WASHINGTON – Democratic Natives, some of whom have ties to Sen. Barack Obama’s campaign for president, are attacking Gov. Sarah Palin’s record on Indian issues. The charges come at a time of increasing concerns from Obama supporters and advisers that Sen. John McCain’s popular running mate could affect their candidate’s chances with Indian voters.
In an unsigned document widely circulating in Indian country, four main critiques have been levied against the first female Republican vice presidential candidate, including allegations that she has harmed Alaska Native subsistence fishing and hunting; been lukewarm in her support of tribal sovereignty; and that she hasn’t supported Alaska Native languages.
The document, titled “Sarah Palin’s Record on Alaska Native and Tribal Issues,” was partially written by Heather Kendall-Miller, an informal adviser to the Obama campaign in Alaska. She has personally known the senator from Illinois since their days attending Harvard Law School together. Her husband, lawyer Lloyd Miller, co-authored the report, which is based largely on many of the legal cases Kendall-Miller has argued against Palin and the Alaska state government.
“It’s really important to pop [Palin’s] balloon,” Kendall-Miller, a tribal member of the Native Village of Dillingham, told Indian Country Today.
She said she is “very concerned” that Natives who might have voted for Obama could now be swayed by Palin’s entrance into the race.
“That’s exactly why it was so important for us to get the document out. There was such an initial positive response [to Palin], even from Native people in Alaska.”
On the issue of subsistence fishing, the Millers note in the document that Palin has continued pursuing litigation that seeks to overturn “every subsistence fishing determination the federal government has ever made in Alaska.”
“The goal of Palin’s lawsuit is to invalidate all the subsistence fishing regulations the federal government has issued to date to protect Native fishing, and to force the courts instead to take over the roll of setting subsistence regulations,” according to the document. “Palin’s lawsuit seeks to diminish subsistence fishing rights in order to expand sport and commercial fishing.”
On subsistence hunting, the authors state Palin has “sought to invalidate critical determinations the Federal Subsistence Board has made regarding customary and traditional uses of game, specifically to take hunting opportunities away from Native subsistence villagers and thereby enhance sport hunting.”
Regarding tribal sovereignty, the document says Palin has argued that Alaska tribes have little authority to act as sovereign nations, especially in court cases involving the welfare of Native children.
Finally, the document indicates that Palin failed to respect Alaska Native languages and voters by refusing to provide language assistance to Yup’ik speaking Alaska Native voters – until ordered to do so by a federal court earlier this year.
Evon Peter, a former chief of the Neetsaii Gwich’in Tribe from Arctic Village, Alaska, has also made waves as a result of an essay he released on Sept. 8 slamming Palin’s record.
“As Alaska governor, Palin has continued the path of her predecessor [Republican Gov.] Frank Murkowski in challenging attempts by Alaska Native people to regain their human right to their traditional way of life through subsistence,” he wrote.
Peter has quickly become a prominent voice for Alaska Natives who have expressed concerns on Palin’s support for energy development, including drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. He noted in his essay that there is a connection between oil development and global warming, “which is wreaking havoc on Alaska Native villages, forcing some to begin the process of relocation at a cost sure to reach into the hundreds of millions.”
Peter, who said he plans to vote for Obama, told ICT that he’s worried American Indians may not delve deeply enough into Palin’s record when it comes to making an informed decision on who to vote for this fall.
Before Palin became McCain’s running mate, many political observers had expected that Obama would do well with Indian voters, especially considering his strong outreach to tribes during the election thus far.
Some Republican Natives have been quick to point to the fact that the governor’s husband, Todd Palin, as well as their five children, are of Yup’ik descent; and they are hopeful that these family ties could encourage positive policy developments if the McCain-Palin ticket is elected.
Palin herself campaigned for governor partially on the Native heritage of her family, saying in a letter from 2006 that she “so very much appreciate[s] Alaska’s First People, their proud heritage and diverse cultures so abundant in the communities throughout our state.”
The governor also wrote in the letter that she supported tribal economic development and fishing subsistence issues and believes in teaching traditional culture and languages in schools.
But Peter believes that Palin’s record – and not her past pledges – should be the main focus.
“It’s unfortunate that across America, our communities don’t tend to dig deeper into the actual decisions that different leaders have made in their previous offices. ... My hope is that Native American people will be inspired to look into all candidates’ track records on the tribal, state and national level.”
Kendall-Miller said she believes Todd Palin “does not consider himself an Alaska Native,” saying he “is much more akin to seeing himself as a sports hunter.”
“I think [Gov. Palin] is using her husband’s Alaska Native heritage the way she is using her developmentally disabled baby to try to draw people in.”
The exact blood quantum of Todd Palin has not been verified by the McCain campaign, but some reports have indicated he could be as much as one-quarter Yup’ik.
Another issue raising ire for some Natives is that fact that Todd Palin worked for the British Petroleum oil company.
Despite the many critiques centered on Todd Palin, his mother, Blanche Palin, is respected by many Alaska Natives, and once served as secretary of the Alaska Federation of Natives.
Palin’s gubernatorial and vice presidential spokespeople did not respond to requests for comment on issues being raised by Natives about her record and family.
Don Bremner, a Tlingit tribal member, is one of the many Alaska Natives who are concerned that Palin’s familial connections could lead some Indian voters who would have normally voted for Obama to vote for the McCain ticket.
“It’s fine to call yourself Alaska Native and say you support Alaska Native issues,” said Bremner, an Obama supporter. “But there are things that go along with being Alaska Native – meaning you support the culture, you support the language, you support our hunting and fishing ways of life.
“Her administration hasn’t done any of that.”
Correction
In the Sept. 12 posting, “Native Obama supporters lead Palin backlash," the quote, “[H]e’s 1/16 [blood quantum] and not raised in the Native community,” was attributed to Valerie Taliman, Indian Law Resource Center director of communications. Ms. Taliman’s intent was not to question Todd Palin’s Alaska Native heritage but to paraphrase sentiments expressed by Alaska citizens and local media. We were unable to verify the statement or its attribution with Ms. Taliman before going to press. ICT regrets the error.
"I recently had two conversations with fellow Natives about the 2008 presidential election that I thought were noteworthy. First, while on a trip to Washington, D.C. I connected with Yup’ik and Haida friends and we discussed Alaska Governor Sarah Palin. Their perspective was quite clear. They feel that 1) Palin has worked against the interests of Alaska Natives throughout her career and 2) her representation of the “First Dude” Todd Palin as an Alaska Native during the GOP National Convention was troubling. On this later point, they shared that Todd Palin’s connections to Native peoples is paper thin and that, tellingly, Governor Palin had never discussed her husband’s Native ancestry publicly prior to the GOP National Convention. Previously, she had merely referenced that her “children’s grandmother is part Yup’ik” which is quite different than saying “my children are Yup’ik” or “my husband is “Yup’ik”.
The second conversation was with a friend who shared that she has noticed a lot of members of the Indian Tribe on the reservation where she lives are supporting the McCain-Palin campaign because McCain is a veteran and Palin’s husband is “Native”. I find this rationale for American Indian voter support troubling. To be sure, Native people are extremely supportive of their veterans and veterans of all nations. However, to think that a politician is going to support tribes and Indian issues simply because they are a decorated veteran is naïve. Furthermore, because McCain is a long-time Arizona policy maker and AZ is a state with many tribal nations inside and straddling its borders, voters do not have to look hard to track down McCain’s record on American Indian policy. McCain and his chosen running mate both represent states heavily populated by Native people, yet neither has proven themselves supporters of Indian Country during their time in office."
"everything is laid out for you. Your path is straight ahead of you. Sometimes it's invisible but it's there. You may not know where it's going, but still you have to follow that path. It's the path to the Creator. That's the only path there is."
--Leon Shenandoah, ONONDAGA
Everything on the earth has a purpose and a reason for its existence. Every human being is a warrior and every warrior has a song written in his/her heart and that song must be sung or the soul forever remains restless. This song is always about serving the Great Spirit and helping the people. This song is always sung for the people. Many times I need to learn much about the difficulties of life. I need to know this, so I must experience it. Then I can be of use to the people. Because I am experiencing difficulty does not mean I have left the path or that I have done something wrong. It means I'm doing the will of the Great Spirit during these times of testing. I need to pray constantly to keep a good attitude.
Great Spirit, this I know - You will never leave me, only my doubting makes it seem like You do. This I know - Your love is always dependable, only my doubting makes it seem like You do. Today remove the doubts from my belief system and allow me to stand straight and see You with straight eyes.
THOUSANDS of children died in Canada's 'residential schools'. Their parents were never even told. Their children just NEVER CAME HOME Families DISPERSED Land STOLEN CHILDREN stolen. 50,000 Indigenous children DIED OR DISAPPEARED in CANADA's residential schools. There is NO RECONCILIATION without FULL DISCLOSURE -Full Disclosure Now!
This is a subject that Chief William Commada and I spoke of when we met in Canada. I can say that I feel or all the children who were murdered and suffered atrocities at the hands of religious churches and the Goverment. As per a vision I had discussed with Chief Commanda, a ceremony was conducted on behalf of the innocent spirits that were victims of the inhumane crimes, treatment of all Indians since day one when the white man set foot on Indian Territory, for what to take land and make them territories.
Here we see innocent children buried alive, maimed, raped, dismembered and buried like a piece of trash. Again, as I have pointed out many times, this is called MURDER & GENOCIDE! Genocide of Indian children so that the Government could have clear and free title to the land to what the CROWN -Queen of England now enjoys!
The Queen does not understand, since she is White Minded, that the power and significance of the TWO ROW WAMPUM BELT of peace was given as a treaty of the Six Nations to Canada, to govern their own territory, Indian Land, a recognition of their Sovereignty. This explosive situation could be handled in a professional manner by the Queen, but she is deaf, because she want to be! This is corrupt and this will lead to further violence down the pike.
The time is coming upon humanity where all the injustices and crimes will be felt, a furry and rush, to and fro, and all will dealt, to be answered for and the ones who continue to oppress, continue to perpetrate crimes against humanity, Indians continue to experience prejudices in this situation.
I personally visited the Capitol of Ottawa, saw the Indian demonstrators as I ventured with Chief Commanda to the Hall of the First People, and in the background Parliament Building standing tall, a grim cloudy cold day in which I felt a great sadness for all the Indian People who were on the front steps of Parliament protesting for their human rights and justice to keep their lands sacred and indigenous as they once were.
My prayers continue on for all the Indian People of Canada.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.—Michelle Pino pushed, squeezed and shrugged her way through the sea of bright blue shirts and signs adorned with the name of Hillary Rodham Clinton.
The presidential candidate wasn't here; her husband was, and Pino wanted to see him. But it wasn't an autograph or a picture Pino was seeking from former president Bill Clinton. She wanted something more.
"I wanted to tell him that I'm a health care provider for women's health," said Pino, a certified nurse midwife and a Navajo. "I really supported the health care reform. It was really good for him to stop and listen."
Pino was one of hundreds of students, parents and children who listened to a speech by Bill Clinton at the University of New Mexico's Johnson Center on Jan. 31. The former president was on a campaign stop in New Mexico days before the Feb. 5 Democratic caucus.
Addressing a range of topics including health care, troops, economic reform and education, Clinton encouraged audience members to vote for his wife.
"New Mexico is a big part of America's future," Bill Clinton said. "The most important reason to vote for (Hillary Clinton) is that she is the only person who has brought people together to make positive changes in other people's lives."
Donna Fernandez, Pomo Indian, said she believes that, which is why she and her two children traveled more than 150 miles from Bloomfield, N.M., to listen to the speech and show their support for Hillary Clinton.
Fernandez said she hoped to hear about particular issues that concerned her and her family.
"I was really inquiring about the economy, student loans and education," Fernandez said. "I've got kids ready to go to college so that was really important for me to hear."
While Native American issues weren't at the top of Bill Clinton's speech, Fernandez said she's comfortable knowing that the Clintons have a history with Native Americans.
"I know in his past he's (Bill Clinton) been up to Shiprock," Fernandez said, referring to a town on the New Mexican side of the Navajo Reservation. "That's one of the reasons I do think that he does know the Native American community.
"And I think she's (Hillary Clinton) educated on the issues. She's probably the most experienced with the issues," Fernandez said. "I think she'll listen to the issues, even though we're a minority population in this country."
Pino, the Navajo midwife, said she was glad that Bill Clinton at least touched on one of the prominent concerns for Native Americans everywhere—land.
"What stood out in the speech today was how she's protecting the land, her protecting the environment as a whole," Pino said. "I think it's very empowering."
While a handful of Native women shared a variety of concerns, there was one concept that pulled them together—the fact that Clinton would be the first female American president.
"I think a woman's voice is important," Fernandez said.
Fernandez said while some people in Native and non-Native communities are opposed to the idea of women in high leadership positions, the concept is growing in acceptance.
Renita Blackgoat, Blackfeet, originally from Browning, Mont., has lived in New Mexico for about two years. She said Clinton being a woman presidential candidate is reason enough for her to support the Clintons.
"My being a woman and Hillary being a strong woman is enough," Blackgoat said. "She's making history."
