The Native American population can often be seen as the stereotypical “middle sibling” of the American family. The various tribes are constantly neglected and ignored leaving them as a result to be of the poorest areas in America. Yet, often times that is also ignored. As if the Native American community is simply a pesky stain in America’s history, we turn our heads the other way and pretend as if any poverty is their fault because if Native Americans were not so “lazy” they would be able to make something of themselves on the leftover land the American “pioneers” left them for the desolate reservations.
One blatant sign of this neglect is the lack of access to internet the Native American population had. Due to the “leftover” land they were given in some of the most deserted or mountainous landscapes, often the availability of computers and internet access was made physically challenging. Another challenge was the disparaging perspective of many large companies that considered spending effort on the reservation populations as not profitable and more of a liability than progressive. If being completely honest the large companies are using sound business sense. Why would you focus your efforts on a sparse communities that present a challenge in their physical location alone when you can save some coins by being active in an up an coming city who allows operations with easy access? Well, the question then becomes is it morally appropriate to ignore a population in need for slight mere convenience?
However, TDV took on the challenge of providing service to the Native American tribes around Ewiiaapaayp Mountain with an amazing and unbelievable tactic that the other mass companies such as AT&T had yet to try. They talked to the Native American population. I know a breakthrough revelation. Having discussion and work ethic to take the time to understand the cultural morals that lead to hesitancy regarding the internet among tribal leaders allowed progress. This tactic lead to strides in the Native American connectivity many other companies had had given attempts but ended with failure. What had made TDV different was there lack of belittling the Native American culture as ignorant, but instead utilized a tactic that involved conversations and understanding of a culture that didn’t necessarily readily accept the internet.
We can’t ignore the absolute genius of the DIY mindset of this TDV collaborative. They took things in their own hands and rigged their own version of connection to the internet. It shows a passionate response to all the big companies that had ignorantly deemed the Native American reservations as only good for casinos. Through the simple independence that came with a statement of “if you don’t want to help us, we won’t need you anyways”. However, I still am left questioning… why do they have to prove their ability anyways? When will America step up based on morals rather than profit and help out the community they have constantly taken from throughout its history? It’s time to stop neglecting the Native American communities.