07-28-2014, 03:49 PM
opihikao,
I want to thank you for all you wrote up there. I followed the link you posted for a search and started reading the letter to Kerry. I am embarrassed to say (but I'll admit it) that I don't even know about the settlement and the Kaka'ako deal.
It's almost like these OHA related issues don't come across my radar, like it's a separate sphere. One where I feel like those with blood quantum are handling their own business and it's none of my mine. I mean, who am I to have a say or concern in it, as an outsider.
I was thinking about this, and I realized that growing up in California, my parents and I as voters were never involved in Native American-related decisions. They handled their own affairs internally, and we heard very little about them, almost nothing. And I must have transferred that sense of sovereign affairs when I arrived here.
Not exactly an excuse, more an explanation.
I believe I've read some writing by Haunani Trask. I've done some reading of history and positions, just have no familiarity on specific deals, agreements, land transfers of the past decades.
I started reading that letter and got halfway through it. [:0] I think the heat combined with the formal language did me in. I'll keep trying.
Meanwhile, thanks for what you do to make these issues accessible to someone who is playing catch-up.
I want to thank you for all you wrote up there. I followed the link you posted for a search and started reading the letter to Kerry. I am embarrassed to say (but I'll admit it) that I don't even know about the settlement and the Kaka'ako deal.
It's almost like these OHA related issues don't come across my radar, like it's a separate sphere. One where I feel like those with blood quantum are handling their own business and it's none of my mine. I mean, who am I to have a say or concern in it, as an outsider.
I was thinking about this, and I realized that growing up in California, my parents and I as voters were never involved in Native American-related decisions. They handled their own affairs internally, and we heard very little about them, almost nothing. And I must have transferred that sense of sovereign affairs when I arrived here.
Not exactly an excuse, more an explanation.
I believe I've read some writing by Haunani Trask. I've done some reading of history and positions, just have no familiarity on specific deals, agreements, land transfers of the past decades.
I started reading that letter and got halfway through it. [:0] I think the heat combined with the formal language did me in. I'll keep trying.
Meanwhile, thanks for what you do to make these issues accessible to someone who is playing catch-up.