Comments on: SF Housing Authority rejects family for being Indigenous

By: SF-NDN

SF-NDN — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 23:27:41 +0000

Malaika Kambon is correct that some of the assimilationist tribes in the southeast *did* enslave African people in their pursuit of whiteness. She has every right to feel conflicted about those Indigenous Nations.

However, it must be pointed out that Mr. Standing Bear is from the Oglala Sioux tribe: a plains nation that never enslaved African people. In fact, the plains nations, including the Sioux peoples frequently gave refuge to escaped slaves before the US Civil War.

So while I understand her conflicted feelings about some Native nations, Mr. Standing Bear himself does not come from any of those particular people.

By: Martin

Martin — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 22:16:39 +0000

Don't get up set at "YOU" you have nothing to do with this issue,,, Call the Agency who is doing this to this Family and ask them to change their tone on Humans who need the help… This is a hate crime and they should be charged with one I feel…

By: D_McG

D_McG — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 23:52:02 +0000

DAMN! I hate a system that throws a rock then hides its hand. Glad to see that this Native Brother's plight made it to the eyes and ears of African-American people. There is freedom, justice, and equality in numbers – lets spread the word and rally against this nonsense! If only the T.V. news media had the balls to jump on this…

By: D_McG

D_McG — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 23:46:56 +0000

Sister, you're helping Brother Standing Bear by tuning into his plight and sharing your personal struggles with/against this wicked system of ours. I currently live in Los Angeles, the city of lost angels, and there are more band-aids given out here for huge wounds than a lil' bit. Food, clothing, shelter – freedom, justice, and equality. These things can only be achieved thru knowledge, wisdom and understanding. Without justice there is JUST-US; and we need to fight against these injustices until this evil empire begins to UNDERSTAND that we (the Indigenous; people of color) are human beings just like (if not better) than them.

By: Dee

Dee — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 16:44:06 +0000

Ive seen immigrants come here with suitcase in hand and go right to the welfare office and get everything, healthcare, wic, foodstamps, cash and a nice apartment.
Then more &more come in, and they do the same. It ends up with 20 people living in one apartment, then you see them driving new cars! They really learn quick how to work the system!
While all along Native Americans are living on Resevations aka Prison Camps, or in their cars, trying to survive!
These damn politicians are all liars and crooks who only care about how much of a yearly wage bonus they will get! There is NO justice for All. Its all Bullshit!

By: Dee

Dee — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 16:33:45 +0000

its not neccesary to make derogatory remarks! do your home work on Afrikan culture, you'll learn something if you open your mind…..

By: Selina

Selina — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 15:09:22 +0000

How is Maliaka racist what she said is true and she's not attacking your
people. It's the Govt of this nation that took your land away from you that's your enemy.

By: Helper up North...

Helper up North... — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 13:26:19 +0000

I am appalled that this happened to this family. I work for a local Native American Tribe and have learned a few things about what's "out there" for the Native American people. I think that certain things that are available for Tribal members who are indigenous to CA may not be available to Tribal members to Tribes who are based outside of CA. Because I don't live or work in the San Francisco Area, I'm not familiar with what's available there. However, I do know some people who might know. I would recommend that Mr. Standing Bear go to the local Native American Clinic. I did a quick search and found that there's one at 160 Capp Street in San Francisco. I would suggest that he talk to someone in the Family & Child Guidance Center. Next, Mr. Standing Bear might want to contact his local "Regional Center". I looked it up and here's it's contact info.: 875 Stevenson Street – 6th Floor / San Francisco, CA 94103 / phone (415) 546-9222 / Fax: (415) 546-9203. I'm not sure if his children would qualify for services because I don't know the nature of their "disabilities".

I hope that the above information helps. I will contact people that I know to see what information they might be able to give me. I'll post what I find here. Mr. Standing Bear & his family will be in my prayers.

By: Sue Clayton SNOW OWL

Sue Clayton SNOW OWL — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 07:09:58 +0000

I live in Australia where there’s also been much trouble in the past with regard to Indigenous housing but like I said…that was IN THE PAST. In this country it is actually AGAINST THE LAW to discriminate in any way to the Native people of Australia. San Francisco needs to learn from Australia obviously. THIS IS BLATANT DISCREMINATION AND UNACCEPTABLE. America is SUPPOSED to be “The Land of the Free” WHAT A JOKE!!!!

By: Rachel

Rachel — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 01:35:10 +0000

No you dont know what you are talking about….its like that for native american everywhere they are, cause for the most part they are very proud people and dont cry and conpliant about the past like other races do everyday. We got are land taking but that was 500 years ok fine. Give us housing other then our treatys on reservation land. Not all native people have reservation land. Do some research first on modern day life of native people, not much has changed in 500 years

By: Kills Enemy by Night

Kills Enemy by Night — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 01:01:59 +0000

WOW, I don't know what boat your ancestors came over on, but you can get on a boat right back! MY ancestors were here first and we will be here after you are all long gone. You are just like every other racist bigot..so just leave already.

By: tubear

tubear — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 00:14:43 +0000

politics always discriminates against native people, and always will. the houseing authority is above the law and can do what they wish

By: Rachel

Rachel — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 23:33:46 +0000

If him and this family were another race he would of not had to wait that long to even go up for the voucher, probably would have to even wait a year. It took my mom 7 years to get a public housing and other people were only on the list for 3 – 5 months. We live in sacramento and we are native. I thought that HUD housing was for Vets and natives anyways. Fire them all and pull some voucher for that other race and see how fast this goes to court

By: Mr. Worker

Mr. Worker — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 22:32:59 +0000

Everything Mr. StandingBear said is not true. You have to have all the facts before you can really comment.

By: Selina

Selina — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 21:44:47 +0000

Just to add to my last comment why should Mr. Standing Bear have to ask for housing or any kind of assistance

It should be an automatic given after all he is the Aborigine of N. & S.Western Hemisphere

By: Marlon Crump

Marlon Crump — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 19:41:18 +0000

I feel the same way, Cher. Myself, and my colleagues at POOR Magazine/PNN have had numerous complaints of discrimination, racism, etc, etc from people regarding the San Francisco Housing Authority. It is ridiculous and it is SO disgusting that it took an article to get a response from the Housing Urban and Development regarding Standing Bear's situation.

Even so, we're committed to ensure that he and his sons gets the justice he deserves. No human being, regardless of race deserves to be mistreated because one or more parties don't like the way a person looks. Unfortunately, it happens 24/7 and its one of the cores of what we do. When they do their worst………we'll do our best against their worst.

By: Cher Baum

Cher Baum — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 19:18:54 +0000

This entire situation is beyond comprehension. This man has congestive heart failure!! That makes him handicapped/disabled. His sons are both disabled!! I certainly hope & pray that the right person sees this article (preferrably a REALLY GOOD LAWYER) and steps up to the plate to help Mr. Standing Bear & his family. They will be in my prayers….I will also keep that moron of a bureaucrat in my prayers as well, that his blindness/hate is removed!!

By: Frank Jr Molley

Frank Jr Molley — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 18:46:41 +0000

Wow, another ignorant bureaucrat.

By: James Robinson Goff

James Robinson Goff — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 18:23:48 +0000

America is not the Land Of Opportunity. it is the Landfill Of Opportunity. Mother Earth has been treated like a whore for way too long, and her dear children are suffering for it.

By: Anne

Anne — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 17:58:48 +0000

Its a shame, now we will hear ridicules from heartless individuals. I too was homeless and when it was my turn to get housing, (I finally made it to #1 status), housing commissioner told me "I could not get a house because my children were now adults. I called the housing director and said I was going to file a discrimitory lawsuit on housing and this was on our sovereign nation "the good ole reservation". I was given a 2 bedroom home. As far as the "Land of opportunity" only applies to the immigrates and the other countires that so gladly harm our US Citizens.