I disagree that we need a police state to help solve our problems on Pine Ridge. What is needed is what the United States Constitution Article 6 states; Treaties are the law of the land. In one of those agreements we are promised the Arts of Civilization, in return for the richest parts of our land and rivers.

RIGHT!

But be careful ... =>

I don't know about the "we" of it as indigenous people don't have a voice in policy or the
direction the government takes-and the "overdoing it" in my opinion began with the moment
of "discovery".

I live in a minature version of a police state... here in Albuquerque it is a crime to own any dog that would keep theives from you home and backyard (of which there are many) fortunately my pure breed rotty was grandfathered in as we brought her from the Isanti Rez, a gift from my brother for the protection of his nieces and nephews. We have the water cops for those who don't understand (of which there are many) they live in the desert and grass is not indigenous to the desert. We have the smoke cops who literally drive around on no burn nights shining spotlights at chimneys to see if they are illegally smoking (air quality in the wintertime is bad because of all the vehicle emitted pollution). There are armed cops in the schools now because folks don't know how to raise their children to be good human beings (funny thing is the albuquerque public school system police and the sheriffs cars look exactly alike with the exception one says school police and the other sheriff's) and so my son has to go to school looking exactly like every other little kid in a blue school uniform.
Does any of it work? No, because those in power will not spend the resources necessary where it will really make a difference... on the little ones. We as a People must win back the hearts and minds of our children, for I was loved, cherished and protected as a child and am only now in my 43rd winter beginning to understand what a powerful and lasting influence this has had in my life. Could I do any less than All those who even though they knew they could not win... rode to battle on behalf of the women and children anyway?

Look up the definition for "revolution" WT. You will see that it means a complete circuit. Now think about the american revolution, to overthrow tyranny and oppression. Now look at the history of the united states of america through the eyes of the first nations. The tyranny and oppression never ended. But it has come full circle back onto the people who were supposed to have overthrown it.

NO ONE wins when you go to war. The united states of america has been at war every year of it's existence. Fear, hate, anger, jealousy, the dark side are they . You posted that other nations have freed themselves of white oppression... Are you sure of that or did they just become the oppressors. Are they still following their traditions, being the distinct nation they were before the whites came? Or are they the same rubber stamp with a different color of ink? Think hard on that, if you're not sure, talk to some people online from that country. Get their views of what is going on. You will see it's just another version of the same thing.