Our Klamath Basin Water Crisis
Upholding rural Americans' rights to grow food,
own property, and caretake our wildlife and natural resources.
Our Klamath Basin
Water Crisis
Upholding rural Americans' rights to grow food,
own property, and caretake our wildlife and natural resources.
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http://www.heraldandnews.com/articles/2006/01/15/viewpoints/letters/letters.txt
The land was sold Letter to the editor, Herald and News 1/15/06 My Dec. 22 letter was intended to encourage people to try and get along and to move on with the important aspects of their lives, and to try to find constructive ideas to fix the problems that we all face here in the Klamath Basin. Apparently, Randy Henry of Portland has taken my letter as a personal attack on him and the Klamath Tribes. I was going to let his remarks go, but in light of his Jan. 9 letter, I feel that I must clarify a couple of points. As I am limited in this forum, I cannot elaborate as I would like to. It would be nice to see the salmon return to Upper Klamath Lake. Postage rates from that same era would also be welcome, but courtroom litigation is not a responsible means. By the way, the salmon have been gone for closer to 100 years than 50. I was born and raised in the Klamath Basin. I have a number of friends who are tribal members. I respect their right to their opinions, and they respond in kind. God created the Earth for all men to share. He did not say that we would be separated by race - after all there is only one race - the human race. Whatever happens affects us all - red, white, brown, black, yellow and even blue people. The reservation was established 140 years ago as a means to put an end to preserve the peace. It was, in essence, a prison for the Indian people. I would hardly consider that something to fight for. The Treaty of 1864 is a very lengthy document that not only lists privileges allowed, but it also states certain responsibilities and obligations for both sides. How long will it be before some lawyer start looking into the obligations of the tribes? I don't recall seeing anything allowing gambling casinos on the reservation, but I'm sure that the Tribal Council plans to abolish that tool of the white devil as soon as the land is returned. My parents bought land in Klamath Falls 65 years ago. My brothers and sisters were raised on that property. Five years ago, they sold that land and moved away. I would like that land returned to me, but the unreasonable people who live there now won't give it to me unless I pay them current market price. How unjust is that? What about my birthright? Tom Coleman 135 North Wendling St. |
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