Former tribal member Lee Ann Ragains calls for end to system
TribesShe wants American Indian dependence on federal funds to stop

Past Governor: You may be one of the few who actually help their people and that is great, your ancestors are looking down on you. but the fact is that Lee Ann speaks the truth. She may have never sat on your seat, but she and other individual Indians are what give you your power. Tyrrany ruling styles, oppression, anguish, murder, political corruption, incest, rape, and state supreme court case lase, years of Indian history, and lots of reseach clearly back up what Lee ann has to say.

with gaming on the rise, this means more $$ for those who play the so called "checks and balances". native country follows white mans version of caste systems, someone needs to be on top and they need their lower class herdmembers, those who create them are the ones who are neglected. Many indians do not know of this caste system, they are too wrapped into living their everday live. Ask an indian if they are oppressed (compared to that of white man) and they will tell you know, they have never been college educated and do not understand the hierarchal system, what it is there for, and who they are placed into it as members. They will always feel that the IHS is there to protect them, it's all a money making venture for those who place themselves on top.

you need to do your research. why aren't you a govenor any more (I apologize, perhaps you are one of the old-school ones where you are forced into it, many places have their own systems, but despite, we are still oppressed people... the African Americans are better off than we are, we have no redress, no NAACP, not nothing, only a pathetic, Russell Means, who is no more than a joke himself, trying to save himself). many governors, council members, judges, those in political power are not educated in the real world, they are only puppets to create GENOCIDE against their own people. I feel for you and feel deeply for Native People, but standing by their side and defending the "indigenous theory" is a sick pathetic joke. You support your cause because of a small deed you have done for some. but were all members in fact treated the same?

I know for a fact that many members are kept in tribal rolls only for the sake of numbers and to keep them in check when opportune times comes to call, then all of a sudden they are the true definition of an "Indian." As far as homes, education, health, just being connected to your ancestry, is never an option. but when it comes to arrest, harassment, and all these great political coverups, they are Indians. this is happening her today in NM by a corrupted Pueblo in Pojoauqe NM. My own father is a council member, a sherriff, a leader, my cousin is the elected official, everyone related to me is an elected official. While they are out their building their great wealth, they keep members such as me and my children on their rolls to gain more funds. I don't have the legal funds to hire a lawyer, and if I did, can I trust the great white lawyer, who understands very clearly the concept of checks and balances. my only form of getting my voice heard is "Political Activism" which has also existed since your ancestors.

I can go on and on, but the bottom line is that Ms. Leeann has caught on to the "indigenous theory" and I thank God for that. I believe that people like her and me are Native for a reason. We were created to be more than just puppets and I support her for being brave against all odds. My only prayer is that she continues to fight and doesn't give in. It is we who care about our generation. I too have disenrolled myself for fear of my life and safety. My brother was brutally murdered at the tender age of 17. My own father (who was a leader at that time) turned a blind eye, we ran away from home and never spoke of his death. My brother new of his murder to come and prayed that he would not to see more coming. I questioned his murder, then all of a sudden my own father took interest in me because I left. He had me followed, he monitored an adult women, he laughed with his friends in power. they caused a breakdown on me, I couldn't live my life no longer, I was followed everywhere I went, my hospital records were monitored, he sat on the Board of Directors of the IHS and he dragged me through his controlled court system. He kidnapped my children, then when the Federal courts stated that the kidnapped was real, the US marshalls had to use force to bring them back home to me.

today my own children were arrested for tresspassing in their own lands, where other families could see an family event, where my own son was participating. My son was held in a gym and we were told to leave. This is the typical games of the new nobles in action. It is disgusting.

Everyone has their story, let Leeann say hers! We need her to break the silence about what is occuring today. WE ARE HUMAN TOO (WHAT) is my upcoming project where I anticipate to create homes, legal services, food, water, the necessities of life for Indians who have been illegally stipped of their rights where they are left on the streets to beg because the government labeled them "indigenous." They may not be considered to be "minority" but I can tell you that when they are kicked out of their pueblos or reservations due to some new unwritten law, conjured up by a leader who cares only about his fanciful life and state reputation, his is sure as heaven "a minority."

If you really care about your people, that includes all Native Americans, enrolled and not enrolled and those who had no choice but to disenroll. Although I did disenroll, I am kept on those rolls for purposes of so called Hitler style "control". an Indian can be murdered by an Indians, easy as pie, according to the Federal Governments, it's everywhere, read your case law: www.lexis.com

Dear Readers, Please visit my website; leeannragains.com

I hope every Citizen understands - this is NOT about tribal matters -This is about our basic RIGHTS as American Citizens. The following Laws effect me and my family even though we are NOT enrolled in a Tribe and every Taxpayer that PAYS for our continued segregation; for these reasons President Obama must be required by all American Citizens to Emancipate the Tribes and their members and Abolish; the Dredful Legislative Acts and ILLegal authority of the Secretary of the Dept of the Interior and Bureau of Incompetent Indian Affairs from 1824 to 2009 Senator Dorgan and the Senate Comittee on Incompetent Indian Affairs.

The 1871 Incompetent Ward Status of the 564 Federally Recognized American Indian Tribes =means= a Competency Hearing was never held for my ancestors or for me; Yet, we are declared incompetent and unable to manage our own affairs and every American Taxpayer will PAY for our Separate but Equal - Indians Only; clinics, hospitals, preference to be hired, scholarships, grants and housing. The 564 Tribes will never be equal as long as the Department of the Interior & BIA is our Trustee and we are demeaned as incompetent. Today, there are 300 more Tribes that are waiting to be Federally Recognized, some from Canada & Mexico have been recognized and added to the enrollement of existing Federally Recognized Tribes such as the Cherokee in Texas.

The 1978 Indian Child Welfare Act =means= Termination of Parental Rights because American Indian parents are incompetent and are irresponsible - so the Tribe must give their permission for any foster care or adoptions of "potential" indian children that could be considered for enrollement in the Tribe so they will increase the Federal Funding; and because Indian parents are incompetent and unable to manage their children. Therefore, the 1978 United States Congress and corrupt Tribal Lobbyist encouraged Congress to continue to grant the Secretary of the Department of the Interior and Bureau of Indian Affairs the Authority to grant the Authority of the Tribal Councils to have Authority over the Incompetent Indians and their children because in 1824 John Calhoun created the Office/Bureau of Indian Affairs because he wanted the Army to have military weapons ready when Congress declared War on the Tribes with the 1830 Indian Removal Act.

The Affirmative Action Ethnic Profiling =means= Segregation is okay
-especially- IF you have a "tan" you will never be smart enough to get a job on your own because of your parents; You are incompetent and unqualified so the Government will make separate but equal laws to compensate for you & your children's inability to manage your own
education and your family will always be incompetent because the Secretary of the Department of the Interior said in 1871 "All Indians are incompetent" and you are not Indian until the Bureau of Indian Affairs tells you - You are Indian - after the BIA federally Recognizes and provides funding; clinics & hospitals for your Tribe.
Sincerely, Lee Ann Ragains

Lee Ann has an interesting point of view. Disagree, but interesting nonetheless.

RL- according to the article, she does not say anything about being a "Lincoln lover" or whatever, said simply her belief in President Obama's duties; AI tribes were just as divided as the rest of the country during the Civil War but were hammered because, large or small, parts of the tribe fought for the South, never mind the other AI's that were fighting for the North and ones that were neutral; overall, you're statement does not make sense. Get off the talking points and pick up educational materials. Like one coach said, get your facts straight.

"The tribe should have had nothing to do with my personal business, but under the present system, they did,”

It cuts both ways. If she doesn't want tribal governments to have anything to do with her personal business then she has no business in having anything to do with tribal governments. If there is any debate on our status as sovereign entities then it should be between our tribal governments and the US, not through the hurt reactions of a "FORMER" tribal member who voluntarily severed her ties to her tribal nation.

I'm all for individual liberties, but this woman is an Abe Lincoln worshipper. Lincoln was a crook, and American Indian tribes in OK owned slaves and fought hard against Lincoln's occupation of the Southern states and their rights.

Michael: I hope you will carefully read my Response dated Sept 27 at 3:52pm and 5:19pm and please purchase the Daily Oklahoman Newspaper Monday Sept 28, 2009 it includes; My letter and Reference Information of:

America’s 150 yr example of what happens to people when the Federal Govt takes away your guns and expects you to be dependent on the Govt. The U. S. government told our Ancestors where they would live, what kind of food they would be allowed to eat and what kind of medical care they would receive then at Wounded Knee the Indians were forced to surrender their guns to the Army that wanted Revenge for Custer’s calvary. They were not citizens of the U.S. and did not have the protection of the 2nd Amendment.

Every time my ancestors; Fought Relocation, Escaped from the Reservations and every time the Federally Recognized Indian Tribes bring a Lawsuit against the Government. This is our petition to End the Bureau of Indian Affairs Trust and allow us to manage our own land and money for ourselves without Federal or Tribal Restrictions. It is necessary and proper to transfer the BIA personnel, clinics & hospitals for our Veterans and Troops.

America has the BEST All Volunteer Professional Military, Reserves and National Guard in the world. The BIA must be returned to the War Department that created it in 1824. Today, our military needs the best Exclusive Medical Care we can offer our Veterans and Troops.

The June 2, 1924 Citizenship Act granted, “All Indians born within the Territorial limits of the United States are Citizens of the United States,” (43 STAT. L. 253). The Supreme Court should have ruled and ENDED our; 1871 Incompetent Domestic Dependent status and the 1887 Trust Responsibility of the BIA because we are CITIZENS and it is unconstitutional to hold the lands in Trust or to allow the Tribes to abridge our right to vote.
Sincerely, Lee Ann Ragains

Lee Ann: You lady are a totally uninformed, misguided, and uneducated on the functions that tribal governments perform for their citizens. As a former tribal leader, I was able to offer my tribal members education benefits to enrich their life, I was also able to provide private insurance for tribal employees, and serve the tribal members when a death occured by providing paid funeral expenses. I, as a tribal leader was able to create jobs for my tribal members and the tribe I represented is the largest employer in Northern Oklahoma.

Many Indian people are oppressed, and never have the opportunity to have a productive life. American Indians are the most impoverished group known to America. if you were articulate and informed, you would know that American Indians are not classified as a minority, but rather as a political subdivision by the US Government. American Indians contribute much to the welfare of this state where much of ODOT funding comes from contributions from tribal governments. Many tribes contribute to the employment base of Oklahoma by proving much needed stable jobs in gaming and in other tribal entities. tribes contribute to the national defense as contractors to build many of the US Government defense systems. what would Oklahom's economy look like without the jobs that ribal governments provide?

before you go on a crusade against American Indian people, step back and look in the mirror. I'm sure your Indian ancestors would be wondering where you are coming from. The US government robbede Indian people of their heritage, language, and the ability to live life as they had always done. American Indian tribal governments predate the US government by many centuries. The US government has no authority to abolish tribal governments, and if they wish, just return the tribal lands to all tribes and the treaties can then be abrogated. Lee Ann, there is much too much tolose for the US government to finish off the Indians they could not do in the 1870's. Lee Ann from Kingfisher, wake up and get a life.

Recently, the Insurance company my ex-husband used on 89th its either Farmers with John Reese or State Farm I can't remember was attacked. I wonder if he had insured those two properties and when my daughter died collected insurance on them and they paid them totally, off free and clear??? He was convicted of Banking Fraud along with Bruce Thompson and Cecil Johnson and the Baptist Minister in Moore, Oklahoma and they all came to the Hospital while Lacey was in her coma before we had to un-plug her after her asthma attack!!! He was connected to Gene Stipes and Hugh Baysinger who was my parents attorney at the time of her death.

Then, I had Vondel Smith & Sons handle my daughters funeral, cause I knew Scott Smith Personally, since my Father Dean M. Colbert Sr, built Vondel Smiths personal home on South Western. I asked that Lacey be placed in Resthaven beside my Mom & Dad. He even got the $6500.00 from my TRibe to pay for her buriel but he did not bury her in the agreed upon cemetery. But he sent me a fraudulent, death certificate that stated she had been buried in Resthaven. This is suppose to be a legal document!!! Aren't they just like a birth certificate??? When I asked him why my daughter was placed in the wrong cemetery in a town she never lived in he said - People get buried in the wrong cemetery all the time!!! I went to the Funeral Board at 4545 N. Lincoln Blvd and wrote a formal complaint 3 times but all they did was dismiss it!!!!

My daughter Lacey died in 2004 from an asthma attack, she had a daughter who was 3 at the time of her passing. I have not been able to see her for almost 6 years! Her grandfather Rickey S. Garrett, an ex-felon in Oklahoma got custody of her after going to Judge Brian Upp and telling him that he wanted guardianship without any notice to me the Maternal Grandmother. He told the Probate Judge that Lacey did not own any property when his own house at 9624 Allen Drive in OKC was in her name at time of death on the Property TAX website (I have copies) also, another house she had just purchased at 1612 S.W. 61st was only in Lacey's Name. Then, He was given custody of my Granddaughter Karlee and took possession of her home and Karlees inheritance and tried to put them illegally, into his wifes name Debbie Garrett. I hired 3 attorney's from Oklahoma Lawyers for Children Don Nicholson III, Mr Myers from Crowe and Dunlevy who started the organization and drove 1500 miles to the REmoval of Guardianship hearing for my Granddaughter! When my husband and I got there, Judge Brian Upp would not hear our case cause he said there was a mix-up on the docket... The case had been on the docket for 6 months and I use to work for Curtis Harris at the County Court house and I know when something is on the docket it's almost impossible to change it unless someone dies!!! So paid the ATtorney's for nothing. We did not even get to see our granddaughter!!! I called Dan Murdock who worked at the DA's office when I did, and now he's the head of the Bar Association in Oklahoma and he told me to send him all my information. Then, I read in the paper he got arrested for biting a woman at some party in some hotel in OKC. What is going on in OKLahoma City??? I went to my Tribe in Oklahoma and he said it was out of his jurisdiction??? My granddaughter is half Native-American. How can Oklahoma allow this to happen to people???

Lee Ann Ragains, you must have really, had a falling out with your tribe. My best friend from California is half Choctaw and she was able to go to O.S.U. with the help of her Tribe. Her father had had a stroke and he was disabled and her Mom had limited funds from her job so I Know for a "fact" she would not have been able to go to College if it were'nt for her Tribe...

You are so much on the money. A tribe took my granddaughter from her mother because they have been given the right to enroll who ever they want and can take any child they want. We are not native and my grandaughter is half native but by what ever agreement tribe have with the government she can only be native and the tribe has the right to own her until she is 18-years-old and terminate the birth mothers rights to her child. I want to help. Contact me. this agreement with the tribes and the us governement is one of the biggest money making scams because for all the money given to tribes the people still live in great without.

Good God. After reading this story, I was thinking you were a modern Elias Boudinot! Editors, are you listening??

I know Ron Jackson felt pressured to interview me quickly,
however, the meaning of his statements are meant to encourage the same nightmare thinking that allowed the 1930 Indian Removal Act. I was shocked and disapointed to read his perspective of our 2 phone conversations. I hope you will forward this to Mr. Jackson and any Supervisor or Publisher that has the authority to correct his article.?

I want to abolish the Trust Responsibility of the BIA over the Land Owners that are members of Tribes - NOT "...abolish all Tribal nations..."

Ron Jackson is unaware of the difference between what federal subsidies are and the Bureaucratic nightmare that the Individual Indian Land Owners have had to Endure because of The Trust Responsibility Bureaucracy. It is the direct result of the Self-Imposed Trust responsibility of the BIA on behalf of federally recognized Indian Tribes and is unconstitutional. A competency hearing was never held for my ancestors or for me to hold the land and money in a Trust. We are American Citizens, we must be allowed to manage our own land and money and affairs for ourselves without Tribal or Federal restrictions.

We must Improve Services for our Military, Protect All Citizens from too much Government and Create Economic Stability. The Tribes will continue as Genealogical Societies similar to the Daughters of the American Revolution. Ending the Trust Responsibility will allow the American Indian Land Owners to individually manage their own affairs to unite our country with cooperation to stabilize and re-invest in our economy. Frederick Douglass said “Truth is without color” and equality is guarantied by the US Constitution for all citizens equally. Sincerely, Lee Ann Ragains