Post by blackcrowheart on Jan 11, 2008 14:15:39 GMT -5
Report: Discrimination against NJ's American Indians, a report presented Wednesday to the governor has found.
The report given to Gov. Jon S. Corzine by the New Jersey Committee on
Native American Community Affairs found "lingering discrimination,
ignorance of state history and culture, and cynicism rather than shining
celebration of the state's tribal members."
"We were disappointed to learn that New Jersey lags behind rather than
leads at least 15 other states, which recognize, respect and celebrate
their tribal people through legislative, executive, or agency action,"
the report states. "We were saddened that subtle even blatant
discrimination still can thrive in New Jersey."
New Jersey has an estimated 20,000 American Indians in the Nanticoke
Lenni-Lenape, the Powhatan Renape and Ramapough Lenape tribes.
Corzine appointed the commission in 2006 after a Ramapough Lenape Indian
was fatally shot by a state park police officer on a mountaintop near
the New York
<http://www.dailyrecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071219/UPDATES0\
1/71219022#> border after a confrontation that remains under dispute.
Corzine said he would review the panel's recommendations.
"While many New Jerseyans celebrate the strengths associated with the
state's racial and ethnic diversity, they are surprisingly unaware of
the existence of or the cultural, educational, environmental and
economic contributions of New Jersey citizens of American Indian
descent," said Christine Grant, the committee co-chair and a former
state health commissioner.
She said the committee found "too many examples of discrimination or
extreme cultural insensitivity towards these citizens."
The report recommends:
-- Executive orders and legislation affirming the existence of the three
tribes in New Jersey and the state's intent to help them qualify for any
federal benefits.
-- Protecting human remains, tribal burial plots, funerary objects and
artifacts and archaeological excavations.
-- Tax exemptions for tribal sacred lands such as burial grounds and
open-air worship areas.
-- Community relations efforts such as an annual Native American
Heritage celebration and cultural training for law enforcement officers,
state and local government workers and the general public.
-- Appointing a high-level state official to oversee cleanup of the
Superfund site in Ringwood that affects the Ramapough Lenape Indian
Nation and a system to help those affected by the site deal with health
care costs, property damage and relocation.
-- A new program to recruit American Indians for state jobs.
-- New policies regulating the use of "derogatory and offensive mascots
and images" by local schools and stricter policies targeting bullying
against American Indians in schools.
-- New health service centers for American Indians.
The report given to Gov. Jon S. Corzine by the New Jersey Committee on
Native American Community Affairs found "lingering discrimination,
ignorance of state history and culture, and cynicism rather than shining
celebration of the state's tribal members."
"We were disappointed to learn that New Jersey lags behind rather than
leads at least 15 other states, which recognize, respect and celebrate
their tribal people through legislative, executive, or agency action,"
the report states. "We were saddened that subtle even blatant
discrimination still can thrive in New Jersey."
New Jersey has an estimated 20,000 American Indians in the Nanticoke
Lenni-Lenape, the Powhatan Renape and Ramapough Lenape tribes.
Corzine appointed the commission in 2006 after a Ramapough Lenape Indian
was fatally shot by a state park police officer on a mountaintop near
the New York
<http://www.dailyrecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071219/UPDATES0\
1/71219022#> border after a confrontation that remains under dispute.
Corzine said he would review the panel's recommendations.
"While many New Jerseyans celebrate the strengths associated with the
state's racial and ethnic diversity, they are surprisingly unaware of
the existence of or the cultural, educational, environmental and
economic contributions of New Jersey citizens of American Indian
descent," said Christine Grant, the committee co-chair and a former
state health commissioner.
She said the committee found "too many examples of discrimination or
extreme cultural insensitivity towards these citizens."
The report recommends:
-- Executive orders and legislation affirming the existence of the three
tribes in New Jersey and the state's intent to help them qualify for any
federal benefits.
-- Protecting human remains, tribal burial plots, funerary objects and
artifacts and archaeological excavations.
-- Tax exemptions for tribal sacred lands such as burial grounds and
open-air worship areas.
-- Community relations efforts such as an annual Native American
Heritage celebration and cultural training for law enforcement officers,
state and local government workers and the general public.
-- Appointing a high-level state official to oversee cleanup of the
Superfund site in Ringwood that affects the Ramapough Lenape Indian
Nation and a system to help those affected by the site deal with health
care costs, property damage and relocation.
-- A new program to recruit American Indians for state jobs.
-- New policies regulating the use of "derogatory and offensive mascots
and images" by local schools and stricter policies targeting bullying
against American Indians in schools.
-- New health service centers for American Indians.