Will State of the Union address mention Native people?
Pauly Denetclaw
ICT
WASHINGTON — The tall, black mesh, metal barriers are up. Police units are parked at nearly every corner. All signs for one of the most high-profile events of the year that boasts the most powerful people in Washington, D.C. in one room for one night. It’s President Joe Biden’s third State of the Union address and it comes during a busy election season where the president seeks a second term.
“The State of the Union is about where we were, where we've come, and what we need to do,” Tom Perez, director for the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, said to ICT. “President Biden will talk about all three.”
The yearly address is mandated by the U.S. Constitution though it can take many forms, some presidents have done written reports but most commonly a speech. By invitation from the House Speaker, a president is invited to address Congress in the People’s House. This year, at least three Native people have been invited by members of Congress or First Lady Jill Biden.
It’s unclear if Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, Laguna Pueblo, will be in attendance. One member of the president’s cabinet is selected every year to be the designated survivor. This year's designated survivor has yet to be announced as of early Thursday but the Interior is tied with the secretary of Agriculture for being selected the most number of times as the designated survivor. Last year, Labor Secretary Marty Walsh was selected.
“The President has made clean drinking water a priority and has invested billions of dollars across the country, including significant investments in Indian Country,” Perez said. “We've worked to make sure that the Indian Health Service has the resources it needs. It's not constantly begging the federal government to get a little more so they can do a little more. That has been a chronic challenge, frankly, for decades.”
Biden has addressed tribal leaders directly during the last two White House Tribal Nations Summit. The Biden administration has made historic investments in Indian Country and unprecedented appointments throughout the federal agencies.
“When someone says, I care about your community, one of the first questions I ask is, show me your budget, because that tells me whether you care,” Perez said. “I also say that if somebody says a community is important to me, the question I always ask as well, does my community have a seat at the table?”
Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, Laguna Pueblo, introduced President Joe Biden at the 2022 White House Tribal Nations Summit in Washington, D.C., on November 30, 2022. (Jourdan Bennett-Begaye/ICT)
During last year’s address, over the course of 72 minutes, Biden mentioned tribes once and didn’t speak to any tribal-specific issue.
“It's extremely rare for a president to discuss any tribal-specific issues or priorities or make any announcements like that,” said Holly Cook Macarro, ICT political contributor. “I think what we normally end up getting is that one mention in a list of communities. Back in the day, I remember when even that used to be a victory. So it is time to move on. I do think that given the high profile role and possibilities for the impact of the Native vote, that tribal issues should be at the top of the president's priority list.”
Cook Macarro is a board member of IndiJ Public Media, the parent company that owns ICT.
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U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger-Fernandez, NM-03, has invited Phil Harrison, a former Navajo Nation Council delegate and advocate for Navajo uranium radiation victims. He was a former uranium miner and doesn’t meet the qualifications for care or compensation under the Radiation Exposure and Compensation Act.
“The State of the Union guest is a way for those of us in Congress to be able to highlight an important issue that we think the nation should know about, but also an issue that Congress can address,” Leger-Fernanadez said to ICT. “I brought and invited, and I'm so glad that Mr. Harrison accepted my invitation to be my State of the Union guest because Congress, we get to write the end of this story. It is our job to say this story should end with justice. This story should end by expanding the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act to cover all of the downwinders in all of the uranium miners and workers.”
Harrison’s father, a former uranium miner, died from cancer in his early 40s. Leaving behind a family that struggled to make ends meet. For a short period of time, he worked alongside his father in the mines. Navajo uranium workers weren’t told about the health risks associated with the mining. Harrison himself experienced renal failure.
“Congress needs to pass this once and for all the radiation exposure compensation amendment, that's going to help a lot of people along with medical benefits,” Harrison said.
U.S. Rep Gabe Vasquez, NM-02, has invited educator Treva Riley, Laguna and Acoma Pueblo.
“Teachers like Treva from Laguna Pueblo are the heart of Tribal communities, fostering resilience, empowerment and wellness. When we gather for the State of the Union, it is crucial to remember our duty to ensure fairness in education everywhere,” Vasquez said in a press release. “The Parity for Tribal Educators Act is a step in the right direction, making sure Tribal teachers get the benefits they deserve. It is about giving every child in New Mexico a fair shot at success by keeping their schools staffed with quality educators.”
Gila River Indian Community Governor Stephen Roe Lewis sporting a Phoenix Suns bomber jacket and medallion and talking with other tribal leaders at the 2022 White House Tribal Nations Summit in Washington, D.C., on November 30, 2022. (Jourdan Bennett-Begaye/ICT)
Gila River Indian Community Gov. Stephen Roe Lewis was invited by first lady Jill Biden.
“Honored to represent the Gila River Indian Community as guest of our First Lady, Dr. Jill Biden for tonight’s 2024 State of the Union! Sapo First Lady Dr. Jill Biden, Joe Biden,” Lewis said in a Facebook post.
The State of the Union is Thursday at 9 p.m. ET.
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