No, I think they are people just like anyone else. I also think that their time of handouts is over and that they need to get with the program. There cannot be a separate nation within this nation.
If they are unwilling to step into the role of a proper American, then sure, we can let them live on their little reservations with their seperate laws and such but we have no need to acknowledge their vote or give them any share of the taxes collected in this country. If their casinos can sustain them, by all means let them. But progress and industry should never be held up over some tribal claim to land.
As to your second point of contention...
Palin made it one of her key campaign points to expand public safety presence through the expanding the LEO budget by some 20%, she toughened enforcement of penalties against police officers who commit crimes while on duty (a serious problem in the state for a while), and she signed into law a range of bills that implemented DNA collection from felons, electronic monitoring of violent gang offenders (believe it or not, a serious issue in Anchorage).
Most notable, her pet bill, HB 265, implemented law that requires convicted sex offenders to stay current with their sex offender registration in order to maintain eligibility for the Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend.
A list of her all her public safety expansion through 2009 can be found
here.