I’m a native decented, I can take you to another tribe in North Dakota. I lost my step mom, my auntie, my uncle and another uncle all in the span of a couple years
My favorite fast food chain is in ND, it’s the fake mexican ish place kinda like Taco Bell but honestly better. All I remember is the burrito with the tater tot bites inside that shit was heavenly.
at least there is native-awareness going on in bigmedia..killers of the flower moon the new scorsese movie (its so horrible. it went on until the 20th century with horrible horrible cult tactics by english americans), the new true detective season and now tommyG. i am a european in the EU but native americans have the best voice and soul. stand up proud and proceed your beautifull culture. dont let the drugs in. it is unleashed on everybody in big cities .
@@thomashauer6804>don’t let drugs in Yeah you’re pretty late on that request. Drugs and alcohol run rampant on most rez’s. It’s a big part of the problem
@@thomashauer6804 You're german aren't you? I'm Mohawk and from my experience your comment about our voices and souls is something I've heard from many German tourists as Germany seems to have an infatuation with native American culture
Thanks for this video. I’m Anishinaabe from Wisconsin and live down here in Phoenix. I don’t get to see much of my native relatives down here because they are different tribes and sometimes it feels like we don’t have much in common so it’s nice to hear about them and their tribe. Back home on my Rez we have murders left and right. People dying of over doses all the time. Through 2016-2018 it seemed like I lost a family member every month to murder or suicide or overdose. It’s such a huge problem in Indigenous communities. It’s one of the reasons I got sober. I been sober for 9 years. Thanks for highlighting our people!
Btw congrats on sobriety! Yeah it's rough growing up native on a rez, you don't realize how bad it is until you grow up and look at it from the outside in, I'm off the rez only 18 miles but still feels like a different world.
Ayy a fellow Anishinaabe, which tribe? Im part Odawa And really proud and happy you got sober brother. Much respect, my dad went through the same with alcohol, and many lines before. For me I had some issues with substances and sometimes alcohol, but I started asking myself “How would I live today if I cared about my life and future?” And broke the cycle.
I'm so very proud of You for getting sober. Alcohol is definitely, Bad Spirit Juice, it was responsible for taking my Sister and Brother early, both are dead. I have, 22 years sober this year. Our Tribes have to break this cycle of Alcohol and drugs taking our life source. We can't drink away the pain or History.
Bhoozoo cousin..I'm from Bay Mills rez in the upper peninsula. One of thirteen brothers and sisters and all of them gone within five years. Just me and an older brother left now but a shitload of cousins still alive and kicking on the rez! Nice to see a relative from Wisconsin here even though I don't really see you!
I am so glad you made this video! I am a native indigenous Plains Cree lady from Saskatchewan, Canada. We have the same issues over here…especially with our reserves. Multi-generational trauma is a huge issue for all First Nations Indigenous peoples.. i recommend a really educational movie you should watch about residential schools. It’s called “We Were Children”. It really shows the raw, real hardships that native children had to endure. When he said “I asked my grandma about it and she went quiet” it really hit hard.. that’s the case for my grandparents, as-well as thousands of others. 😢 Thank you, you have a beautiful soul. ❤
All these people were conquered. My great-grandfather was full-blooded. Cherokee, Indian, we were conquered too. What other countries gives their enemies that they conquered? A free ride, Once you're 18 b*******, in my opinion.And these idiots are screwing themselves right out of it.Anyways, 45 more generations of ingredients or mixed breeding bill have no war.Indian rights it is anyways
Wow! Congrats to the big guy that went from 800lbs to 300. That’s amazing and I’m happy he made 70 years old and still sharing his knowledge and his story!
I Am A Young 15 Year Old Native American From Warm Springs Indian Reservation In Oregon, I Like How People Like Tommy G Comes To These Places & Learn about The Natives & Community, It Would Be Cool To Get Our Reservation Out There On RU-vid
As a Hidatsa (Three Affiliated Tribes) and Lower Brule Sioux person and Addiction counselor, I appreciate your sensitivities and for covering this issue! Much love to my brothers and sisters in Gila River!
I am Lakota Sioux and we are on the poorest reservation. We have nothing like this tribe. Our grandma’s, elders and children are in abject poverty. It is beyond sad. My favorite photo of my mother is her at maybe age 8 with thick beautiful braids. The next photo is at white man school her braids are gone and so is the light from her eyes. They killed the Indian spirit in her. I just cried. She never spoke of those days.until she was walking on (dying). The horror stories still haunt me. The black robes (priests) beat them with the Black Book (bible). . ❤️🙏🌹 I am now in PNW near Yakama Rez. I hold ceremony & sweat with them. Very friendly happy tribe. Our rez is in SD. I always make the fry bread. It’s my great-grandmother’s recipe. I use bison for my native tacos. Yummy!
Very genuine story and honest. But please quit leaving a blame all the time the white settlers that came before were pure hostile which is how every race is
I appreciate your comment. I didn’t come out and blame anyone. Just stated what my Ina (mother) experienced. So much was taken or denied her because of her culture. Reservation life is not easy. We are a very poor reservation. However we were taught to forgive but never forget. When we forget the past it can be repeated. I have spent my life overcoming the same as anyone else. She was sent to white man school and unthinkable agony inflicted on the native children. A real fact and more truth is coming out. I can’t change the facts. My Ina didn’t say….. much until she was leaving this world. However there was always a haunting sorrow within her. Truth is blame one way or the other does nothing. I just shared what I glimpsed in photos on my Ina. RIP dear Ina. ❤️🙏🌹
I understand that thank you for your humility and i do respect the Lakota people just different views I'll get Better at communicating with other people i promise
I understand that thank you for your humility and i do respect the Lakota people just different views I'll get Better at communicating with other people i promise
Love from Upper Sioux Community! Tommy G thank you so much for speaking on boarding schools. My great grandmother was a victim and its frustrating when people act like we aren't feeling the consequences of it to this day
It's crazy how they want groups that have been victimized by them to just forgetaboutit or the later generations aren't impacted by these attrocities. #cut the check😏💪🏾
Thank you for shedding light on our natives and the struggles they go through , growing up in cali just a couple of miles from the Rez, my best friend who lived there Roma disappeared and was never found. Idc what anyone says, if you’re an American you care about ALL of our people and Tommy is truly showing all sides.
I absolutely love how you provoke thought & emotion with some of your questions, especially when you use scenarios that you know will really make people think deeply & understand things from someone else’s point of view.
I randomly found you on RU-vid. Watched for the entertainment, came back for the vibes, and this video made me a subscriber. I’m Mexican and hella proud. Loved this video
I’m also Native American (Aztec) and I wanted to thank you for documenting and bringing awareness to our struggle! We all need to come together to solve our worldwide problems. Thank you again! A’ho!
Mexico he's aztec that's not mainland US aztecs we're in Mexico. Not only that if he is Aztec he's bloodline is old old need to get Spain to make reparations
I have family on the Gila Reservation. At night go and sit in the cemetery and pray and listen to all the souls crying. It is so sad what happen in the old days. My husband is laid to rest with his whole family now. God Bless and respect our family
So glad this is being shown with someone with a following. This is one of my passions. Learning the languages , culture, history, and also all the problems and atrocities that happened and are still happening with all the tribes. It takes more than a Google search.
Thank you for bringing attention to us. Not a lot of people give us natives. I'm from Montana and wish more people would be aware enough to the trials we have to endure. Again, thank you, Tommy.
Unfortunately out here we’re having issues with the cartel running drugs and trafficking people on our reservations. That’s why I moved off the Rez lol
It’s not that we don’t care about natives but most of us are just working our way through our lives and don’t have contact with natives through anything but casinos. I’ve never felt there was an open invitation to visit or participate in the community. In Michigan all I hear about is tribal in-fighting about casino money distribution and how members are being kicked out due to not having pure genealogy.
You’re more worried about the way he’s pronouncing your tribal name you should be more worried about your alcohol problem. It is a very serious problem.
@MrKurdkiller Whats serious too is what yall put us through for centuries and STILL now we're suffering for the consequences. Hence the alcohol and all that. Why do you think people drink?
@@anneliesejackson507 I know very well I’m married to one and I get it because they have gone through so much shit there own family abuse but it has to stop now ok no excuses
I love how you relate everything to our lives nowdays. It's important to bring these issues to the forefront. I'm not much for history, but when you relate history to our current lives it creates empathy. Nothing but good can come from that, understanding another person, or another group of ppl. God bless your work.
I am a conservative, and I have been watching your videos all day on my day off I like how you cover things without a political lens. And with such compassion, you’re a very smart dude and your personality is what allows you to do such a good job and your education.. thanks for doing this. This is what we need to bring community back together.
Hey Tommy! There are so many things wrong with Winnipeg Manitoba rn and I feel with the right video and awareness you bring, you’d make a huge change and inspire many young children who are lost! Many people I went to highschool with have already dropped out or just given up because they have no motivation. There’s a dark cloud over Winnipeg and this type of video would be amazing to look deeper into the TRUE problems of Winnipeg! -If you read this thank you for taking the time of your day to read about my hometown! Thank you and have a wonderful year!
It’s crazy how alcoholism not only affects the native peoples of the US and Canada but also all native descendants of the entire American continent. It’s become part of the culture of the indigenous peoples.
alcohol is only a problem when you have nothing else to do, no hobbies or other things in life. like going to a party and not talking to people, just drinking and drinking, walking around not eating and drinking on an empty stomach, drinking instead of going out and doing other things is destructive for any one with a broken soul and no properly socialized by parents with their own personality traits. poverty is universal and thats why herb and alc are promoted, so people dont get revolutionary ideas or question the distrobution of wealth. these people shouldnt be impoverished as the us strip mines their hills for gold and uranium, but again the same problems go on in the inner city and rural communities from ireland, to hong kong and africa.
I’m Navajo and I agree. Unfortunately. Colonization, poverty and generational trauma is at the root of most of our problems including alcoholism. I just a family members from alcohol abuse who was sober for more than 30 years but they spiraled into addiction when they lost their wife to COVID.
@@Cinnamon666Coca my family is from El Salvador with Pipil and Lenca roots. That country has been through hell, from colonization, civil war, gang violence. A lot of trauma affected my family and to this day many relatives are dealing with alcoholism. One of them, my cousin just had to get a liver transplant due to cirrhosis of the liver from years of heavy drinking and he’s only 35.
Check out “Through Indian Eyes” that one will really open up your eyes how insane the true history is of America! It's from Readers Digest it has a ton of pictures in it as well but it's so informative! It will bring tears to your eyes on what was truthfully done to all the Native people.
Hi. If you are interested here are some books that could help you understand deeper. Bury my Heart at Wounded Knee is the best start. All of the facts are sited and almost entirely from documents in the Library of Congress recorded by the US government themselves. Others to read: Ceremony by Leslie Marmon Silko, Where White Men Fear to Tread by Russel Means (RIP), and works by Ward Churchill his essays and books. Ward is a bit controversial because he speaks against actions of US government politics both on US soil and abroad and because his genetic link to native family line is hard to trace. I have been in a kitchen more than once hearing Elders say "he has always been good to us and we are good to him" and calling him Brother even after critisms against him. His writings are solid and well sited. That mattered to me.
Wowww. Props to you @TommyGMcGee for taking a trip to a reservation. I'm a white kid, born and raised in utah but i have half brothers and sisters that are half navajo. Their birth families are on a reservation and it's a totally different life. For starters, it's sad to see the life on the rez sometimes, but its enlightening at the same time. I appreciate you casting a light on the missing people. It's a fact that a majority of native missing cases go unnoticed to the rest of the country. Also, alcoholism runs in the genome, so our native brothers and sisters are more prone to addiction. I have dealt with this at a personal level, and appreciate the work that you do! Again, thank you for casting a light on the rez life, much love and much thanks!
yup. lost my dad to his addiction, it plagues so many native people. every native family member i have has either died to their addiction or they still struggle with it. also if you ask any native person if they know someone who has gone missing, the answer is always mostly yes. it's so sad and even sadder that nothing seems to be done about it. thanks tommy for making this video
@@jacobhanun6288 No concrete source other than first person account. Ive read several studies on this topic, but they all seem inconclusive or somewhat vague. But theres a reason that alcohol is banned on reservations. I've seen people drink hairspray, or even hand sanitizer because they couldn't get ahold of alcohol. There was an old native american legend about "firewater" refering to alcohol, attempting to deter their loved ones away from alcohol use. I've heard others refer to being more prone to addiction of alcohol, one of whom was my own brother, a Navajo by blood, who battled addiction for many years. He's now 7 years sober and would agree, even though there is no concrete evidence that I'm aware of. It has to do with alcohol dehydrogenase. I was able to find this wikipedia article refering to this exact thing, however: (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcohol_tolerance#:~:text=Alcohol%20tolerance%20in%20different%20ethnic%20groups,-See%20also%3A%20Race&text=Genetics%20of%20alcohol%20dehydrogenase%20indicate,compared%20to%20Europeans%20and%20Asians.)
@@ARich1819-enlightened born and raised Oklahoma grew up with Comanches, married a full blood Navajo. I just find it hard to believe it affects natives specifically more than any other. I honestly believe it’s a choice but I’ve seen both sides so we will just wait for science.
I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again, what you’re doing is truly amazing. Keep up the great work man, this stuff is gonna make a difference sooner than later
Exactly what I thought. He has massive potential to deep dive into some areas in society and history itself that can really enlighten us. A lot better than the Kia boys sort of stuff in my opinion anyway.
00:00 🕵 Unsolved Murders and Police Shootings 00:25 🛡 Understanding Native Reservations and History 01:43 🤝 Gila River Reservation Community Introduction 02:04 🏠 Visiting Grandma Sandra's Home 02:52 📘 Recommended Reading: Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee 03:45 💰 Tribal Casino Income and Community Benefits 04:29 🏡 Free Housing and Quarterly Stipends 05:00 🍽 Thanksgiving and Family Reunions 05:52 🌀 Mountain Spirit Legends 06:26 👵 Sharing Traditional Recipes 06:43 💡 Local Challenges and Crime 07:36 🚫 Alcohol Issues and Sobriety Achievements 08:10 🍖 Traditional Cooking and Recipes 08:58 🌪 Dust Storms and Environmental Challenges 10:02 🚩 Zone 6 Gang Affiliations 10:23 🔫 Historical Gang Presence 10:47 👮 Relationship with Police 11:17 🌜 Night Caution in the Circles 11:21 🏫 History of Boarding Schools 11:48 😢 Indian Boarding School Horrors 13:03 ⛪ Personal Views on Religion 13:18 🏒 Opinion on Sports Team Logos 13:35 🌀 Man in the Maze Symbolism 13:58 🚗 Stolen Cars and Bodies in the Mountains 15:00 🔍 High Murder Rates on Reservations 16:55 ⛰ Sacred Mountains and Interstate Dispute 17:09 🍫 High Diabetes Rates Among Natives 17:28 💔 Resentment Towards Europeans/White Culture 18:02 🗻 K Dak Mountain and Sobriety Journey 19:13 🌿 Drug Overdose and Recovery 20:00 🌌 Near-death experience and life change 20:25 💔 Discussing PTSD and cultural loss 20:55 🗣 Importance of language and traditions 21:14 🇪🇺 Impact of European colonization 22:10 🌍 Spiritual beliefs and social structures 22:25 🎰 Casino revenue and community benefits 23:06 🏡 Housing provided by tribal earnings 23:09 🏋 Staying active and combating diabetes 23:38 🎶 Going home song and episode wrap-up Key Moments by Agent Gold AI
Tommy i got denied my request for time off from work otherwise id be out there supporting at the documentary screening! I hope you host other events so i can hopefully get a chance to meet ya. Love the work you do big dawg
Hey Tom. I have 4 years of sobriety. I think you ask really great questions, hard questions but still in a positive polite way; Keep bringing light to these sensitive issues.
Tommy G is so respectful and it just goes to show you than humanity is everywhere, you can walk this earth and be safe as long as you treat people like humans, he is never holier than thow, he always treads lightly, chooses his words wisely, and is always acts like a guest who is grateful to be let in, and then and only then will humanity prevail and authentic conversations can occur
Hey Tommy, my first time seeing this video and I’m like woah. You did a great job. I live on the reservation with my mom and dad(Stepdad) Big Mike and we all watched it he listened. We all enjoyed this video and felt it definitely represented a lot that not many knows about it. This tribe (Gila River) has been through so much and had been damaged a lot. This is because of many things that the US Government has done. I remember driving my dad to the meetings for the battle against Loop 202. I remember the arguments it was a long process. There is so much. I would love to see the Navajo (Denea) I may of spelled that wrong. A lot happened due to COVID then there’s the pipe line problem that happen where Natives all over came to protest peacefully and were met with brutality. I have subscribed and I look forward to watching your videos.
this is one of my fave episodes you have done, and ive been here since before u even did videos like this. grandma and last guy should have their own hour+ long interviews
THANK YOU!!!! I'm part Native as well and descended from some in the mid-west, and even if I wasn't part Native, I'd still appreciate you helping shed more light on a dark situation. I have friends from the 4-Corners area, missing / found passed on over the years. These situations were nearly all due to foul play. It has been tough, but more so for their families and those that had / have been closer to them. Haven't figured out why certain tribes have been targeted more so, as far as kidnappings and worse go. Bless you and others for helping in so many ways, with so many things, also!! Prayers, blessings, hope, comfort, peaceful minds and healing, for everyone, always!! ❤️🌈🌈❇️❇️❇️❇️❇️
I’m native from siksika nation Alberta Canada can I’ve been watching Tommy g fir a minute and I appreciate this one fir reels things that are not talked about enough so shout out to you and your family 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽
The fact that they’re on a reserve is so weird. Like they basically put them on an isolated piece of shit ass land and building these crappy ass houses.
I felt it when she said were all related. My wife an i watch you videos every week. We prefer vidoes like this over the hood lifestyle but All of them are great.
The fact that we get free videos from Tommy on RU-vid is priceless; keeping the education and knowledge alive. 🙏🙏🙏 May I also remind you the fact that our Native American population in our motherland, the Continent of America before the European Colonizers arrived, was around 15 millions, while the European population in their motherland, the Continent of Europe was around 25 millions. Today, Native American population is 15 million, while the European population, in the Continents of America + Europe, is a staggering TWO BILLION! A shocking sad truth. 😔 In my humble opinion, it's about time to decolonize the Colonized lands, and return it to rightful owners Native American people. Notorious global cardinal crimes the Christian West has committed, and benefited a great deals, such as Slavery & Colonialism had long been over, why on earth is notorious Colonization still lingering on, may I ask? 😔
My jaw dropped as I read Native American population in their motherland, the Continent of America before the European Colonizers arrived, was around 15 millions, while the European population in their motherland, the Continent of Europe was around 25 millions. Today, Native American population is 15 million, while the European population, in the Continents of America + Europe, is a staggering TWO BILLION. It is a shockingly sad truth 😔
Greed is an animal ... Greed is a major driving force behind 'Slavery, Genocide, Colonialism and Colonization' which are all evil things done by evildoers. The land grab is more of the same here in the Asia-Pacific region where European Colonizers such as Britain and Russia have already Colonized half of Asia, stretching from Australia/New Zealand, to Siberia/Far-East, all in the Asia-Pacific region of Native Asian-Pacific people's lands. The two most sacred Christian doctrines are, -Thou shalt not kill. - Thou shalt not steal. 🤷
'Slavery, Genocide, Colonialism & Colonization' are evil things done by evildoers. You can't discover a place if people are already there for 20,000 long years. Native Americans came from Asia 20,000 years ago when Europeans came from the Middle-East some 40,000 years ago. This land is their one and only ASSET. Their beloved motherland that their ancestors forebears had lived through thick and thin, and endured through hardships of all sorts for so long. With their main ASSET being taken away from them, their IDENTITY, their DIGNITY, their POPULATION and most of all, their FUTURE are all but gone.That's a sad truth indeed. 😔 All they Native American people need is their beloved motherland back, the lands that their ancestors' forebears had lived through thick and thin, endured through hardships and all for tens of thousands of years. May I ask, why not let Native Americans have Europe, since Europeans have had both North/South America Continents already; a fair deal? Remember the saying, "You can't have your cake and eat it too" and "A man's gotta do, what a man's gotta do". 🤷 The truth of the matter is that Native American People would forever be the subject of scapegoat, and victimized by the Colonizers of their lands, as long as they occupy those vast rich bountiful lands in order to justify their occupation. In other words, thy Colonizers are 'Living in Denial'.. They are 'Living in Sin'. 😔 Speaking of Native American people who have not occupied an inch of European land, or slaughtered a single European in Europe; while European Colonizers have occupied both North & South America lands and terminated 99.9% of Natives population.
@@ladyluck5400 The Christian West would commit and practice a great many cardinal sins, many of them knowingly, such as centuries-long global; - 'Colonization', - 'Genocide', - 'Slavery', - 'Colonialism', - 'Global Warming', etc which benefited them enormously for centuries worldwide; then they would initiate and take a measure to ban those practices worldwide, and take credit for it. (Note: Today's global warming is caused in large part by nearly two centuries of excessive coal burning, mainly in the West). For honest truths, pls read the supremely informative and insightful, multi-pages comment by 'Lonely Alaskan' at, "Complete History Of Indigenous America Before Colonialism/Chronicle", on RU-vid (which by the way, got pushed down below 200 other comments lately).
Thanks for making this video! This should be shown in schools to kids. We didn’t learn that stuff in history class that’s for sure. I would love to spend a day with the older woman and her family learning how to make bread hear stories songs and learn crafts from their culture! So interesting!
I live in north Casa Grande right on the edge of Gila River. I can literally walk onto the res from my house ( it’s pronounced “hila” btw) I drive through the res everyday to go to work in chandler. That reservation is dangerous. Sacaton is a town on the res right next to my house is similar to what you’d see in a third world country. As a white dude I would never go there at night. I’ve had to drive through sacaton to avoid traffic and it’s sketchy. I always have my pistol out. My wife is a nurse in CG and has had natives as her patients. They have a severe problem with alcohol and drugs.
“Had to drive through to avoid traffic” so you didn’t have to drive through? You keep your gun out? It almost seems as if you’re looking for a problem to have your hero moment or some shit.
@@fredbelanger2995 just didn’t want to sit for hours on a road blocked off by police for a car crash that was 10 miles from my house. I know a tribal member that’s a patient of mine from work and he told me to stay armed if I’m ever on the rez at night. I was just doing what he told me to because there are a lot gangs that get active at night. These reservations have their own police and me being white means that I’m not safe there. You don’t know the situation Freddy. Last thing I wanted was to have to use my weapon. I just wanted to get home so I could cook my wife food after her 12 hour shift working at the hospital bro. Stop with your nonsense
