DENVER – On the day when Sen. Barack Obama would formally accept his party;s nomination, many tribal members said their pride was overflowing – and not just because the senator from Illinois is the first person of color who’s managed to become a serious contender for the world’s top position.
”We Natives don’t always see ourselves as the same as other minorities, or races, because we are specifically mentioned in the Constitution,” said Frank LaMere, a member of the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska and the chairman of the DNC Native American caucus. ”We have a different status.”
Indians have long had to work overtime to make strides and attain equality even with that special status, and some hope the undeniably unique qualities of Obama, achieved partly through his own cultural and personal struggles, will help progress happen more rapidlyand perhaps more smoothly.
”Obama’s a guy who intrinsically knows what we and other minorities were trying so hard to accomplish during the Civil Rights movement and beyond, so I think there’s a feeling that he will be more willing to move on our issues, to help us make new accomplishments,” said David Gipp, president of United Tribes Technical College, and the only Indian speaker at this year’s Democratic National Convention.
Throughout the Democratic National Convention, a wish echoed time and again by Indian attendees is that Obama will pave a path for a ”New Deal” for all Native Americans and tribes.
A crucial part of this New Deal centers on Obama’s promise to create a position for a White House advisor on Indian affairs and his proposal to continue meeting with tribal leaders if he is elected, just as he has done throughout the election season to date. Both promises have already made their way into the official Democratic Party platform, which focuses on accomplishments party leaders want to make happen over the next four years.
Younger Indians, especially, have been willing to speak out on Obama’s unique traitsa unique situation, certainly, since young people overall tend to be less engaged in politics.
”I think Native American people, especially our elders, have been really disappointed for a long time with our government,” said Shere Wright, 26, holder of the Miss Indian Nations title. ”Because of that, a lot of people on reservations don’t ever really take part in the political process.
”But I think that’s changing. Barack Obama is inspiring people. My mom even registered to vote in the primary this year for the first time….”
Wright said that her own appreciation for Obama partially derives from the fact that he’s a minority, but also because she believes that he has the conviction to follow through on his promises.
Non-Indian politicians, too, have been working overtime to express to Indian attendees of the convention that Obama should be able to help tribes accomplish big goals. They believe that he has a special ability to connect with tribes where other leaders have fallen short in the past. And, in a tight election, they have every incentive to try to encourage tribal voters to turnout, especially in tight swing vote states with large Indian populations.
”The Native vote is critical to Obama,” said Oklahoma Gov. Brad Henry. ”And I think his fresh approach will help him do very well with Indians…. They are just plain tired of the same old politicians with the same old rhetoric.”
Some Indians have asked why the unique traits of Sen. Hillary Clinton didn’t resound as widely with tribes. After all, had Clinton been nominated – a historic event unto itself – it would have probably led to many positive developments for tribes.
The double-edged sword for Sen. Clinton with Indians seems to revolve around her husband, according to some tribal leaders. Many tribal citizens love him, citing his support for increased funding and positive outreach to tribes, but some are disappointed by his overall tribally-focused accomplishments during his two terms in office.
”[President Clinton] made promises to us that he just didn’t keeptribes saw him only a couple of times over his eight years in office,” said Antone C. Minthorn, chairman of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indians.
Like it or not, such sentiments about President Clinton seemed to have clouded many tribal perceptions over whether Sen. Clinton would be able to keep her own promises to Indians, which were quite similar to those of Obama, had she been nominated.
