Reduction in Tribal Funding? WTAF!

Morgan Hunter
Mar 25
7 min read

Any proposed reduction in tribal funding, such as those detailed in the recent House Republican budget proposal, is unacceptable, a moral failure we should neither tolerate nor overlook. The proposed budget explicitly targets tribal programs, including a severe $1.4 billion cut—approximately 32%—to the EPA State and Tribal Assistance Grants, critical for clean water and infrastructure projects. Additionally, a 12% ($739 million) reduction is proposed for the broader State and Tribal Assistance Grants (STAG), crucial for supporting environmental efforts within tribal communities. Roll Call CBPP

Why does this matter?

Indigenous communities have suffered under centuries of systematic dispossession at the hands of colonizers and the U.S. government, and today's economic hardships are direct consequences of these historical injustices.

Beginning with the Indian Removal Act of 1830, the United States forcibly displaced Indigenous peoples from their ancestral homelands, resulting in catastrophic events such as the Trail of Tears, where thousands died due to starvation, disease, and exposure. Later, the Dawes Act of 1887 further eroded tribal lands, reducing Native American landholdings from 138 million acres to just 48 million acres by 1934. These actions weren't merely land seizures—they were intentional disruptions of culture, economy, and autonomy, plunging generations into poverty and dependency.

Today, the effects of these injustices remain starkly visible. Native American families experience poverty at significantly higher rates than other Americans, with one in six living below the federal poverty level. Unemployment rates soar while median incomes lag far behind those of white households, reflecting a systemic economic disparity rooted in historic exclusion and neglect. Joint Economic Committee

Furthermore, Indigenous communities endure some of the harshest living conditions in the country. Reservations were deliberately placed on marginal lands, often devoid of fertile soil or necessary natural resources, crippling efforts toward economic independence and self-sustainability. Infrastructure is often inadequate, leaving many households without consistent access to clean water, safe housing, or reliable healthcare. American Bar Association

The issue of food access is particularly illustrative of the pervasive inequality. Indigenous families frequently pay substantially more for basic groceries, averaging nearly eight dollars extra for identical baskets of goods. This contributes directly to widespread food insecurity, leading to higher rates of diet-related illnesses like obesity and diabetes. Navajo Times

Considering this grim reality, any financial assistance the U.S. provides to Indigenous communities is merely a small return on a vast historical debt. It's not charity—it's a fraction of restitution owed for centuries of forced dispossession, exploitation, and marginalization.

Ultimately, the way a nation treats its Indigenous peoples is a telling barometer of its moral health. If history teaches us anything, it's that unchecked greed and exploitation inevitably lead to suffering and injustice. Defending tribal funding is not just a matter of financial policy—it's a fundamental question of national integrity and human decency. We must choose the path of acknowledgment, restitution, and justice, refusing to perpetuate the mistakes of our past.

How can you help?

There are several ways individuals can support Indigenous communities: advocating for fair federal policies and budgets, educating oneself and others about Indigenous history and current issues, directly supporting Native-owned businesses, contributing to organizations dedicated to Indigenous rights and wellbeing, and amplifying Indigenous voices in discussions on policy, environment, and social justice.

Write your congress person!

Contacting your congressional representative can directly influence policy decisions—express your opposition to these budget cuts clearly and strongly. Here's a sample email you can easily personalize and send:

Subject: Protect Tribal Funding

Dear [Representative/Senator Name],

I am writing to strongly oppose the proposed reductions in tribal funding outlined in the recent budget. Indigenous communities continue to face systemic inequities due to historical injustices imposed by our government, and reducing critical funding will exacerbate these hardships. It is our moral and ethical obligation to support rather than diminish resources for tribal programs, infrastructure, and healthcare.

Please stand against these harmful cuts and advocate for equitable and adequate funding for Indigenous communities.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

[Your Name] [Your Address]

Learn More

To take immediate action, you can learn more about these issues from trusted sources like the National Congress of American Indians and Indian Country Today. Also check these receipts:

The Library of Congress

Removing Native Americans from their Land - Library of Congress: In 1838, as the deadline for removal approached, thousands of federal soldiers and Georgia volunteers entered the territory and forcibly relocated the Cherokees ...

Native Governance Center

Legacies of Allotment and Indigenous Resistance - Native people struggled to survive on their assigned allotments. Many of the parcels were not suitable for small-scale agriculture: conveniently, the most ...

Senate Committee on the Judiciary

[PDF] Native American Communities Continue to Face Barriers to ... - May 9, 2022 — In 2019, Nearly one in six AIAN families live below the federal poverty level, and that increases to 26% for families with children under 5 ...

NCRC

Racial Wealth Snapshot: Native Americans – NCRC - February 13, 2022 — The national poverty rate for Native Americans was 25.4%, while Black or African American poverty rate was 20.8%. Among Hispanics, the national ...

Navajo Times

High prices for food - Navajo Times - August 3, 2017 — The update found that in the Lower 48 states, Native American shoppers pay $7.51 more for the “very same basket of food items” compared to consumers nationally.

Marquette Wire

Indigenous food insecurity rampant - Marquette Wire - October 9, 2023 — On average, a loaf of bread costs 66 cents more, a pound of apples costs 84 cents more and a pound of tomatoes 63 cents more on reservations ...