On Politics: Indian Country Deserves a Debate

By Jay Harris
CrowNews.Net

There are many political observers thrilled to see a highly-contested Democratic Party nomination. With the intense competition for votes naturally comes an intense competition of ideas.

Many believe that the Democratic nomination may not be decided until the party convention in late August. That gives the two front-running candidates plenty of time to introduce and discuss their ideas for improving America in states that traditionally cast their primary votes long after a nominee is declared and with little attention paid to them.

And there is great reason for the nation’s approximately four million American Indians to view a fully contested nomination process as a means by which the issues most important in Indian country can receive more than a passing amount of interest by the candidates.

Montana and South Dakota have a combined population of more than 125,000 citizens who identify themselves as American Indian, according to 2006 U.S. Census estimates, and they will hold their primaries on June 3. No other state is having a primary that week.

With two weeks available between the nearest primary preceding the Montana and South Dakota primaries and June 3, I believe both the campaigns would benefit tremendously from taking part in a debate held before the primaries on one of the two states’ reservations.

The debate should focus on Indian issues and especially the future of the BIA and trust reform, the inadequacies of the IHS, reauthorization and sufficient funding for important Indian country legislation like law enforcement and public safety (especially drug use, alcohol abuse and sexual crimes involving children), investment in infrastructure, economic development (including gaming), energy development (particularly alternative and sustainable energy), education, and a whole host of other issues that Indians in their lives every day.

One thing Indians should ask the Democratic candidates is why they think their plans for Indian country would be better than those of Sen. McCain, who is the presumptive Republican nominee and former Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, or Ralph Nader, who is seriously considering another run for the presidency. Nader is also likely take the most progressive and tribal sovereignty-supporting positions.

Sen. Clinton will likely talk about the efforts made on behalf of Indians during the Clinton Administration. Should we expect something better?

Sen. Obama recently wrote an opinion piece for Indian Country Today titled “Making My Case in Indian Country.” (Click here for the article). Is this the change we can all believe in?

Are there any issues you feel need to be brought to the attention of the Democratic candidates? Would you really like to see the candidates talking to Indians on a reservation in Montana or South Dakota? Here is Clinton and Obama's contact information.

It is important to note that both Obama and Clinton opted out of the Indigenous Democratic Network’s “Prez on the Rez” debate held this past August on California's Morongo Indian Reservation. Gov. Richardson, Rep.Kucinich and former Sen. Gravel did attend.

But with enough phone calls, letters, and e-mails, we can be sure there will be discussion within the campaigns about possible events in Montana and South Dakota, and perhaps even a debate on a reservation. Let's prove that point by requesting a debate in Indian country before the June 3 primary.

Here's a short sample letter: Download letter_crownews.rtf.

Or, you can take a nod toward history and be a little more direct: Come on. Big election. Be quick. Bring the media.

P.S. – Bring the media.

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