Copyright © 2000 NLThomas
All Rights Reserved

          Currently many non-Indians in Washington State are unhappy with the Yakama Nation. Its tax on alcohol sold within the nation borders certainly has created a stir. In fact, it has gotten this poor ole Indian's mind to thinking. But in this instance, I am reminded of what an older brother used to say quite frequently some years ago.

          This older brother used to say, "Whiteman's fire-water no good for injun" as he poured the remaining few ounces of whiskey, or wine, or beer, or rum, or . .. . whatever, including rubbing alcohol, down his gullet. That older brother sure made me and other members of the Blackfoot Nation believers. He died at the age of 33 of cirrhosis of the liver. True enough. Whiteman's fire-water no good for injun. It made me believe that I should not emulate him and his habit as he called it. In fact, he also used to say, "Don't be like me brother, get an education and be smart, not dead drunk".

          Unless you have had this kind of educational experience you are not apt to understand why the Yakama Nation has made the sale of alcohol expensive within its borders and why it does not sell alcohol in places like its Legends Casino. The people of the Yakama Nation understand the history and legend that has been set by Indians and alcohol. They know for absolute certain that WHITE MAN'S FIRE-WATER NO GOOD FOR INJUN.

          Of all people, our non-Indian brothers and sisters ought to understand, and appreciate, what the Yakama Nation is trying to accomplish. The Yakama people are working to eliminate a problem. They are telling their own people and others of Turtle Island that alcohol, a drug, is killing us and destroying our people and our cultural traditions.

          It is offensive that Governor Locke of Washington State would go to the Yakama Nation and tell them not to tax alcohol sold by non-Indians within their own country's borders. The Yakama Nation is taxing alcohol in order to raise money to insure that their people receive treatment for alcoholism. Many Indian people are absolutely amazed that Locke would oppose that action.

          The Yakama people have another thing they are attempting to address, but everyone is overlooking it and it has not been addressed by this lesser "great white father," Gary Locke. The issue is fetal alcohol syndrome. So what, if bars go out of the business of selling booze if it will save even one Indian child from being born with brain damage and damaged nerves because of a mothers abuse of alcohol.

          There are the other issues: spouse abuse, child sexual and physical abuse, and accidents caused by drunken drivers. What about the excessive number of Indians in prison? And what do you suppose causes all of this?

          My drunken brother who died at the age of 33 could tell the Governor why the Indian is increasingly turning away from drugs like alcohol. In that brother's name, I take this means of delivering the message to Governor Locke. And I include the message to all the proponents of the sale of an evil drug, alcohol, who have the gall to say their business must be protected. The message is:

WHITEMAN'S FIRE-WATER NO GOOD FOR INJUN!

And, we Indians will see you all dead broke and out of business until you give some consideration and understanding to what we are trying to tell you and all of so-called civilized society:

Whiteman's fire-water no good for Injun!

(There brother, I told them four times what you said many years ago. I wonder if they are listening?)