First off, let me assure you, you are not coming across as a racist. Asking for clarification is not racist.
To the average person (who quite frankly doesn't understand) it would seem on the outside that people living on reserves have everything that they would need to succeed in life.
This is not completely true, despite what some would have you believe.
Which at one point was contracted by the Federal Gov't and was substandard at the time it was built, let alone some umpteen years after the fact, no matter the upkeep or neglect.
When the Federal Gov't opened the doors to limited self Gov't among the Native Nations. There were limited safe guards in place to protect against crony-ism, nepotism, and out right theft and corruption.
This of course should not be brought to bear on anyone but the perpetrators. And thus the Native populous.
As the RoC sees the dwindling availability of access to proper healthcare, a great number of Native peoples have been in that position for decades.
Due largely to reasons of access and location, but none the less a very real detrimental cause.
This is both, correct and incorrect. On reserve, you are granted exceptional access to education. Sadly, the bulk of the population is reluctant to use this benefit for multiple reasons. The bulk if not all, are unreasonable, IMHO.
no taxes on the money they earn on the reserve.
Which is true, but only available to those that reside on a reserve and earn said monies on reserve.
Though there are a great number of industries on reserves, ranging in type, from light manufacturing to resource development and utilization, the bulk of the proceeds are not alotted to the average 'Injun', and we are again forced to look at corruption and theft.
The only thing that I can see that holds them back is themselves.
I will agree. Apathy, sloth, waste and corruption have become reasonable in the day to day life of Natives. Sadly. No amount of bitching from Natives, like myself, and others, have turned the heads of the masses and I have little hopes that that will change in the near future.
We are our own worst enemies.
We perpetuate stereotypes, we feed MSM with enough negative material and the loudest among us come off greedy and ignorant. Likely because they are.
Why do not more take advantage of the systems in place to better their life style?
For lack of a better answer, shear ignorance.
Our children will end up owing on average 40,000.00 each when they are done their schooling.
And so will many Natives children.
We don't have a medical plan so every filled touth in their heads is paid for out of our pockets and I have been paying for 25 years on my little house and we have done this on much less than 40,000.00 per year not withstanding the government programs that have helped along the way.
And I as well, and I am Native.
The singularly most important thing to understand is, not every Native is able to prfit from the system. Not every Native is willing to suckle at the proverbial Gov't teet either. Contrary to popular myth.
To some this may sound racist but I do not consider myself so I just really don't understand......
Not at all, and I hope I can help shed some light on your questions.