Landlord in the Arctic

Chapter 271 - 234: Migration

What?

You plan to bring the Bear Tribe back to the Crown Territory!

Jeff’s eyes went wide, and he spat the fruit wine he had just drunk all over the Bear Tribe Elder’s face.

Then, without bothering to apologize to the Elder, he grabbed Feng Mountain’s arm and asked in a voice only the two of them could hear.

"Man, are you serious?"

"Why not?" Feng Mountain asked back, not understanding why Jeff was having such a strong reaction.

Jeff shook his head repeatedly, his expression grim as he lowered his voice.

"It’s not that you can’t, but this is an incredibly complicated matter. It involves the issue of the Indigenous Reserve. You have to understand, this land was allocated to the Yosemite Bear Tribe as their reserve. This was clearly stipulated by the American Government."

Jeff paused, his expression growing even more serious as he continued to explain.

"If the Bear Tribe wants to migrate, according to the agreements concerning Indigenous People, this Indigenous Reserve must be returned to the Alaska Government. In other words, once they move, it means they have to give up this reserve and will have no claim to it ever again.

Feng Mountain frowned. "You mean, if they want to move, they have to give up their ownership of the reserve."

"Yes." Jeff nodded solemnly to confirm. "And this isn’t something the Yosemite Bear Tribe can decide on their own. It has to be reviewed by the Athabasca Indigenous Federation, and it requires the approval of more than half of the tribal representatives to pass."

"The Federation needs to consider many factors from an overall perspective, such as the development of each tribe, resource allocation, and the preservation of traditional culture. That’s why they strictly control major events like tribal migration."

Jeff took a deep breath and continued.

"Furthermore, the Bear Tribe can only move half of its people. The other half must remain on the reserve. The Federation will move some Indigenous People from other places to supplement the population."

"This is to ensure the reserve isn’t taken back by the American Government, and also to maintain a certain scale of Indigenous population so the Bear Tribe’s traditional culture and way of life can be passed down."

At this point, Jeff sighed softly, adding with a worried look on his face.

"The American Government has left very few Indigenous Reserves for the Indigenous People. Every single reserve is incredibly precious to the Athabasca Indigenous People, so any matter concerning migration and the reserves must be handled with extreme caution."

Feng Mountain felt a headache coming on for no reason.

’I was just trying to do a good deed. Why is it so complicated?’

"I’ll ask Nash what he thinks first. If it really comes to it, I’ll just take his father back to the Crown Territory for now."

"That would be best. I also need to explain this to the Chief. After all, the Bear Tribe is a member of the Athabasca Tribe."

Jeff nodded in agreement.

Compared to the Bear Tribe’s leader being injured, the migration of the Bear Tribe was the real major issue.

To put it coldly, if the Bear Tribe’s leader died, he died. But the Bear Tribe’s Indigenous Reserve could absolutely not be given up.

The American Government had long been coveting the Indigenous Reserves, eager to take them all back.

Ever since the savage white men established the United States, they had used all sorts of threats and enticements to make Indigenous People sign unequal land transfer agreements. They issued executive orders to force their relocation and directly used military force to massacre and drive them out.

In the end, through all sorts of dishonorable means, they seized approximately 6 million square kilometers of land from the Indigenous People—an area equivalent to about two-thirds of the current territory of the United States.

As the lands of the Indigenous People vanished, they were replaced by the Indigenous Reserves designated for them by the American Government.

These reserves were mainly located in barren regions, and in many places, even basic necessities like water, electricity, and food were not guaranteed.

To this day, on the soil of the United States, the original homelands of the Indigenous People are nowhere to be found. Only scattered reserves remain, bearing witness to the tragic reality of the discrimination and marginalization they now suffer.

Even so, the American Government continues to use various methods, trying to snatch away the few remaining reserves the Indigenous People have left.

...

The Bear Tribe’s Elders sat to the side, watching Feng Mountain and Jeff whispering to each other with eager eyes.

They wanted to join the conversation but had no idea what the two were discussing and didn’t know where to start.

Just then, Feng Mountain looked up, his gaze sweeping through the crowd before he waved at Nash, who was with his mother.

Seeing this, Nash quickly said a few words to his mother and then strode over to Feng Mountain.

"There’s something I need to tell you. Although your father’s injuries have stabilized, he needs time to recuperate. If he stays in the village, I won’t have time to keep an eye on him, and if..."

Before Feng Mountain could finish, Nash, as if he had already guessed what was on his mind, cut in and said, "Khilla, I want to take my father back to the Crown Territory. He’s old now."

"What about your Bear Tribe kinsmen? Your father is the tribal chief. Are you just going to abandon your people?" Feng Mountain asked back, his brow furrowed and his expression serious.

"That..." Nash hesitated. He slowly turned his head, his gaze falling upon his people, who were immersed in joyous singing and dancing.

Watching the radiant smiles on their faces, a complex look flashed in Nash’s eyes. He hesitated for a moment.

"Khilla, I want to bring my people to the Crown Territory with us. It’s not safe here anymore. My mother said that a lot of strange white men have appeared in the forest recently. They cross the border, trespass onto the reserve to pan for gold in the rivers, and it’s possible they’re the ones who injured my father."

"If you take your people and leave, you’ll have to give up this Indigenous Reserve. Have you thought this through?" Feng Mountain asked, narrowing his eyes.

He had just learned from Jeff that the Bear Tribe’s Indigenous Reserve was a full 60 square kilometers, encompassing a rich variety of terrain including mountains, hills, forests, and rivers.

Such a large, resource-rich piece of land... it would be a huge waste to give it up, not to mention letting the American Government get it for free.

"You’d better discuss this with your people. After all, this is something you can’t decide on your own," Feng Mountain reminded Nash again.