into broadcast journalism. Our son is in his second year at WSU also and will graduate in the coming years. Our oldest son is currently serving America in the US ARMY and just returned from a tour of duty in IRAQ. He returned home a decorated veteran with a Bronze Star on his chest. Without the tuition waiver 2 of our children may have never seen a university, we are very grateful for the chance to have our children go to college and receive higher education here in Michigan. Many Thanks to the state of Michigan, many more to our chief Steven Gronda. C.Stoddart

.

Anonymous Citizen — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 20:13:14 GMT

Casino Money

Anonymous Citizen — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 16:18:14 GMT

Let's make something else clear in regards to casino monies and surrounding communities: Do you think that Indians are the only proffitors of casinos? Do you really think the government is going to allow any one group to benefit from something that they too are not benefitting from? Some Tribes have compacts with the state to give the communities in which the casino operates a certain percentage of the revenues. Therefore not only does a casino generate jobs for the surrounding people, but also revenue for the community due to the spending now available by the workers. Indian people are not getting anything for free- how can the European ancestry expect to get off free on taking another Nation's land, abusing the people of the land (for centries). An Indian Tution Waiver is the least that can be given to Indian People in Michigan.

Anonymous Citizen — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 14:02:34 GMT

visas Sophie hammered schooler Freedman?impinges:

Conservatives more honest than liberals

Anonymous Citizen — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 11:37:01 GMT

Commentary - Peter Schweizer: Conservatives more honest than liberals? The headline may seem like a trick question — even a dangerous one — to ask during an election year. Yet there is a striking gap between the manner in which liberals and conservatives address the issue of honesty. Consider these results: Is it OK to cheat on your taxes? A total of 57 percent of those who described themselves as “very liberal” said yes in response to the World Values Survey, compared with only 20 percent of those who are “very conservative.” When Pew Research asked whether it was “morally wrong” to cheat Uncle Sam, 86 percent of conservatives agreed, compared with only 68 percent of liberals. Ponder this scenario, offered by the National Cultural Values Survey: “You lose your job. Your friend’s company is looking for someone to do temporary work. They are willing to pay the person in cash to avoid taxes and allow the person to still collect unemployment. What would you do?” Almost half, or 49 percent, of self-described progressives would go along with the scheme, but only 21 percent of conservatives said they would. When the World Values Survey asked a similar question, the results were largely the same: Those who were very liberal were much more likely to say it was all right to get welfare benefits you didn’t deserve. The World Values Survey found that those on the left were also much more likely to say it is OK to buy goods that you know are stolen. Another survey by Barna Research found that political liberals were two and a half times more likely to say that they illegally download or trade music for free on the Internet. A study in the Journal of Business Ethics involving 392 college students found that stronger beliefs toward “conservatism” translated into “higher levels of ethical values.” And academics concluded in the Journal of Psychology that there was a link between “political liberalism” and “lying in your own self-interest,” based on a study involving 156 adults. Liberals were more willing to “let others take the blame” for their own ethical lapses, “copy a published article” and pass it off as their own, and were more accepting of “cheating on an exam,” according to still another study in the Journal of Business Ethics. Modern liberalism is infused with idea that truth is relative. Surveys consistently show this. And if truth is relative, it also must follow that honesty is subjective.

chief needs to aim better

Anonymous Citizen — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 02:05:31 GMT

History is full of sad stories: granted, the native american experience is especially poignant, but not entirely unique. When the Irish immigrated to America, they were forced to live in designated ghetto neighborhoods, their churches were often burned, and job opportunities were limited to the most menial labor. With regard to the tuition program, your anecdotal story regarding native american success is a start. I still maintain that the Chief would be wise to provide statistical proof of the program's success, instead of emotional rips at antebellum presidents like ole Andy Jackson. Don't go on the warpath with my squaw comment; just having a little fun. Ooops, there I go again... wasn't this an episode of Seinfeld? You probably didn't like that either.

Socialists

Anonymous Citizen — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 18:57:14 GMT

Renege on their deals. Conservatives honor their commitments. Let's have an honest examination of this issue and and honest debate about it.

Maybe We

Anonymous Citizen — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 18:19:55 GMT

Have "Given enough". There isn't going to be any workers to pay for the slugs at this rate. Oh, Yeah, I just described the socialist country that we are heading toward.

remember the phrase "don't be an Indian giver"

Anonymous Citizen — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 17:06:33 GMT

That phrase stems from the white man giving to the Indian, only to take back the gift when it suited him to do so. This happened countless times, in land (which ironically the Indian already owned), in material gifts, and in promises. Seems that history is again repeating itself. However, now I say that we need a recall started for our new "indian giver."

Chief Misses Target

Anonymous Citizen — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 16:19:17 GMT

The comment posted by the person saying that the Europeans that came here overcame their own hardships - really needs to take a history lesson. Native Americans haven't had the same opportunities that the Europeans or other immigrants have been afforded. The military forced them from their land. The government put them on reservations. The government tried to shut them up, take away their beliefs, and keep them separate by trying to keep them on the reservation, forbidding them to speak their language, practice their religion and other cultural practices, and keep them poor. They promised much but delivered little! What immigrant can say that when they came to America, they were told they must live in a certain area, not speak their language, not practice their religious beliefs and should keep their children in certain schools? American Indians are not coddled. They are hardworking, loyal citizens, who vote and love their country! A treaty should be upheld no matter the voice of oppressors. Also for your information, my daughters' (or as your rasist remarks called them squaws) - graduated as a doctor, nurse, and an International business major! They did not take up space - they set out to help others and to serve their communities! The rest of the Native American's in this great Nation deserve the same opportunities for all that was taken away from us!

Tuition waiver, by M. Gape

Anonymous Citizen — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 13:06:19 GMT

In regards to your comments about Chief "Flying Arrow", that is exactly what a great leader should be named. He has led us in the right and proper path. As far as what do we native americans become, or do we just take up space in education, I would like to let you know that many of us have become great teachers. In life, everyone needs a great teacher to get them through and inspire them. This is just what our Chief has done. Tuition waivers for native american's are much needed and well deserved by our people.

Margie Gape

Anonymous Citizen — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 13:05:18 GMT