Which Candidates Support Native American Concerns?

Source

Department of Justice officials have quietly opposed Native Hawaiian self-determination but the administration didn’t outright come out against the recognition bill until last fall.

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The anti-Hawaiian campaign has since been extended to urban Indians, lineal Indian descendants and certain Alaska Natives. In testimony to the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, a DOJ official said that health care for these groups could violate the U.S. Constitution.

I feel less than optimistic about Native American concerns. The recent year has been very difficult and heartbreaking. Since it’s a long list, I will summarize what I am aware of by saying that vital Native American concerns failing within the courts and within congress are far outweighing Native American concerns succeeding within the courts and within congress. So, I will be direct in what I want.

I want the next president and congress to have solid, working knowledge of the issues surrounding and including tribal sovereignty, and to uphold the promises that have been made to the tribes. Adding to that broad topic, I want the next president and congress to have a comprehensive, alternative, and clean energy plan that they are willing to implement. Please allow me to explain how it relates specifically to tribal sovereignty in my opinion.

Natural energy resources reside mainly on Indigenous lands which the states and the government yet seek to acquire. Overall, Indigenous tribes have not drained the natural resources from their land like the states and the government have used and exploited theirs. Otherwise, why is “most of the world’s remaining natural resources — minerals, freshwater, potential energy sources and more – (are) found within indigenous peoples’ territories.”

I left my crystal ball at home, but as I stated in the beginning, “I feel less than optimistic about Native American concerns.”

I am intentionally not linking to any more “Native American concerns,” so please forgive the shortness of this diary. I want to know that the presidential and congregational candidates know what they are and that they are going to do something about it. The last reason that this is so short is because the Iraq Occupation overshadows most everything else, including Native American concerns in my opinion. I hope that by my making this brief and to the point, that it might receive more attention than it would receive otherwise. Enough said – on to the direct questions.

Does your candidate or you yourself (if you are a candidate) have “a solid working knowledge of the issues surrounding and including tribal sovereignty,” and are you or they willing to work to uphold the promises that have been made by making the time to communicate and to work with the tribal chiefs, elders, and those representing them and their respective tribes when they come to you to talk?

I need to know who to vote for.

I am not and cannot speak for any tribe, and I look forward to hearing your responses, your candidate’s responses, and anyone else’s responses that have something to add to this discussion.

Mitakuye Oyasin