Cause of death

[City Guy]

City guy I don't think you are familiar with the complex politics of reservations. What you are saying sounds great but to many idealistic factions are involved. It would be much easier to solve our wild horse problem if you get my drift. There are many really good operators that lease that land now that would be put out of business.
The reservations were established in this region so that the army could keep the Indians away from trade routes. It is not true they were given the poorest land. There has never been a serious effort to create businesses so that there is adequate decent jobs ether. There is a higher than average percent that would be little more than street people under your plan within a year. Misplaced government aid is a big factor for this as well as drugs and alcohol.

I live nowhere near a reservation so I have no first hand knowledge of the situation. My idea may partial solve one problem and create another. But...private land ownership is an important element of prosperity and when THE TRIBE (big brother?) decides to rent out the land and give me a share of the profit it is not the same as if I had made the decision myself. If I owned the land outright I could continue the rental agreement or do whatever I wanted with the land (including go broke).
It sounds like many of the residents are already "street people" not sure my plan would help that, but I feel certain it wouldn't make it worse.

 

[Dave]

I really depends on the tribe and the size of the reservation. The larger ones the tribe seems to hold more land. There is a small one a couple of miles from me. The only land that the tribe owns is the tribal center. The rest (which is by far the majority) is split up and owned by individuals. Some are well kept and some look like.... well like a reservation. Between the per capita from the government and money from the casino none of them would have to work but some hold jobs and have careers. Some do very well with their money, others spend it at the bars or the casino as soon as they get it.

 

[RanchMan90]

Lot of Indian allotments here. From 40-160 acres depending on family size. Most of it was sold when the peanut and cotton industry went bust.