I was born and raised on the White Earth Reservation. I moved off when I was 17 years old. Moving off the reservation doesn't make me any less of an Indian, though.
I've lived in Detroit Lakes since I was 17. When I need help with housing or medical issues, I have always turned to the reservation. Now they have turned me away and sent me back to Becker County because I don't live on the reservation. This is unfair.
I left the reservation to find a job, since there were none on the reservation at the time. Now that I am on disability pay, the reservation doesn't see fit to help me at all, and I'm tired of this treatment.
I now receive $203 a month for disability and spend $200 on rent.
I have a $3 co-payment on my medications. I hardly have enough money to even cover the co-pays. I asked the reservation to help with the co-payment, and was turned down.
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If I go to the doctors at the reservation's clinic, they will assist me, but I'd have to start my health care all over. The doctors won't work with doctors off the reservation.
I have also asked for housing assistance. I am 160th on the list on the White Earth Reservation, and 39th on the Becker County list.
When Chip Wadena and Jerry Rawley were in office, they helped. Erma Vizenor doesn't. I wish Wadena and Rawley were back in office.
At least they helped people and were friendly. If you pass these new people on the street, they won't even smile at you.
If they aren't going to help those of us living off the reservation, why should they count on us when it comes time for elections?
When it comes time for elections, Vizenor and the group will travel here to make sure those of us who don't live on the reservation have absentee ballots. They won't get my vote anymore.
It doesn't make me any less of a tribal member because I live off the reservation.
-- Patty Clark, Detroit Lakes
