On Native American Rights/Indian Policy

GENERALLY SPEAKING

  • I BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD HONOR AND RESPECT THE TREATIES THAT WE -- I.E. THE GOVERNMENT -- MAKE WITH THE RESPECTIVE TRIBES. 
  • I BELIEVE IN EQUAL OPPORTUNTY AND THE FEDERAL INDIAN POLICY OF TRIBAL DEMOCRATIZATION AND SELF-DETERMINATION.  
  • I OPPOSE ATTACKS ON NATIVE AMERICANS' VOTING RIGHTS.  I HAVE LIKEWISE SUGGESTED THAT MORE SHOULD BE DONE TO ENCOURAGE NATIVE AMERICANS TO VOTE AND RUN FOR ELECTED OFFICE.  I HAVER FLOATED THE IDEA OF TRIBAL RESERVATIONS BEING ITS OWN CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.  I ALSO BELIEVE THAT THE HEAD OF THE BUREU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS (DEPT OF INTERIOR) SHOULD ACTUALLY BE A QUALIFIED PERSON OF NATIVE AMERICAN ANCESTRY.
  • I HAVE HEARD POLIARIZINGLY DIFFERENT VIEWS FROM NATIVE AMERICANS ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS, SUCH AS LINE 3, AND THE USE OF INDIAN IMAGERY, NICKNAMES AND THE LIKE IN SPORTS TEAMS.  I PERSONALLY, DO NOT CARE, TOO MUCH, ABOUT THE NICKNAME CONTROVERSY AND QUESTIONS OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ON TRIBAL LAND SHOULD BE SETTLED BY THE TRIBE, DEMOCRATICALLY.   

FARGO FORUM NEWSPAPER.  OCTOBER 25TH, 2021.

ON LINE 3 AND THE POLITICAL RIGHTS OF NATIVE AMERICANS

 

Proponents of Line 3 successfully defined the issue as one of a caring corporation, creating blue collar jobs by fixing an old pipeline. Opponents allowed themselves to be defined by Line 3 supporters as having ideas that were, at best, impractical hippie nonsense or, at worst, libel to kill the nation's entire power supply, including little Johnny's Xbox game system.

Speaking of systems, many Native Americans are cursed with a yearning to vomit, and it is not because they opposed or supported Line 3. It is because we still deny them the right to democratic decision-making that should be the hallmark of our nation's American Indian policy. Let us consider doing a few things to change the system.

First, Native Americans need to be free to exercise their political rights, namely the elective franchise and the right to seek and, if elected, to hold office.

Second, the head of the Bureau of Indian Affairs needs to directly be elected by Native Americans. It will make the Bureau legitimate in the eyes of Native Americans.

Third, we need to strongly consider creating additional Congressional districts that would be compromised of the recognized reservations. Doing so would give real political power to Native Americans as most of these Congressional representatives would likely be American Indians themselves.

Let us commitment ourselves to the political rights of Native Americans and to the proposition that American Indians should have a real democratic voice in shaping their policy.