True in this instance or not, EPA will make land grabs when and where they can with wild animals generally the 'beneficiary', so no surprise IF they work with the people of Native American ancestry to remove more land ownership from PRIVATE citizens.
Going into the 'who stole land from whom' mantra, and what was done to the 'losers', whatever happened to the Arikara, Ree, and other no longer existing tribes????? Weren't they lost to genocide, slavery, rape, and assimilation into the stronger or more warsome tribes???? It wasn't 'white' men who eliminated those tribes.
Granted, policies dealing with displaced people during western migration was not great. But as well, how the native peoples were treated also was not limited to whites. Some of their own were equally quick to take financial advantage. It continues........virtually every election of tribal leaders on some of the reservations in SD is after the sitting members are accused, sometimes convicted of, theft of tribal funds.........and the cycle continues.
It also goes WAY back, as some comments alluded to:
a relative of mine (total Anglo-Saxon ancestry) grumbled about "what a bunch of wimps our ancestors were because they got run out of every country in Europe and England since way back in the 400's, until they landed on the shores of this country with some of the first ships from England/Scotland/Ireland.
Didn't those Irish and Scottish 'immigrants' have quite a lot in common with the Natives they encountered, judging by some of the history of 'changes of ownership' of their 'ancestral lands' in those countries from way back in history. Not a peace and good fellowship bunch, it seems!
Hopefully, some of the programs to improve life for the younger generations by showing them the benefits of a sober life style and getting a good education are beginning to have good results. There have ALWAYS been some wonderful Native American families who lived healthy, inspiring lives, but sadly, we don't hear that often. It just doesn't 'sell' in todays society!
mrj