My great-grandmother and her sister were the last two women who wore the tribal clothing of the tribe I suppose I belong to. That tribe no longer exists; we are all Dutchmen in the nation of the Netherlands now. Is that bad? I don't think so: cultures evolve, humanities' future seems to be aimed towards larger groups, and trying to stick to a tribal structure that would have largely rejected the progress made in the outside world, had they had the chance, would have been a miserable existence. Instead of doing silly dances for tourists I'm a software engineer working for a major space agency, and I'm fine with that. Something unique may have been lost (a language, a clothing style, and a harsh way of life), but so much more has been gained (access to all the world has to offer).

The tribal structures that still exist in many parts of the world aren't really about preserving culture or identity anymore; to me they seem to be mostly about preserving the power of a handful of tribal elders, and upholding discriminatory practices both inside and outside the tribe. Those structures are a relic that wouldn't have survived anyway, European colonists or not, and casting them aside now, and joining the rest of the world in the 21st century is neither shameful nor bad.

Just to be clear: I applaud anyone who wishes to celebrate their culture and their identity, and I think having those preserved enriches our world. But staying within the confines of a preserve, where life is hard and opportunities are few, just because you were born there, makes no sense to me. You can be both proud of your heritage and a citizen of the 21st century.

So the question, then, is this: are tribal entitlements necessary for the preservation of something worthwhile, or are they merely tools to further disadvantage a group that is already severely lacking in opportunities? If it's the first, there is a place for them. If it's the second, it's time they were dismantled.