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Cover of George Russell's new book 'Native American Destiny' highlighting the challenges Native American communities face.
George Russell, author of 'Native American Destiny' and Tribal Elder of the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe.
George Russell's Native American Destiny explores urban migration, blood quantum dilution, and Political threats, offering hope through education.
NEW YORK, NY, UNITED STATES, October 2, 2024 /EINPresswire / -- George Russell's book titled: Native American Destiny explores the critical challenges that Native American communities face today and in the future. As a Tribal Elder of the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe, Russell provides a personal perspective on urban migration and blood quantum dilution. He has lived both experiences. He describes them as“generational time bombs quietly ticking in Indian Country.”
The Mission of“Native American Destiny” is to sound the alarm for Native people to be aware and prepare for the impending danger of programmed extinction!
The US government definition of a legal Indian:“Any person who has the certifiable Indian blood quantum to meet the enrollment requirements of a federally recognized tribe.”
With a migration rate of 80%, Native people living off-Reservation and assimilating into urban areas coupled with generational dilution of blood quantum presents a growing deep concern for survival of tribes and reservations.
Russell also examines the political landscape, highlighting both the opportunities and challenges that Native Americans face in leveraging their voting power. While Native voters have made the difference in several past elections, low participation rates - caused by systemic suppression and geographic barriers-remain significant hurdles. Native organizations focused on increasing voter registration are working to ensure Native voices are heard in shaping policies that impact their communities.
It is poetic justice that some of the once-desolate reservations have become valuable lands due to minerals resources, water allocations, pristine resources and urban locations. Native people are a 2% minority that occupy those reservation lands.
Beyond political engagement, Russell warns there are some 50 Anti-Indian political organizations that covet those reservation resources and are hard at work to terminate tribes and reservations. Native tribes must remain vigilant to protect their sovereignty against such threats. It has happened before, and it will happen again!
The book confronts common misconceptions about Native Americans, particularly the tendency to focus solely on historical and cultural narratives, by providing detailed demographic information about the 10 million self-identified Native people, 574 federally recognized tribes and 326 reservations. Russell hopes to help educate the public on the current realities of Native life, both on and off reservations.
Despite these challenges, Russell sees hope in the younger generations, who are pursuing education and developing business acumen to help secure the future of Native communities. Education, identity adaptation and political strategies are essential to preserving the future of Native people while navigating the pressures of assimilation and political uncertainty.
Native American Destiny is now available on Amazon in both paperback and Kindle formats.
About the Author
Russell's journey from a Michigan reservation to Phoenix, Arizona is typical for the millions of Native people as they migrated from the reservations to the cities for education and employment opportunities.
He wrote this book because he is deeply concerned about the future of his family and the survival of Native people. If the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe does not modify their enrollment requirements, he will be the last Chippewa in his family and it happened so quickly!
Guy Rinzema
Aster & Ink
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