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Should We Trust Presidential Candidates Who Promise to Honor Native Treaties?
Our government has a history of colonizing our land and erasing our history, so I have my doubts
This election cycle, we are seeing an unprecedented push by Democratic presidential candidates to appeal to Native American voters, whose votes have proved crucial in some predominantly red states like Iowa, North Dakota, Alaska, and Montana, and have won congressional elections for Dems. Bernie Sanders, Julian Castro, and Elizabeth Warren all announced their plans for tribes before the first Native American Presidential Forum that took place in August. Amy Klobuchar has a list of policy priorities for Indian country on her website and Cory Booker included Indigenous people in his climate and economic justice plan. Pete Buttigieg and Kamala Harris announced their own fairly thorough plans for Native communities over the past few weeks.
As a tribal attorney and former judge with expertise in federal Indian law, Native history, and reservation life — as well as an Oceti Sakowin Native woman and enrolled member of a federally recognized tribe — I find that the plans proposed by these presidential candidates reveal them to be well-versed and well-advised on Indigenous matters.
My people have been lied to…
