Chicago, Illiniwek

I just finished perusing the American Indian Center of Chicago's website, and the conditions in which American Indians live in the city of Chicago are deplorable. Absolutely deplorable. The main events on the social calendar are events geared towards social services and helping the homeless and addicted. I saw a weekly AA meeting and a weekly function to give clothing and food to the needy. I am aghast. How can we, as Americans who claim to be members of a "good Christian nation," as citizens of Chicago who claim to embrace diversity, allow the original and rightful owners of the land we inhabit to live without any resources, and without any hope of receiving those basic life needs? Shame on you, Chicago.

Coming from the point of view of a native Coloradan, Chicago clearly does not know how to expose the public to information about the first nations of Illinois. I blame the city and the state for their ignorance in this matter and their apathy in helping to improve the situation. The Native Americans of Chicago need more than just a small central base in sketchy Uptown and a little art gallery in Schaumburg. I pledge to do what I can to improve the situation, whether it's lending my own talents or giving away a little money or clothing, because this is unacceptable. Every single state in the union should have such a wealth of information on and exposure to its native peoples that their stories, achievements, and histories should be staring every visitor in the face and should always be in the back of every citizen's educational memory. If that could happen, we would no longer allow our fellow citizens who are Native to live in the third world countries of reservations or in shabby AA centers in boarded-Up-town.