Native American Leaders Comment On Relations With
Repub GWB Extreme Regime
Indian Country Today Published Letter To Public Titled
"Too Little Too Late" Sez:
"Thirty-nine days before the presidential election in
November George W. Bush, facing a hotly-contested race to
keep his job, finally got around to inviting a small group of
tribal leaders to the oval office: A subtle nod to the fact that
the Indian vote can make the critical difference in the outcome
of the election in certain key western states. Proudly
proclaiming it an historic moment, the President produced a
weak and watered down version of former President
Clinton's 1993 Executive Memorandum on the
government-to-government relationship, so minimal in scope
that a picture of a smiling George Bush surrounded by a
handful of tribal leaders had to be inserted in order that the
document might fill the entire page.
Having signed this document with ''pomp and
circumstance-lite,'' George Bush would now with a straight
face have us believe that his administration is committed to
tribal sovereignty and the government-to-government
relationship. Just in case we missed it, the point was
repeated in four of the five paragraphs, sometimes more than
once. The problem is that it was just about the only point
made in the entire statement, other than to make clear that the
document is not intended to be enforceable and doesn't create
any substantive or procedural right. Actually, as it turns out,
the legal disclaimer represents 20 percent of the document.
If repeating a phrase enough times were sufficient to make it
true, Mr. Bush's memorandum might be of some
significance. If it had come four years ago, it might have been
more meaningful. If the doors of the White House had not
been slammed shut to Indian country four years ago, it might
be more believable, but actions speak louder than words and
there has been scant little action from the administration since
January 2000.
John Kerry, on the other hand, has been a long-time ally of
Indian country in the Senate. Tribal sovereignty isn't just a
catch phrase to John Kerry, he understands its meaning, and
equally importantly the federal obligations that attach to the
federal Indian relationship. As Chairman of the Senate Small
Business Committee, John Kerry introduced the Native
American Small Business Development Act which will create
a permanent Office of Native American Affairs at SBA and
will create a new grant program to assist American Indians
and Alaska Natives. He understands the critical need for
infrastructure and economic development in Indian country.
More importantly, he knows what needs to be done and that
it needs to be done in partnership with tribal governments.
The Kerry campaign has reached out to Indian country and it
shows. The Kerry Indian policy agenda is comprehensive and
touches upon all of the issues of importance to tribal
communities from healthcare to judicial appointments to
education. In a Kerry administration the 'homeland' in
homeland security won't exclude Indian country because
Kerry understands that tribal governments are an integral
part of the American political family just as Native Americans
are vibrant and important players in the American political
process.
To Mr. Bush, all that can be said is that his last ditch effort to
capture the hearts and minds of the First Americans is simply
much too little, much too late.
Signed on October 14, 2004 by:
Chairman W. Ron Allen, Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe, Sequim,
Wash.
Gwen Carr, member of the Cayuga Tribe, Madison, Wis.
Kalyn Free, member of the Cherokee Nation, McAlester,
Okla.
Kevin Gover, member of the Pawnee Tribe, Phoenix, Ariz.
Montana Legislator Carol Juneau, member of the
ThreeAffiliated Tribes, Browning, Mont.
Stan Juneau, member of the Blackfeet Tribe, Browning, Mont.
Wilma Mankiller, former principal chief, Cherokee Nation,
Park Hill, Okla.
Chapter Leader Chili Yazzie, Navajo Nation, Shiprock, N.M."
Thanks To CL
Intuitive*Analysis
The Historic Failure Of USA Federal Government To
Respect And Honor The FIRST American Governments Is
UNdeniable
For This To Continue In The 21ST Century Is
UNconscionable
Pray For TRUE USA Government Leadership And Healing
In USA Relations With ALL Governments And People
4:22:40 AM
