Sure You Can Trust The Government

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The phrase seen here is a tongue in cheek reference to the historical mistreatment of both whales and indigenous Americans by the United States government. Whaling entered its “Golden Age” after the War of 1812 to support the production of oil. When whaling hit its peak during the 1960s, the industry in the United States hunted 80,000 whales a year and nearly drove whale species' to extinction. Native Americans were met with discrimination and manipulation of their history in an attempt to justify the U.S. government’s actions. The Indian Removal Act of 1830 was the legalized, forced relocation of Native Americans to make way for westward expansion. The Indian Self-Determination Act of 1975 gave Native Americans more independence and authority on tribal land. However, their lack of authority over non-tribal members continues to be an ongoing issue, especially regarding hate crimes committed against members of indigenous communities.